Can a utility send my account to debt collection for an estimated bill?

jamesgough

Hi,

I have a utility company with the worst reputation regularly threaten me by sending my account to debt collection for an estimated bill that goes from £7,000 to £15,000. I have had a payment plan in place until they give me a confirmed bill and they have acknowledged this and even sent a compensation cheque as an apology for their customer service. However, I have now taken it up on Resolver and they are just being bullish and harassing me not answering any of my questions.

Are they allowed send my account to debt collectors for an estimated bill that can in no way be accurate?

Thanks

Caz3121

jamesgough wrote: »

Are they allowed send my account to debt collectors for an estimated bill that can in no way be accurate?

have you provided the correct meter readings?

davidmcn

I don't think "sending your account to debt collectors" has any legal significance, so yes they can, and it doesn't change your rights to challenge the bill.

Have you paid the amount which you think is actually due?

twhitehousescat

eventually they may sell the outstanding to the likes of lowell, who may then start court action

YES even a "guestimated" bill , eon did this with me

Comms69

All of this has no bearing on your right to challenge the debt in court; the onus would be on Lowell to prove the debt is owed in the above example.

peter_the_piper

Just how does an estimated bill get to £15,000? Even at an average of £150 a month that's 8 years.

bris

The only reason it can be an estimated bill is because you are not sending them readings, allowing them access to read the meters and not paying them.


What options are you leaving them?

jamesgough

The Morrison's meter reader comes every 3 months. I've sent photos 3 times. This week they said I am not sending all the photos they need. I asked them what I need to take photos of. I've now sent 8 photos of all angles of my boiler closet meter room. The online system wont let me add the readings. I've emailed them the numbers countless times.

I've been paying them a nominal monthly fee for years, but they now say that isn't a payment plan.

They say they have sent me warning letter, but even when they have passed it to debt collectors before I remind them of the problems and they apologise and say they wont bother me again. They have even sent me a cheque for £75 as an apology.

This time the arrogant **** is trying to say that all those letter count as giving me warning of it being sent to a debt collector, however, I state that those previous letters are void, as per their own admonition.

It seem since I went on Resolver, they have taken a hard !!! attitude with me. They won't reply to any of my questions on there.

techquest

bris wrote: »

The only reason it can be an estimated bill is because you are not sending them readings, allowing them access to read the meters and not paying them.


What options are you leaving them?

Not convinced these days they all send out readers anyway. I have had estimates even though the meters are on an outside wall with free access to the property. In any event £7K to £15K is huge, surely not for normal domestic use.

Comms69

jamesgough wrote: »

The Morrison's meter reader comes every 3 months. I've sent photos 3 times. This week they said I am not sending all the photos they need. I asked them what I need to take photos of. I've now sent 8 photos of all angles of my boiler closet meter room. The online system wont let me add the readings. I've emailed them the numbers countless times. - It's 5 numbers, how hard is that to photograph and send them? Why aren't you letting the meter readers check? The simple fact is that this isn't an estimated bill if they've been checking; it's simply an unpaid bill.

I've been paying them a nominal monthly fee for years, but they now say that isn't a payment plan. - what does that mean? What's nominal, £1?

They say they have sent me warning letter, but even when they have passed it to debt collectors before I remind them of the problems and they apologise and say they wont bother me again. They have even sent me a cheque for £75 as an apology. - No idea what you're talking about now

This time the arrogant **** is trying to say that all those letter count as giving me warning of it being sent to a debt collector, however, I state that those previous letters are void, as per their own admonition. - rubbish

It seem since I went on Resolver, they have taken a hard !!! attitude with me. They won't reply to any of my questions on there.

You owe them money. Pay it.

peter_the_piper

Curious to know what the nominal fee is, an average house uses up to £150 a month, anywhere near that? cos the £7000-£15000 just does not make sense.