Extra Energy demanding payment of previous owners debt, in my name, years later

nLdn

Today I received a letter from Extra Energy claiming I owe them money from an outstanding bill but not stating the amount.

Background: when I bought the property just over 2 years ago the previous owner had been absent for months and there were demand letters for her for around £200+.

I joined Extra Energy for a few weeks on my own account. I explained the change of ownership and did everything I was supposed to in terms of meter reads etc. I moved on to another supplier as soon as I could, a few weeks later and settled my relatively small final bill. I've heard nothing more from them until today.

Back to today: I called up and quoted the account number in the letter and was told the amount owed is around the same figure I remember the previous owner owing. I stated that this is not my debt, I've paid my own final bill 2 years ago and had heard nothing from them. The agent insisted I must owe them something and asked me to put my concerns on writing, which I will tomorrow.

Since the call I've checked my details and I realise that the account number they quoted is not my account number, it's some other one.

Is it possible they have simply transferred my name onto the previous owners account as well as starting a new one for me?

Given Extra Energy have been put into administration recently o wonder of this is some data c*ck up this has happened to other people recently. Anyone?

Any advice?

Thanks

D_M_E

Reply - in writing by letter - First, ask for a breakdown of what the bill is for, tariff, period billed and units used and see wehat they reply with.


Second, depending on their reply to above, reply asking why they expect you to pay someone else's account.
Point out that the account number supplied is not the one that they gave you when you were on supply with them and see what they come back with in answer to that and also look closely at what periods/dates they are trying to bill you for.

You kept copies of your bills from them?

nLdn

I'm going to dig in the morning and pull everything out. I'm pretty sure I have last bills for me etc plus the big bill for previous owner from when I moved in.

How come my details have been added to her debt despite me having spoken to the company at the time, set up and settled my own account?

Is it worth me also making a subject access request asking for details of how my name found its way onto this other account?