5yr and 10 month Utility Debt

i_Seeker

Hello all,

Today I got a letter from E-ON who told me about a debt at an old address that they had sold to Lowell. The debt is under £100.

My last payment (I think, it was such a long time ago!) was in MAY 2013. When I moved out, I called all of the companies I paid bills to at the time, paid the outstanding amount and then gave them my forwarding address.

With E-ON, I did a meter reading with them and confirmed that I had paid them everything. Nevertheless, I left a forwarding address, just in case.

I never heard from them again. They never tried to chase the debt. I moved again a year later (in 2014), but in the first year, they had my address and never chased me for any money. I don't owe them any money.

I don't know where this 'debt' came from, but I certainly did not run away without paying.

The debt is due to become statute barred in 2 months (approximately).

What do I do?

Seeker.

sourcrates

Hi,

If E-ON have only just sold the debt to Lowell, by the time they have worked through there set of standard letters, it will of passed the statute barred date, and you can then write and tell them so.

D_M_E

Coulod be worth doing a SAR to EON - might confirm what you believe about final payments.

You are also entitled to request and see from Lo9well a breakdown of how the "debt" has been calculated and what it's for.

i_Seeker

Thank you both for your response.

I intend on stringing this out long enough for this 'debt' to become statute barred.

My understanding is that by discussing or paying the debt, can result in extending the time or having it start again. So if run out of ways to ignore them before it becomes statute barred, what stalling tactics can I use (other than just plain ignoring them)?

Thanks again.

CakeCrusader

Careful with utilities, they don't usually become statute barred until 6 years after the last bill (assuming there's been no payment after). If the last bill was produced in October 2013, it won't be statute barred until October 2019. It's best to send them a 'prove it' letter and take a look at what they produce.

i_Seeker

Thanks CakeCrusader, by sending the prove it letter, will it reset the 6 years?

Also, I read that the 6 years lapses after the last payment was made. Is this not true?

CakeCrusader

i_Seeker wrote: »

Thanks CakeCrusader, by sending the prove it letter, will it reset the 6 years?

Also, I read that the 6 years lapses after the last payment was made. Is this not true?

No, it won't reset the 6 years, you have to be really careful how it's worded though, 'the debt that you claim that I owe', and don't sign it. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter



In consumer debts (like a loan or a credit card) the 6 years lapses after the last payment, but utilities are different, sadly. https://debtcamel.co.uk/statute-barred-debt/#What_about_utilities