npower chasing me for money for an address I never lived at

JohnB47

Farway said:

gillg57 said:

I’d love to send them a letter by Royal Mail signed for but they only provide a P.O. Box number so not sure there would be anyone to sign for it.

You do not need to get it signed for, get proof of posting [free] at the PO counter. Once posted it is deemed in law to have been delivered, you do not require proof of arrival at the address

I have a gut feeling that this is not true. Can you quote an authoritative source for this?

dogshome

Before electronic communications, there was only Royal Mail post and commerce needed certainty that documents had been delivered - Law was brought in that a letter sent by Royal Mail was 'deemed' to have been delivered in 48hrs - That still stands, and even better, you can opt for a FREE certificate of posting.

When dealing with n'power Complaints, it's wise to use Royal Mail - Not too long ago n'power were under the hammer from Ofgem for the number of customer complaints, and to do so n'power came up with some 'Creative' ways to comply.

Emails had not been received  -  Officially closing Complaints when they had not been resolved - Computer Error

matelodave

I had a problem with an insurance company, where I'd sent them some original documents and they denied ever receiving them.
They put a bit more effort into finding them when I produced the delivery receipt and suddenly, just like magic, they re-appeared.

Smodlet

It works... Some of the time.

sassy_one

I had a very similar experience but with another energy supplier.

Basically I received a bill, not a very huge one, something around £300 for an address I never lived at or knew about.
I certainly never had any energy accounts in my name anywhere either.
I told them this, they investigated, told me it must of been me as my details (name, dob) were exactly correct.
They said provide proof of where you were living at the time this supply was live, I did.
They then came back and said I had an address link on my credit file with the supplied address? Well obviously it would be if someone used my details!

In the end they rejected my complaint, after almost 10 months.
Told me to pay or I'd be defaulted and the debt sold.
I completed to the regulator, investigation opened.
They sided with the energy firm.
They said they had proof it was my details used, and said they can't get involved with evidence gathering to prove otherwise.

Obtained a crime reference number, supplied this to the energy provider along with correspondence from ActionFraud who stated I was the victim of fraud and another firm already registered this.

They weren't moving.
I suspect because if they admitted it wasn't my debt they'd end up having to wipe the debt.

They said you can set up a payment plan

You know in life I try to do the right way, but sometimes it doesn't work.
I told them in the end to do one and I wouldn't be paying, now or anytime.
I told the debt collection agency the same who they instructed, they passed it back and refused to act for them.

Ectophile

JohnB47 said:

Farway said:

gillg57 said:

I’d love to send them a letter by Royal Mail signed for but they only provide a P.O. Box number so not sure there would be anyone to sign for it.

You do not need to get it signed for, get proof of posting [free] at the PO counter. Once posted it is deemed in law to have been delivered, you do not require proof of arrival at the address

I have a gut feeling that this is not true. Can you quote an authoritative source for this?

Section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (as amended). http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/30/2020-01-31

But that only applies to things where a law says you need to serve notice on somebody.