First Utility/Shell Energy

Tommyh2017

Hi all,

Back in 2012 I had an account with First Utility. When I left, they gave me a final bill of approx: £400 for just under 4 summer months of duel fuel. At the time I queried it, but never heard back from them. After a while I started getting communications from a debt collectin agency. Again, I queried the final amount. After a while, I stopped getting any communication from either First Utility or the debt collection agency.

Fast forward to this year (almost 8 years later) and I started getting communications from a debt collection agency, regarding my "Shell Energy account". I didn't call them because I have never had an account with Shell, so I emailed the debt collection company that fact. They didn't repond to me, but just continued sending me demands for the £400 ish outstanding bill.

I emailed the CEO of Shell Energy, asking him to contact the debt collection agency as I believed them to be using his companys name to gain money from people. I got a response from the customer service team, stating that it was in regards to the First Utility account from 2012.

After a bit of tooing and frowing, I was offered a 20% discount, and although appreciated, I still disagreed with the final bill amount and asked for an accurate amount or I would go to the Ombudsman. We came to a "deadlock" and as such, I went to the Ombudsman as promised. I was awarded the debt to be written off, with a letter stating just that, as well as £60 "good will" payment for the inconvienience.

My question is this; obviously there was a default attached to my credit file, for the total amount back in 2012. I never followed it up in the quiet years, as I have a life, full-time job and kids etc. I also divorced from my ex I was living with at the time of the alleged account. But having the default on the account - quite clearly unfairly - for so many years, would have a) affected my ability to get credit, and b) means I would be charged more interest for having a default on the account.

Is there any way of either getting compensation from First Utility/Shell Energy above the £60, or do anything about getting my credit adjusted to suit the incorrect issue?

Sorry for the long winded post, I wanted to get it all down.

Thanks

Tom

[Deleted User]

No.  It's far too late and you've not quantified your loss.  They wouldn't have charged you interest on the account once you defaulted.

The default will have fallen off your file if applied in 2012, so your credit needs no 'adjustment'.

Tommyh2017

I mean, because it was on my file and I applied for credit, I would have been offered either high interest or none, meaning my debts were higher than they would have been without said default.

sambaird

What exactly have you lost and more to the point... how are you going to prove it - as in tangible hard written proof... not just figures you’ve made up in your head.

Stick with the £60 and be thankfully your actual debt was written off. You’ve lost nothing.

Skuzzer

Almost identical happening to me in 2020. Claiming almost £200 for 20 days of summer energy use in 2015 & the house was empty!

My last bill for June (30 days) was £10

The scoundrells appointed by Shell Energy to do the chasing don't even have a name to apply to their claims, just addressed to "The occupier".

One thing is for sure, First Utility/Shell are on my black list.