RICHBURNS/Debt Collector letter addressed to Owner/Occupier!!

sujsuj

I moved to my new house 3 months ago, Now I have a letter from RICHBURNS talking about 'Your Overdue Scottish Power Account' of £10K  !!
I never used Scottish Power in my house and moved to house newly!! I am really stressed after seeing this letter
As these are debt collectors I am being harassed for something I never used/involved. How could an debt collector send out letter with out Name of person involved and addressed to House Owner//Occupier..? I know I never had to pay for this, but still this caused me unnecessary stress today.. How can i legally deal with this and make RICHBURNS pay for the stress they caused me today..?
I know they might have bought this debt from Scottish Power and trying to see if some silly person will pay this based on random letter!

Gerry1

When you took possession, did you register with the incumbent provider(s) and give opening meter readings(s)?  If not, you will have been on an expensive Deemed Contract the moment you switched on a light or turned on a gas appliance.

If the previous occupant failed to give a closing reading or gave a reading that was too low then you could also be faced with their debts.

sujsuj

Yes there was an incumbent provider (EON) and I used them for 2 months  and closed account and moved to another supplier. This bill is historic one. May be much before my first supplier. Bill is not even addressed to me!!

Oneye12

"How could an debt collector send out letter with out Name of person involved and addressed to House Owner//Occupier..? "

Debt collectors use all sorts of nasty tactics ......

Simply send a snotty communication (preferably email / send a duplicate) stating it is not your debt.

You should not hear from them again as they will make no money pursuing you.

sujsuj

I know I don't own anything to them, even then such as letter caused me enough stress and spent last 2 hour to find information/solution for this. I can just imagine if I was an 70+ old with some health issue how much stressful this could be!!!
This shouldn't happen to anyone....This is really wrong and must be stopped

sujsuj

I thought of sending this letter/email, but in that way they will get my name and email address. At the moment they don't have that information as letter is addressed to occupier. Why should I give my details to them..? Same reason why don't want to call them either. Probably best to call Scottish Power...?? This is really nasty business!!
Letter says they will visit my house, I don't want to even open my Gate for them as this is nothing to do with me.

Neil_Jones

sujsuj said:

I know I don't own anything to them, even then such as letter caused me enough stress and spent last 2 hour to find information/solution for this. I can just imagine if I was an 70+ old with some health issue how much stressful this could be!!!
This shouldn't happen to anyone....This is really wrong and must be stopped

In the future anything that comes to you that isn't addressed to you personally scribble "Name not known at this address, return to sender" and pop it back in the postbox unopened.

On occasion some post may arrive address to the occupier but if you look at the return address on the back you should be able to work out who its from, if not a quick Google will give you a clue.

sujsuj

Many letters come addressed to occupier. I remember my Census letter came addressed to Occupier. i already opened letter, so probably return after resealing it. but this is unbearable stress this evening for no reason!!

Gerry1

Some similarities with https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6249559/bulb-not-seeing-the-light

sujsuj

but that case is different, because there was a tenant who used the service. In this case I bought house 3 months ago and Scottish Power never supplied me any service. When I moved in it was EON.Bill says £10K!!! Mental stress when you see unexpected £10K bill is not that bearable! (though I know I don't owe them any!)

nottsphil

I would advise you to check your credit record, which you can do for free. It may have been affected by your residence at this address.