3 Year Old Bill from Npower Out Nowhere

WilltheGee

I just received a letter from a debt collection company (Lowell). They are trying to collect £475 for a final bill that I apparently owed Npower from March 2018 (Over 3 years ago). I have absolutely no recollection of owing this money but apparently it is from when I switched suppliers back then. I did switch suppliers but assumed that any money had been transferred between suppliers - it was done via a 3rd party switching company. 

Lowells say that as final bill was sent out to me back in 2018 but I don't recall receiving any such thing. Either it was lost in the post or they never sent it. I certainly did not receive any reminders of any kind and Lowells aren't disputing this either. I have been at the same address for 10 years so they could have easily contacted me. 

I think it's pretty unfair to come up with something like this out of the blue, over 3 years after the event. I haven't records at all re energy bills going back that far. Do they actually have a right to pursue me for this after all this time? The guy from Lowells says apparently they do. 

user1977

WilltheGee said:

I did switch suppliers but assumed that any money had been transferred between suppliers

That's not what happens. If you owed your old supplier money then you would (normally) have to pay it directly to them.

But you'd probably better be posting on the relevant utilities board rather than here.

Aylesbury_Duck

WilltheGee said:

I just received a letter from a debt collection company (Lowell). They are trying to collect £475 for a final bill that I apparently owed Npower from March 2018 (Over 3 years ago). I have absolutely no recollection of owing this money but apparently it is from when I switched suppliers back then. I did switch suppliers but assumed that any money had been transferred between suppliers - it was done via a 3rd party switching company. 

Lowells say that as final bill was sent out to me back in 2018 but I don't recall receiving any such thing. Either it was lost in the post or they never sent it. I certainly did not receive any reminders of any kind and Lowells aren't disputing this either. I have been at the same address for 10 years so they could have easily contacted me. 

I think it's pretty unfair to come up with something like this out of the blue, over 3 years after the event. I haven't records at all re energy bills going back that far. Do they actually have a right to pursue me for this after all this time? The guy from Lowells says apparently they do. 

They do.  They have up to six years in which to pursue a debt.  You need to get onto npower to get copies of your records and the final bill so you can satisfy yourself that the debt is accurate.  They will have them.

neilmcl

WilltheGee said:

I just received a letter from a debt collection company (Lowell). They are trying to collect £475 for a final bill that I apparently owed Npower from March 2018 (Over 3 years ago). I have absolutely no recollection of owing this money but apparently it is from when I switched suppliers back then. I did switch suppliers but assumed that any money had been transferred between suppliers - it was done via a 3rd party switching company. 

Lowells say that as final bill was sent out to me back in 2018 but I don't recall receiving any such thing. Either it was lost in the post or they never sent it. I certainly did not receive any reminders of any kind and Lowells aren't disputing this either. I have been at the same address for 10 years so they could have easily contacted me. 

I think it's pretty unfair to come up with something like this out of the blue, over 3 years after the event. I haven't records at all re energy bills going back that far. Do they actually have a right to pursue me for this after all this time? The guy from Lowells says apparently they do. 

That doesn't generally happen. You give your new supplier a set of final readings then the old supplier bills you for what, if any, is owed, or alternatively gives you a refund if you're in credit. Normally this is pretty seamless and done via DD, I take it you didn't have a DD set up or cancelled it as soon as you switched.

As mentioned, they have 6 years in which to chase you for this bill.

WilltheGee

Great thanks for the info!