Npower debt July 2015 transferred to debt collector

Heldonearth

I lived in my last house for 21yrs until October 2020. In 2015 I changed my dual energy provider from npower. My understanding is that when the energy supplier takes over you give them your readings and any outstanding payments are transferred to them and sorted out through your new account.
Today I’ve received two letters in one envelope. One from npower telling me I have an outstanding debt which has been transferred to Lowell debt collection agency and another from the debt collection agency to say they have bought my npower account! Two things, is this legitimate? And secondly am I right in thinking debts reach statute at 6 yrs which this will be in 12 days. It is only £51 but I am bewildered that this is the first I am hearing about it.
Any advice or experience of a similar issue would be greatly appreciated. 

JJ_Egan

No debts dont get transferred if you swap suppliers .

Heldonearth

So they haven’t chased an outstanding balance until 6yrs later when a debt collection company has bought it? Does that sound right? 

Carrot007

Heldonearth said:

My understanding is that when the energy supplier takes over you give them your readings and any outstanding payments are transferred to them and sorted out through your new account.

Back then you gave you supplier final read I think (pretty much shoull still these days (well to both) as the entire process is not set up for giving it to the new supplier as they have to then give it to the old supplier and it added another level of possible !!!!!! ups).

Any way with or without reads you old supplier would have given you a final bill. Did you not pay it? what about the reminders? The 6 years (if it applies here) ticks from when the final bill was due (within reasonable time limits (which was a year at the time?), and depends of your contact with them since as well.

You have left out too much information to be able to give an answer to anythign though.

Heldonearth

I switched suppliers in the same address. My understanding was that the whole process was sorted out between the two suppliers.
I provided a final reading to npower paid whatever was asked and thought that was the end of it. Continued to live in that property for a further six years with no letters or contact of any sort until today. I’ve phoned Eon next and there is a department dealing with closed npower accounts as npower comes under them now but they are busy ( I wonder why ) and I can’t get through. I’m reluctant to have any dialogue with debt collectors until I can get real evidence of the debt owed. 

[Deleted User]

Heldonearth said:

I switched suppliers in the same address. My understanding was that the whole process was sorted out between the two suppliers.
I provided a final reading to npower paid whatever was asked and thought that was the end of it. Continued to live in that property for a further six years with no letters or contact of any sort until today. I’ve phoned Eon next and there is a department dealing with closed npower accounts as npower comes under them now but they are busy ( I wonder why ) and I can’t get through. I’m reluctant to have any dialogue with debt collectors until I can get real evidence of the debt owed. 

The only debts that are transferable between suppliers is when a prepayment meter is fitted. Why would you expect your new supplier to take on the debt from your old supplier? This doesn’t happen when you switch broadband providers; mobile phone providers etc. The amount owed becomes payable in full.

Heldonearth

Then why didn’t Npower conclude it when I transferred? More importantly why wait 6yrs to pursue it and their first contact be via a debt collecting agency? I have zero evidence to prove a debt even exists. The incompetency to date hardly suggests competency

Reed_Richards

It's not legal to pursue an old energy debt like this if they have not contacted you about it previously, or at least it is not now.  This was such a long time ago I'm not sure what the situation is.  

[Deleted User]

Reed_Richards said:

It's not legal to pursue an old energy debt like this if they have not contacted you about it previously, or at least it is not now.  This was such a long time ago I'm not sure what the situation is.  

You cannot apply the current BackBilling rules to a situation that occurred some years ago. In my view, there is more to this story than the OP is letting on. Debts of this nature are normally claimable through the Courts for up to 6 years.

Where did the OP get the impression from that the debit/credit balances transfer on a change of supplier? Presumably, he checked his first statement after the switch to see what the debit/credit balance was? If the OP was correct in his belief, the Final Bill from the old supplier would have shown the same credit/debit balance with confirmation that it had been transferred to the new supplier. In sum, there are too many things here that do not ring true.

This is one for the OP to pursue with the debt collection agency - taking legal advice if necessary.  Clearly, the debt collectors will need to provide evidence which shows that the debt exists. Saying that I thought it transferred to the new supplier is not a credible defence.

niktheguru

I agree this all sounds a bit suspect.

The OP though is within his right to get evidence that he owes the debt. Then he/she should just pay it. Its only £51 and save the hassle, as long as it is truly money owed.
What doesn't make sense is he said he "paid the monies owed" after giving the final read, but then also says he thought any debt moved to new supplier.....doesn't really make sense.

Reed_Richards

niktheguru said:

What doesn't make sense is he said he "paid the monies owed" after giving the final read, but then also says he thought any debt moved to new supplier.....doesn't really make sense.

It makes perfect sense if his conviction that any debt moved to the new supplier caused him to ignore all further correspondence from the old one.