Debt Collection - Bristol vs Together Energy

rach2893

Hi everyone - looking for some advice or to see if any has dealt with something similar!

I moved into a property in March and decided to go with Octopus energy as my provider, all went swimmingly and as expected I got a closing statement from the previous provider which is where it starts to go wrong. 

Bristol energy sent me a bill for ~£30 which I paid straight away, dates etc all aligned and it was addressed to my partner. A couple of weeks later, I then receive a letter from Together Energy for ~£50, for the same dates but addressed to occupier. Together energy own Bristol energy so I called Together, told them we’d paid Bristol and they said it’s fine, it’s also not addressed to you so you can ignore it.

A few months go past and I receive a letter from a debt collection agency addressed to occupier for the outstanding Together energy bill. We called Together three times and were told it was fine we can ignore but it cut out so tried again and was told we’d get a call back which never happened.

I’ve now just received a letter from the debt agency addressed to the occupier stating that are now looking at starting legal proceedings and a CCJ will effect my credit score.

We want to buy a house in a year or two so my partner is really nervous and just wants to pay the £50 but I don’t think we should! Does anyone have advice on what the best course of action is? Together are useless and always just say you’ll get a call back within 10 working days but as the dates match when we moved in and switched, I don’t feel like we can just ignore the letter?

JJ_Egan

You registered with the existing supplier upon moving in as per the rules ?? You are in a deemed contract with whoever the supplier at that property is .

At a guess you did not and the existing supplier sent you a bill .

EssexHebridean

a) "Credit scores" are just a made up number - lenders don't see them.

b) Even if a credit score was real, a "bad mark" on one in the name of "The Occupier" won't give you any problems.

c) A legitimate letter pursuing a debt needs to be addressed to an actual person - and if not addresed in that way can indeed be ignored. 

do you have access to your old Together/Bristol account with a zero balance showing? If so, screenshot that. If not, give them a call unrelated to the letter and just ask them to send you a copy of the final account confirming everything is square "for your records". 

EssexHebridean

JJ_Egan said:

You registered with the existing supplier upon moving in as per the rules ?? You are in a deemed contract with whoever the supplier at that property is .

At a guess you did not and the existing supplier sent you a bill .

rach2893 said:

Bristol energy sent me a bill for ~£30 which I paid straight away, dates etc all aligned and it was addressed to my partner. 

Can't see why Bristol would have sent a properly addressed bill if they'd not registered? 

benwarwick123

Hi,

Try contacting the chief executive of together energy.. heres his email..

Paul.Richards@togetherenergy.co.uk

explain all the details .. I'd expect a quick response.

dbks

rach2893 said:

Hi everyone - looking for some advice or to see if any has dealt with something similar!

I moved into a property in March and decided to go with Octopus energy as my provider, all went swimmingly and as expected I got a closing statement from the previous provider which is where it starts to go wrong. 

Bristol energy sent me a bill for ~£30 which I paid straight away, dates etc all aligned and it was addressed to my partner. A couple of weeks later, I then receive a letter from Together Energy for ~£50, for the same dates but addressed to occupier. Together energy own Bristol energy so I called Together, told them we’d paid Bristol and they said it’s fine, it’s also not addressed to you so you can ignore it.

A few months go past and I receive a letter from a debt collection agency addressed to occupier for the outstanding Together energy bill. We called Together three times and were told it was fine we can ignore but it cut out so tried again and was told we’d get a call back which never happened.

I’ve now just received a letter from the debt agency addressed to the occupier stating that are now looking at starting legal proceedings and a CCJ will effect my credit score.

We want to buy a house in a year or two so my partner is really nervous and just wants to pay the £50 but I don’t think we should! Does anyone have advice on what the best course of action is? Together are useless and always just say you’ll get a call back within 10 working days but as the dates match when we moved in and switched, I don’t feel like we can just ignore the letter?

Together Energy have provided you the best advice. i.e. Ignore.

No court in this land will entertain a claim against 'The Occupier', let alone grant a judgement.

No judgement = no effect on your credit history.
- even if a judgement were to be granted against 'The Occupier' (it won't be) then it won't affect you, @rach1893

brewerdave

Together Energy's "accounts" are a complete mess. Many people ae sent fictitious bills for £000s. There is a Facebook page set up by thoroughly p***ed off customers!

wild666

If it's addressed to the occupier then they don't know who lives there so they could just be speculating that whoever receives the demand will pay it.

doodling

Hi,

Can I just check that the following is what happened?

1. When you moved out of your old house you gave your supplier your final meter readings and they sent you a final bill, the supplier at that house was not Bristol, Together or Octopus.
2. When you moved into your new house you gave the supplier at that house the initial meter readings and your details so they could bill you.  This supplier was Bristol Energy.
3. At almost the same time that you moved into your new house you decided to change to Octopus, you spoke to them and arranged to change away from Bristol Energy.

If the above is what happened then I agree that you can ignore anything from Together Energy.

On the other hand (and the original post isn't completely clear) did this happen?

1. When you moved out of your old house you gave your supplier your final meter readings and they sent you a final bill, the supplier at that house was Bristol Energy.
2. When you moved into your new house you ignored the supplier at that house and didn't pay for any energy consumed between moving in and Octopus taking over the supply, nor give them a starting meter reading.  The supplier at your new house was Together Energy.
3. At almost the same time that you moved into your new house you decided to change to Octopus, you spoke to them and arranged to change away from Together Energy.

In the above case you definitely do owe Together Energy some money (or at the very least the meter readings from when you occupied the property to when Octopus took over).  In this case you are also at risk of being pursued for energy used by the previous occupants so it is worth sorting out.

rach2893

Thanks everyone! I think it doesn’t help the case that our agency use tenant shop so they pass your information along to the providers in the property you move into!

They kept passing me back and forth between the two companies today so will try again & if not email the CEO as suggested!

doodling

Hi,

rach2893 said:

Thanks everyone! I think it doesn’t help the case that our agency use tenant shop so they pass your information along to the providers in the property you move into!

They kept passing me back and forth between the two companies today so will try again & if not email the CEO as suggested!

I'm even more confused now.  As soon as you move into the new property then you have a contract with the existing supplier at that property so it seems only reasonable that they have "your information".  This "deemed contract" is set up by law and cannot be avoided.

It is starting to sound more and more like you failed to engage with the existing supplier at the property you moved in to and consequently they've sent you a bill for the time / energy used between them last getting a meter reading and when you transferred to Octopus.

The important thing to remember is that suppliers supply properties, not people.  When you move into a new place you must deal with the existing supplier, even if you are planning to move away from them straight away.