Debt collection issue when I don’t owe anything

Checkpoint_Charlie

Hello there! I’ll summarise and any advice/experience, I thank you in advance!

• Received a letter yesterday from BW Legal saying they are collecting a debt for an unpaid EON bill from 2nd -29th November 2016
• I don’t owe this and I still have an email from EON acknowledging I was moving out of that property on the 1st Nov 2016 
• I cannot get through to BW Legal to discuss this - if the call gets through at all I’m told I’m in a queue for a ridiculous amount of time. I’m assuming this is a tactic they apply on purpose.
• I’ve emailed EON to complain but not heard back yet

It’s only £34 but it’s the principle of EON being in the wrong and leaving it FIVE years to get in touch - and I’m still their customer in the house that I moved to! However I’m concerned it will (unfairly) impact my credit rating if I delay while I try and sort it and for the sake of not getting stressed I’m thinking I could just pay it. Additionally I don’t know if an email would be accepted as evidence EON knew?

Any thoughts?
Thanks for reading if you got this far!

Ergates

Don't phone them, you need an audit trail  - Email or write.

An email from EON *should* be accepted as evidence they accept you were moving out.

On 1st Nov 2016, when you moved, did you go straight to being an EON customer at your new address?   That might help too as it would back up the email (showing that you moved).

Checkpoint_Charlie

Thanks Ergate, I will email them. 

And yes, I did take EON with me - I have the emails where we agreed it - though I think I remember it took a couple of weeks to actually cancel current supplier and for EON to take over but I presume that’s pretty normal in a house move.

Thanks again 👍 

Keep_pedalling

Something odd seems to be happening here as there are several threads over on the Energy board with the same happening to other people including this one.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6318163/i-think-im-being-scammed-by-eon#latest

Belenus

My advice is to ignore the letter from BW Legal. They cannot affect your credit rating without taking you to court and getting a CCJ ( County Court Judgement) against you and that is extremely unlikely.

Ignore any further correspondence unless you get a LBA (Letter Before Action) or a County Court Claim and the chances of this going any further than meaningless threatening letters is vanishingly small so please don't worry. Anyway, you have all the proof you need to easily defend any court claim.

Don't waste time and energy attempting to contact BW and stop worrying and stressing.

Whatever you do, do not pay them a penny.

BW Legal have probably just bought a load of debts, some valid some not, and are mass mailing everyone hoping some will pay without putting up a fight.

Your debt is not valid so do not let them intimidate you. 

Checkpoint_Charlie

To everyone who has replied - thank you SO much It is really heartwarming you’ve taken the time to read the post and give thoughts, information and advice - I really appreciate it and feel much better. Very good karma coming your way!