Peoples' Energy, Utility Point and Credit Style (alleged) debt

WilltheGee

Just got a Letter from 'Credit Style' chasing some money. 

Very quick history:

I was with Peoples' Energy for a year and the Utility Point up until they all went bust in the Autumn. Now with EDF., 

When I switched from PE to UP, I got an email not long after from UP saying that the meter reading was an 'industry reading' and was about 2,600Kw/H out (in my favour), suggesting an adjusted reading. They said they would dispute it for me and that it would take a couple of m=onths. I have the email chain on record for this. This was back in min July (2021)

Then all the companies went bust. I now have 'Credit Style' chasing me for the erroneous amount, brandishing my Peoples' Energy final bill from March last year.

Does anyone know what my legal position is regarding all this and who (if anyone) I can appeal to? I'm really worried that this might mess up my credit record as about to apply for a mortgage. 

WilltheGee

I should add that I've spent all day trying to contact them and they don't answer the phone. Just cuts off after about 15 minutes of hold music. 

QrizB

Do you have a bill showing that you've paid someone for those 2600kWh? Either your closing bill from PE or your opening one from UP?

If you've paid for them, you should be able to prove it. If you haven't paid for them, you'll probably have to pay someone, sometime.

WilltheGee

No it was under dispute as a closing bill. The industry estimate overestimated our usage. I do have subsequent bills showing the discrepancy and also emails from UP saying that there had been a mistake. 

QrizB

If you can't show that you've paid for thsoe kWh, you'll almost certainly have to pay either PE or UP.

Which has the lowest unit rate?

a18041967

I'd like some advise on this matter, today I received the following random text message:

"Please contact Credit Style urgently on 0330 045 0650 reference: 9999999"

I'm assuming this relates to Peoples Energy, I was a customer, I've not received any details of debt either via email or post. Credit Style never answer the phone, do not reply to messages that they ask you to leave. It is impossible to work out if I owe any money and if I do how much and how to pay?

I transferred from Peoples Energy to Scottish Power on 29/12/2020 and paid a closing balance of £402.15, then magically Peoples Energy decided that I needed to pay an extra £89 on the 12/02/2021. I challenged this as I had paid the closing balance of £402 and asked what the additional money was. As you can guess I never got an answer and I'm assuming this is what Credit Style are chasing.

In the event that there's a dispute when a company ceases to trade how are these matters handled, I do not want to get a bad credit record but Credit Style will not care and want the money regardless.
  

EssexHebridean

 You can safely ignore a “random text message” asking you to contact a debt collection agency. In fact that’s by far the best thing to do with it! 

Never assume that you know what they might be chasing for either - it is up to them to prove to you that there is an enforceable debt and they must do this by writing to you. As and when they do, you can then send the Prove It letter - if there is a genuine debt you will the find out the detail. If there’s not, and they are just “fishing” they will most likely go away. 

vikingdog

I know this is old but if any one else searches for it:

I received a similar letter from Credit Style, there was no previous correspondence from Peoples Energy.

Contacted British Gas today and they said it was a scam and to ignore. Futhermore, as I ignore it i should not recieve any follow up or threats of further action and if I do to contact British Gas again.

I asked British Gas to email me a confirmation letter and that should be with me later today saying that as they took over the account there is nothing outstanding to other suppliers