SSE Energy & IMFS Debt Collector

thomastom

Hi all,

New here so apologies if this topic is in the wrong space or if this topic has been covered (I have looked!) 

I moved out of my flat in August of 2021, closed the accounts, paid it all and moved on. I had a call not long after my moving out from SSE regarding unpaid bills etc, the lady I spoke to was great, saw it was a mistake on their side and made sure to cancel, put a note on the account. 

I received a text yesterday from IMFS debt collectors telling me to check my spam email where I found an email stating I owe £371?! I called SSE to be on the phone for over two hours, spoke to 5 different people and the last person I spoke to was from the final payments team who stated she was looking at the account, saw my credit was £0 and the account was indeed closed. I've asked for this information to be emailed to me to have in writing but yet to receive (fingers crossed).

I just wanted to reach out and see if anyones had similar experiences with SSE or IMFS? Or if it's happened to you? I don't mean to be woe is me but I honestly can barely afford my rent/bills as it is let alone have a debt collector chase me for £371, which is a debt I don't believe I have. 

Thanks all and once again apologies if this is too long, in the wrong space etc. 

happydog100

yes I am having a similar experience right now , I haven't sat down and worked out meter readings etc , but I moved out of my previous flat end of august , I thought the final bill would be under £100 , but it is  more than double that. I will be looking into it and see if it's valid so I'll update this post. I got a letter from IMFS last week , which also has SSE letter heading on it.
I am sceptical about imfs , but the do seem to be a part of the SSE group itself.  I am with BritishGas now and so far so good.

ariarnia

best thing to do with an unexpected possible debt is to send a 'prove it' letter. 

theres a template and advice on this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter

if there is no debt they wont be able to prove it and should stop contacting you (if they dont then debt collecting is a regulated industry and you can complain to the regulator about harassment as here https://nationaldebtline.org/fact-sheet-library/harassment-by-creditors-ew/). if they do send you evidence then you can check with SSE again and go from there. keep everything in writing as debt collectors have been known to 'misunderstand' phone calls and its better evidence if you ever need it for a complaint. 

if theres a few people with this problem then it also helps if you can keep the thread updated so other people can find it (and becuse we like to know how things work out for people)

ex2t633w

For months I have been receiving bills from SSE , who is NOT MY PROVIDER !
At first I just marked them as " not known at this address" and reposted them .
They kept coming, with a thinly veiled threat of " further action which may include bailiffs".
I was furious, as I have been  with OCTOPUS for over a year and nothing to do with SSE,  so began emailing SSE, but no good, as they kept saying" you have written to the wrong address"etc.
I emailed what I thought was correct, and even supplied them with screenshots of my octopus bills and meter info.
I pointed out that these bills are not mine ,, even the postcode is different !
I hesitate to get the ball rolling( as Energy Ombudsman said) by ringing them, as I want everything in writing.
The final straw was today, an Agent suddenly appeared over my garden gate, telling me she was videoing  !
I am 78 and a widow , and suffering bereavement issues, so this intrusion really had me in a panic.
No warning, no phone call to make an appointment, just this harassment, asking to read my meter.. I refused and asked her to make an appointment if she needs to come in and read it.
I am shaking as I write, because reading what others say, this could escalate and end up in court .
I felt totally invaded in my own garden , and just want this all to go away.
Contacted C.Ad., but they just said keep sending bills back, but that didn't stop this visit today !
Tried Energy Ombudsman, but they say ring the company , but then there's no proof ,and it takes me back to square one again .
Tried RESOLVER, but it says they are not SSE now, but OVO?
Any advice gratefully accepted.

mac.d

ex2t633w said:

For months I have been receiving bills from SSE , who is NOT MY PROVIDER !

Tried Energy Ombudsman, but they say ring the company , but then there's no proof ,and it takes me back to square one again .
Tried RESOLVER, but it says they are not SSE now, but OVO?
Any advice gratefully accepted.

You should really start a new thread with your query, but anyway....

When did you move into the property?
Who was the supplier when you moved in, and did you register with them before signing up with Octopus?
Open one of the letters, does it say what date the bills are for and do the meter numbers match your meters?

If they don't match or if they're sending bills chasing up a previous occupier from before you moved in, then make a complaint to OVO (yes, they bought the retail part of SSE). See https://www.ovoenergy.com/feedback

Email or send a letter with your complaint, you don't need to phone them. OVO will then have 8 weeks to resolve the complaint, and if they haven't, then you can go to the energy ombudsman.