Debt recovery letter from Barrett Smith & Brown

ixedoc

I have received an email from this above firm to recover a debt I apparently owe Utility point. I have been with utility point a few years ago before I switched and I am pretty sure I have no outstanding bills as everything was on direct debit. How do I know this is not a fraudulent email. The letter looks pretty official and the no given is 0203 807 1347. I called them and asked for a bill which they said they will send. Is there any other way to find out if this is a genuine email and what else I could do to protect myself.
kind regards
Ixedoc

Mstty

Just because you have a direct debit that does not mean there was not a debit on your account when you left. Direct debits are rarely setup as variable to pay the whole monthly or quarterly amount in full they are just a guide for yearly usage.

You need to dig out your last bill/email and make sure it wasn't estimated and was the actual read you gave when you moved from that supplier.

FreeBear

If BSB are involved, I'd be wary. They appear to have had a security breach and information has landed up in the hands of scammers - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6322778/solarplicity-debt-collection-scam/p8

In your shoes, I would be demanding additional information (as well proof of debt) and get them to prove that they are not engaged in some sort of phishing scam.

ixedoc

Thankyou for all your input.

I did call the number. They asked me if I wanted to pay the outstanding amount. I asked them to send me a bill for the outstanding amount which they said they would but they havent sent me anything so far. It will be one week on Wednesday and in the initial email they had threatened to escalate the costs if I did not pay up. I havent received anything through the post. Can you please advise.
Kind regards

FreeBear

Keep all communications in writing - Either letter (preferable) or email. Then you have a paper trail of what was said. Phone conversations can be denied unless you record them.

Pete99

I don't think I'd be ringing a number supplied by them, maybe a better idea to contact the administrators of Utility Point directly, look up Utility Point on gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company under the insolvency tab, there's an address but no phone number for some reason.

Gerry1

Pete99 said:

I don't think I'd be ringing a number supplied by them, maybe a better idea to contact the administrators of Utility Point directly, look up Utility Point on gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company under the insolvency tab, there's an address but no phone number for some reason.

From Ofgem:-

Administrators: Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP

Address: Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP, Suite 3 Regency House, 91 Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2NW.

Telephone: 020 7715 5200

Email: INS-UTILPL@alvarezandmarsal.com

ixedoc

Thank you! I shall make contact with them straight away.
Kind regards

northernstar007

surely when he switched any debt would have carried onto new supplier ??

pochase

northernstar007 said:

surely when he switched any debt would have carried onto new supplier ??

That is only the case for prepayment meters and for a debt of less than £500.

For credit meters you will either not be able to switch at all, or you have to pay the final bill to the old supplier.

https://www.payplan.com/blog/can-i-change-energy-supplier-if-in-debt/

EssexHebridean

ixedoc said:

I have received an email from this above firm to recover a debt I apparently owe Utility point. I have been with utility point a few years ago before I switched and I am pretty sure I have no outstanding bills as everything was on direct debit. How do I know this is not a fraudulent email. The letter looks pretty official and the no given is 0203 807 1347. I called them and asked for a bill which they said they will send. Is there any other way to find out if this is a genuine email and what else I could do to protect myself.
kind regards
Ixedoc

Firstly, an email is not a "recognised" way for a debt - if genuine - to be chased. You can ignore it entirely if you so wish - ultimately if there genuinely is a debt to be pursued they would need to write to you.

If you DO get a letter from them, then the first thing is to send the "Prove It" letter - you'll find the link to that over on the DFW board. Give no more information than the Prove It allows for - don't be giving them personal information they don't have, and don't confirm anything about dates of supply etc at that point - send the Prove it and see what happens. (You could do this in relation to the email if you so wished, but send it via hard copy in the post) - a huge majority of these contacts simply go away as a result of the prove It being sent. 

Generally speaking, on any matter of an alleged debt, the advice is not to call, but to keep everything in writing. Paper trails are golden!