Debt recovery letter from Barrett Smith & Brown

ariarnia

in an earlier post there was some great advice from EssexHebridean including about the 'prove it' letter template on the dfw forum. that's the advice you should follow. 

here's a direct link to that letter template: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter

Ectophile

lostfoot said:

Should I contact them and just pay as I can't afford even more charges that they may add on and I don't want debt collectors turning up on my door demanding money?

No.  You contact them saying you don't know anything about this alleged debt, and asking them to prove that you owe them the money.

macman

Debt collectors have no power of entry, so you can just ignore them.
Ask them (in writing) to prove the debt. 

ariarnia

macman said:

Debt collectors have no power of entry, so you can just ignore them.
Ask them (in writing) to prove the debt. 

someone as worried as the poster comes accorss to be about the debt would probably find that more difficult than sending the prove it letter and going from there. its not easy standing on the doorstep in that situation.  

macman

I don't think the OP is that worried, as they received the email back in June, and didn't think it necessary to respond at the time. They're just fishing, by sending bulk emails, which is a cheap way to bring in some funds.
I was simply making the OP aware that debt collectors are not bailiffs, and can be asked to leave the premises. No need to discuss anything with them on the doorstep.

FreeBear

macman said: I was simply making the OP aware that debt collectors are not bailiffs, and can be asked to leave the premises. No need to discuss anything with them on the doorstep.

One does not ask. They need to be instructed to leave by the quickest method possible. No please or thank you required, just keep it civil to start with.

My lodger (now gone) had threats of a doorstep visit from an "agent". Never happened.

Bourne

I received an this email from UP this morning. Is it a case of gross incompetence or an organised scam?

Bourne

Having looked at the message headers it does appear to be a genuine email from Utility Point. I can only assume my guess of gross incompetence was the correct one and that they simply forgot to shut down all their systems.

DE_612183

Is the account number correct?

How can you be in credit but yet they want payment?

That link is dodgy as well.

avoint

So I am in a similar position to the OP here. Having sent them a Prove it Letter by email the replied that the debt is not FCA regulated and so it does not apply. I am requesting a copy of my account to reconcile the amount owed but they cannot supply this so I have no proof that this amount is due and they will only send a copy of the final bill. I have now asked them to only contact me by mail however today they send an email adding an additional Admin charge to the account.

I am in direct contact now with the receivers and have asked them to produce the necessary account breakdown to justify their requests but BBS are real cowboys.