United Utilities

Nylamummy

Good morning, I was wondering if anybody was able to offer some advice on the following situation, which I have found my self in :-(

I have never had a CCJ - and tend to check my credit file every few months. I checked last night and there is an active CCJ logged on there from United Utilities dated November 2021 for £705 - in my maiden name (I have been married for 19 years!) and at an address I left in 2014 - but continued to rent out for around four years until my husband and I separated and he moved back in, which was roughly three years ago. I had no idea that there was an issue with united utilities at all, and I continued to pay the bills whilst it was rented out (per room) until my ex-husband took over the property. My ex-husband on moving in, changed it into his name and is up-to-date with payments. I obviously have not received any letters, any court papers or phone calls from them (I still have the same mobile and email address). I don't think i owe them any money as I had a monthly direct debit which was taken out each month, so I have no idea where this has come from?

I have contacted the courts this morning and they said I can either pay up or dispute it. If I dispute it, then I am not sure "knowing nothing about it" would stand up, and if I pay it off (even though i have no idea what it is for, and I would of disputed it had I known before court), it may still not be removed off my credit file. Or should I just let the time run out (6 years) with it active on my credit file waiting for it to drop off - can they do anything against me or the home I mortgage?

If I contact them now, I am hesitate to give them my new address in case they send bailiffs around for the debt, that I was not aware of/would of challenged owing. I am just so shocked and confused......

Has anyone been in this situation, and can offer any words of advice?

[Deleted User]

Nylamummy said:

I don't think i owe them any money as I had a monthly direct debit which was taken out each month, so I have no idea where this has come from?

Your monthly direct debit doesn't mean that you don't owe them any money, if the amount was insufficient.

You could dispute it, but it's highly likely that the debt is valid. The CCJ will remain valid after it is removed from your files, so I would deal with it now.