MIL collections shell energy

coathook4567

Hi, I’ve recently moved into a property (renting) supplied by She’ll energy - we have been receiving letters addressed to the occupier from MIL debt collectors for the period ‘from 4th of February’. The most recent letter says to ‘get in touch to set up an account for energy’. We moved in on the 17th of June and set up our energy accounts (staying with shell) on the same day.  I know similar questions have been asked on this forum, but what I’m finding concerning is the ‘from 4th February’ and ‘set up your energy account’ statements. It doesn’t seem like they’re chasing for an old debt for a fixed period, ie ‘from 4th of February to 5th of June’, but more like it’s an ongoing issue with multiple energy accounts being active at the same address or something like that. I just don’t quite know what to do, as I don’t want to get in touch with MIL directly as numerous horror stories about their heavy handed techniques - but also I’m not liable to pay anytbing as we have been paying utilities since we moved in (have received bills and given meter readings etc from the day we moved) and there is no name on the letter. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. 

Ectophile

Most likely it's your landlord's problem.  Pass the bills on to them.  You're only responsible from the day you moved in.  Don't do anything that sounds like you're taking on debts from before then.

If the property has been empty for a few weeks, then it's the landlord's bill for that period.

coathook4567

Thanks - that’s what I have been doing so far - it’s just because the period is so open ended so scared they’ll try and pin it on us from the 17th - despite having our own energy account since then!

[Deleted User]

coathook4567 said:

Thanks - that’s what I have been doing so far - it’s just because the period is so open ended so scared they’ll try and pin it on us from the 17th - despite having our own energy account since then!

You are responsible for charges from the day that you became responsible for the property - even if you didn’t move in on that day. Some suppliers will ask to see proof of ownership or tenancy to confirm the charging start date.

coathook4567

[Deleted User] said:

coathook4567 said:

Thanks - that’s what I have been doing so far - it’s just because the period is so open ended so scared they’ll try and pin it on us from the 17th - despite having our own energy account since then!

You are responsible for charges from the day that you became responsible for the property - even if you didn’t move in on that day. Some suppliers will ask to see proof of ownership or tenancy to confirm the charging start date.

Yes we became responsible on the 17th June, moved in on that day, set up utilities accounts with Shell and have been paying ever since 

coathook4567

As far as I can tell it seems like the previous tenants didn’t close their accounts properly or something like that leading to MIL chasing ‘the occupier’ for debt and trying to establish details about the utility supply - even though we set it all up on the day we became responsible