Octopus passed my bill to AIC Collections Team

longwalks1

I get my gas and electric from Octopus Energy since being switched to them when my last provider went under last year.  I was paying previous provider £80pcm DD but cancelled it when announced they were going under. Since then, I’ve paid my Octopus Energy bill every month, when I give a meter reading. The new bill comes through an hour later online and I pay it, on time, every time. 

Just had an email from AIC Collection Team Saying my accounts been passed to them due to non payment of my bill??  Can they do this?  I’ll be uploading a revised dual meter reading before the end of the month ( like I always do) and paying it in full an hour later, so why the need for passing it on to the ‘collections team’?

[Deleted User]

Rather than post here, give Octopus CS a call on 0808 164 1088

Astria

Is it actually from Octopus, or the previous company?

Octopus wouldn't normally pass on a debt until several months have passed. I've missed a payment before with them and all they did was send me a reminder email, and it paid it in full then.

pochase

That does not follow the process that Octopus describes on their own website.

I agree with @Astria that looks more like a former supplier. Does it say Octopus on the email you received?

Martico

"I was paying previous provider £80pcm DD but cancelled it when announced they were going under"

Was there a balance left unpaid on that account?

longwalks1

Hi all, this is the exact wording from the email (minus my name and acct number).  When the balance was passed over to Octopus, I paid the outstanding balance straight away in one big payment (it was about £600).  This email below is for a balance of £107.13 (about 2 weeks use at current rate) 

“Your account has been passed to us by our client Octopus Energy due to non-payment of your Energy Bill.

Our client are supplying you with energy therefore it is important that the current outstanding balance is paid and your account is brought back up to date.

Please make payment today at  www.aiccorp.co.uk. Alternatively you can call us on 0141 457 7246, or by replying to this email

If you are finding it difficult to make full payment, there are other options available to you; our experienced team are here to help. Please call us on the telephone number listed below.”

Astria

I'd check your past bills to see which haven't been paid, or just ring October customer services, it's probably not a recent bill.

[Deleted User]

Debt passed over from the previous supply that you missed paying because of cancelled DD?  Given that a defunct supplier probably couldn't send you a final bill, could it have rolled over this way?

longwalks1

thanks again everyone.  No I’m certain it’s not an old bill, as about 18 days ago I submitted meter readings and paid up the previous bill in full, like I always do. So my balance was £0.00 then.  I’m guessing the £107.13 is from then. But why pass it onto another company so quickly?

I’ll call them tomorrow but I just wanted to arm myself with some facts before calling. 

Thanks again all 

[Deleted User]

longwalks1 said:

thanks again everyone.  No I’m certain it’s not an old bill, as about 18 days ago I submitted meter readings and paid up the previous bill in full, like I always do. So my balance was £0.00 then.  I’m guessing the £107.13 is from then. But why pass it onto another company so quickly?

I’ll call them tomorrow but I just wanted to arm myself with some facts before calling. 

Thanks again all 

I was thinking more that you've paid every bill which was from Octopus reading to Octopus reading. 

Have you checked that you've been charged (and paid for) the energy used between the last bill you paid to your previous supplier and the opening meter reading that you gave to Octopus?  I guess that's the £600-ish you mentioned, but check the meter readings that it related to (if you can).