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EDF nightmare

I sold a property just over 10 years ago, closed the account, gave readings, can't remember what the final balance was, I was probably in credit as was on DD.
I don't believe for 1 minute I owed them anything, if I did I would have paid it with the proceeds of the house!

Suddenly out of the blue, last month they send me a demand for £279 relating to that old account, the letter mentioned a bill they said they recently sent, but I never received.
I struggled to get through to them using phone, leaving message, and their "digital assistant", no response
. ..  I eventually spoke to a customer service adviser who advised that this is unusual with accounts that have been dormant for over 2 years, she said she would "escalate it".

Since then I have received another demand and now a FINAL NOTICE of intended legal action which will affect my credit rating.
I tried to call on the given numbers, one went dead after 15 minutes, the other spoke of a minimum 10 minute wait.

What should I do?
They continually speak of treating them with respect, they certainly havn't shown any towards me!
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Comments

  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 25,631 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Head over to the Debt Free Wannabe board - if the notice you have  had is a “Letter before action” they will advise on your next steps. They’re used to dealing with this sort of thing over there though so you can be confident you’ll get the right advice. 
    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 16,364 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Personally I'd start by sending them a subject access request where they have to provide all the information they have on you to prove why they think this debt is owed and should be paid.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe, Old Style Money Saving and Pensions boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board:  https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php

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  • Mobtr
    Mobtr Posts: 672 Forumite
    500 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    I sold a property just over 10 years ago, closed the account, gave readings, can't remember what the final balance was, I was probably in credit as was on DD.
    I don't believe for 1 minute I owed them anything, if I did I would have paid it with the proceeds of the house!

    Suddenly out of the blue, last month they send me a demand for £279 relating to that old account, the letter mentioned a bill they said they recently sent, but I never received.
    I struggled to get through to them using phone, leaving message, and their "digital assistant", no response
    . ..  I eventually spoke to a customer service adviser who advised that this is unusual with accounts that have been dormant for over 2 years, she said she would "escalate it".

    Since then I have received another demand and now a FINAL NOTICE of intended legal action which will affect my credit rating.
    I tried to call on the given numbers, one went dead after 15 minutes, the other spoke of a minimum 10 minute wait.

    What should I do?
    They continually speak of treating them with respect, they certainly havn't shown any towards me!
    I don’t think they can chase you for a debt that old, I thought the maximum was 6 years. Regardless it should be written off under backbilling code. Ring the complaints team on Monday, 0333 2005101
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 25,631 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Don’t call them. Better to keep everything in writing. If you were going to send any letters, then the “Prove It” letter would be a good start (template, again, is on DFW) - but if you have a letter before action it may be that they are taking it that in your previous discussions with them you have accepted liability for the debt. If you send the Prove It letter don’t be tempted to”freestyle it” and add any further information - whatever anyone on this board might suggest! 

    It may be that it is statute barred as it is over 6 years old - however it’s often best to simply get them to go away with the “Prove it”. If they do come up with something that proves it, then the Statute Barred letter would get deployed. 
    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
  • Mobtr
    Mobtr Posts: 672 Forumite
    500 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Will get dealt with a lot quicker if you ring the complaints team direct
  • Mobtr
    Mobtr Posts: 672 Forumite
    500 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    not sure why you think speaking directly to the complaints team is bad advice. They have the ability to put everything on hold to stop further escalation and can discuss with the op exactly where it’s come from & why it’s been sent. The chances are it will be sent straight to backbilling to be written off anyway. Probably resolved before they would even receive, log and deal with a letter
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 25,631 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    There risk of someone being drawn into saying something over the telephone which then gets taken as acknowledgement of the debt is huge - thisis why we always advise to keep things in writing, and to never offer any further detail which might enable those chasing a debt to”flesh out” their backstory. 
    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
  • Keep_pedalling
    Keep_pedalling Posts: 22,424 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Even even if you actually owed this debt it is unenforceable as being over 6 years old it is statute barred. I

  • Mobtr
    Mobtr Posts: 672 Forumite
    500 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    There risk of someone being drawn into saying something over the telephone which then gets taken as acknowledgement of the debt is huge - thisis why we always advise to keep things in writing, and to never offer any further detail which might enable those chasing a debt to”flesh out” their backstory. 
    Maybe for a more recent debt but not for an energy one for £279 off 10 years ago. 
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