Split The Bills Took Our Money And Didn't Pay Our Bills

samskinner1202

I moved into a 6-bed house share at the start of July and setup broadband, water and energy bills via Split The Bills. Three months into the tenancy we started receiving letters from SSE energy indicating the bill has not been paid. It appears the letting agent put the bills in our names when we moved in, and since then Split The Bills have sat on our money and not set up the account in their name. The account is now £1000+ in arrears and we cannot afford to pay this sum again. Split The Bills are worse than useless - they have confirmed they have the money in their account but cannot send it back to us to pay the bill, nor will they pay the bill in our name. We are on a final collection notice and SSE have warned if it is not completed soon we will be disconnected. I have contacted citizens advice for legal steps we can take but would like any advice possible - what do we do?

Robin9

Re SSE  - you will not be disconnected  but they will push to install a prepayment meter.

Is it time for a letter before action ?

Are STB paying the broadband and water ?

samskinner1202

Thanks for the reply! I have sent an email to their complaints address after someone at STB recommended this was the best way to speak to a manager. I hoped the email would speed them up but so far no contact from their side.

I think to setup broadband they had to pay before the router would come, water I have not received any letters but shall contact them today to see if this has been done correctly.

sheramber

Whoe name do they want on the bill  so they will pay it?

samskinner1202

sheramber said:

Whoe name do they want on the bill  so they will pay it?

Currently our names are on it, they said it needs to be in their name for them to pay it. They've had 4 months to do this and every time I call they say they're 'escalating it' - but its been a month now and SSE say no contact has been made by STB to do this.

Brie

I was curious as to how this works and wonder if I've spotted the problem...their website says

"We Set Up Your Services.  Once everyone has joined, we can begin setting up the utilities for your house."

So maybe not everyone in your house has joined?

samskinner1202

Everyone in the house has joined - we get a confirmation email once everything was sorted. I've rang STB multiple times and they've said the reason they won't pay is the bill is still in our name - not theirs. They have said they're in the process of switching it over but its been 4 weeks and so far they appear to have done nothing.

sheramber

 Have you tried to change the name on the account?

MalMonroe

samskinner1202 said:

I moved into a 6-bed house share at the start of July and setup broadband, water and energy bills via Split The Bills. Three months into the tenancy we started receiving letters from SSE energy indicating the bill has not been paid. It appears the letting agent put the bills in our names when we moved in, and since then Split The Bills have sat on our money and not set up the account in their name. The account is now £1000+ in arrears and we cannot afford to pay this sum again. Split The Bills are worse than useless - they have confirmed they have the money in their account but cannot send it back to us to pay the bill, nor will they pay the bill in our name. We are on a final collection notice and SSE have warned if it is not completed soon we will be disconnected. I have contacted citizens advice for legal steps we can take but would like any advice possible - what do we do?

Hi, I read this with horror. So - Split the Bills has basically stolen your money.

I'd contact the police, without further ado, and maybe Action Fraud (although they have not been very helpful when I've contacted them). Police should give you a crime number which you can then use if you need to send a 'letter before legal action". (See * below).

I'd also go on social media, they have a Twitter account, and shame them into getting something done on there. They are also on Facebook and Instagram.

Why should you and your housemates end up in financial hot water because STBs are being awkward?

You also need to contact the letting agent because of what you say here - "It appears the letting agent put the bills in our names when we moved in, and since then Split The Bills have sat on our money and not set up the account in their name". The letting agent needs to help.

Somebody needs to do something, and fast.

*If all else fails, send them a 'letter before legal action' to let them know you are serious about this. They cannot hold onto your money without good reason. Don't be put off by their flim-flam, you are in the right here.

Example of letter before legal action here - https://www.lawdepot.co.uk/contracts/demand-letter-uk/? 

Hope that's helpful. I hate the way some companies try to take advantage of students. You all have far better things to do than try to sort these things out. Grrrr.

Aylesbury_Duck

MalMonroe said:

samskinner1202 said:

I moved into a 6-bed house share at the start of July and setup broadband, water and energy bills via Split The Bills. Three months into the tenancy we started receiving letters from SSE energy indicating the bill has not been paid. It appears the letting agent put the bills in our names when we moved in, and since then Split The Bills have sat on our money and not set up the account in their name. The account is now £1000+ in arrears and we cannot afford to pay this sum again. Split The Bills are worse than useless - they have confirmed they have the money in their account but cannot send it back to us to pay the bill, nor will they pay the bill in our name. We are on a final collection notice and SSE have warned if it is not completed soon we will be disconnected. I have contacted citizens advice for legal steps we can take but would like any advice possible - what do we do?

Hi, I read this with horror. So - Split the Bills has basically stolen your money.

I'd contact the police, without further ado, and maybe Action Fraud (although they have not been very helpful when I've contacted them). Police should give you a crime number which you can then use if you need to send a 'letter before legal action". (See * below).

I'd also go on social media, they have a Twitter account, and shame them into getting something done on there. They are also on Facebook and Instagram.

Why should you and your housemates end up in financial hot water because STBs are being awkward?

You also need to contact the letting agent because of what you say here - "It appears the letting agent put the bills in our names when we moved in, and since then Split The Bills have sat on our money and not set up the account in their name". The letting agent needs to help.

Somebody needs to do something, and fast.

*If all else fails, send them a 'letter before legal action' to let them know you are serious about this. They cannot hold onto your money without good reason. Don't be put off by their flim-flam, you are in the right here.

Example of letter before legal action here - https://www.lawdepot.co.uk/contracts/demand-letter-uk/? 

Hope that's helpful. I hate the way some companies try to take advantage of students. You all have far better things to do than try to sort these things out. Grrrr.

OP, ignore this advice,  it's not a police matter and it doesn't even look like fraud.

Mal, I'm not surprised that AF haven't been helpful if you've contacted them about things like this.  They're an underfunded, limited resource that shouldn't be wasting time dealing with things that clearly aren't fraudulent.

macman

In future, never use services like this, they're completely pointless and expensive. The LA's only sign you up for them because they receive a healthy commission for doing so-paid for by you in higher charges. There is only one water authority you can use, so pay them yourselves.