Old gas/electricity bill

bernardthedog

Hi all

I'm not sure if I'm just being really tight or if I have a case here, but, I was going through some old bills the other day and I realised that I had been charged for having a debt collector come out to our flat when it wasn't our fault in the first place?  I asked one of my friends and he reckons that there is so kind of statute of limitations as it was so long ago but I'd like to know your opinions.

To give some context.  My partner and I moved into our first place together in September 2010, a basement flat.  As it was a communal tenement building, and sometimes the correct post didn't go to the correct flat, any post that the postie couldn't find to deliver would be left behind a drainpipe in the main corridor.  After about 7+ months of having had no utility bills, I finally realised that the post that was behind the drainpipe, which was addressed to 'Flat 1' or even 'Plot 1', was actually supposed to be our bills (our address was Flat 1b as we were the basement flat.  Flat 1 was actually on the first/entry level floor).

Realising that quite a number of the bills were stating that we'd be cut off and all that, I immediately got in touch with the utility company (Scottish Hydro) and arranged to start paying off the, rather large by now, utility bill.  I explained about the difference of address to the customer service person and I, vaguely, remember them saying that the difference in address WAS their fault, though I don't think there is actually a 1b on postcode finder (there isn't, I just checked).

Now, to the present day.  Whilst going through these, now 12 year old bills, I have realised that we were charged £34 for a debt collector to come out and collect said debt in March 2011 (I think we started paying in the April which is probably when I realised the letters were for us).  I know that I would have just wanted to pay the bill off and try be done with it but failed to realise that the debt collectors fee was included in said bill.

Do you think I stand any chance getting back that £34?  The fault was theirs for having the wrong address and, presumably, the debt collector went to Flat 1 but equally I realise that my partner and I should have also realised that we hadn't had a bill (hey, we were young and in love in our first place together.  We also probably thought we had managed to stay under their radar).

What do you think, guys?

Robin9

Forget about it - move on

Mobtr

Don’t think you would have any chance of getting this back after 12 years. Faults on both sides, they had the wrong address but it took you 7 months to realise you had not had a bill for something you were using on a daily basis. If it had been for £100’s fair enough but £34? It would probably cost you more in time & effort to try. 

bernardthedog

Okay, well that's decided then.  I appreciate both your comments.  Now, where's that shredder...