Debt Collection Email

cpharvey

FreeBear said:

EDF have taken over the circus and have made a couple of attempts, but even they can't get the bill right (using imperial units for gas when it is a metric smart meter).

Standards of business practise seem very lacking in this new energy world. :-(

outspokenwitch

Joining the conversation. I've now had two emails from BSB and am pretty sure I don't owe anything as BG took over the account when Together went bust. I'm definitely up to date with BG until July 2022 when I emigrated! Any suggestions as to whether I need to do anything? I've no plans to return to the UK so don't want to get embroiled in a battle with so-called debt collectors if there's no need.

rich2ell

outspokenwitch said:

Any suggestions as to whether I need to do anything? I've no plans to return to the UK so don't want to get embroiled in a battle with so-called debt collectors if there's no need.

Respond via email to the senders email address. It should be in the body of the email near the signature. 

You need to ask for proof of the debt. They will pull together some kind of final bill. There are many errors being reported in the final bills one common issue is they are putting some fictional estimated readings down as the final readings. 

They have your email address, and name and previous address. DONT give them your new address or other details. 

You can join the Facebook group “together energy customer support group”where people are being supported and assisted by members. The BBC are also collecting info for an expose article. 

In the last 24hrs members have reported getting take down requests when they have shared actual images of emails from BSB. BSB are trying to use GDPR rules against individuals 😂

brewerdave

Wrong customer details ,direct debits not recorded, wrong dates, estimated meter reads ..... just some of the many errors in T.E final bills being reported .
ONLY deal with the slimy toads via email and don't give them any other details.

FreeBear

rich2ell said: They have your email address, and name and previous address. DONT give them your new address or other details.

Bad advice - If they decide to serve court papers, these will go to the last known address, and get a judgement by default. Although, matters are complicated if you are not in the UK, so they would be hard pushed to enforce the judgement.

cpharvey

I just got another email with 72 hours to repay. They seem to have ignored my "proveit" letter that was sent by registered mail.
I emailed a response telling them they have to honor my registered mail and prove the debt. I guess I'll have to send a second physical letter this week.
sigh.

QrizB

cpharvey said:

I just got another email with 72 hours to repay. They seem to have ignored my "proveit" letter that was sent by registered mail.

The usual advice with debt collection agency emails (over on the other boards) seems to be that you can safely ignore them.

When they start writing to you, that's when you might want to take it more seriously.

cpharvey

QrizB said:

cpharvey said:

I just got another email with 72 hours to repay. They seem to have ignored my "proveit" letter that was sent by registered mail.

The usual advice with debt collection agency emails (over on the other boards) seems to be that you can safely ignore them.

When they start writing to you, that's when you might want to take it more seriously.

My only concern with that, is the debt is for a rental we left in 2018, and all their PDF's have that address. They haven't yet realised I have a new address, despite pointing it out. So, there could be letters or even court summons going to the old address and I have no-way to know or even get them. Maybe i'll go see the new tenant and ask if the have any mail under my name.
Currently i'm pushing BSBCO back with both simple email responses and signature-required letters, but am concerned I could be found in default judgement without knowing it.

QrizB

cpharvey said:

QrizB said:

cpharvey said:

I just got another email with 72 hours to repay. They seem to have ignored my "proveit" letter that was sent by registered mail.

The usual advice with debt collection agency emails (over on the other boards) seems to be that you can safely ignore them.

When they start writing to you, that's when you might want to take it more seriously.

My only concern with that, is the debt

Alleged debt. Don't even think of it as an actual debt until they've provided proof that it exists.

cpharvey said:

... is for a rental we left in 2018, and all their PDF's have that address. They haven't yet realised I have a new address, despite pointing it out. So, there could be letters or even court summons going to the old address and I have no-way to know or even get them.

If you read a few threads on the "parking tickets" forum, you'll see that a default judgement obtained by sending the summons to the wrong address can usually be set aside for breaching the court's practice directions.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/parking-tickets-fines-parking

Devongran

Originally had an email/letter from BSB dated 7 July 2023 and replied by post with a 'prove it' letter. Not had a reply. Now had another email/letter dated 21 August 2023 telling me to pay the amount without 72 hours to 'prevent further action being taken'. I have now written another letter referring them to my original letter of 8 July 2023 and enclosing the same as before - a copy of their letter/email and a copy of my final bill from Together Energy showing a credit balance. (The Together Energy account was taken over by British Gas.) 
Should I email them just to say that I have written an actual letter to them? I have put in my letter 'please correspond with by post or not at all'.