Shell and MIL Collections trying to claim money owed, when not Shell customer.

PaulAber

Hi,

I'm posting this so people can be informed and careful about debt collectors forcing you to pay when they have been given the wrong information from Shell Energy.

Basically this is Shell and Mil Collections being heavy handed without checking their facts and feels like they are bullying people into paying.

Scenario is

• I was a Bulb customer and when they went bust I continued to be with them until i moved in 2022. I have paid all bills with DD and there were no gaps on payments.
• Recently I received a Received a threatening email from MiL collecitons on behave of 'Shell Energy'

• Good afternoon, 

  Your Shell Energy account has a seriously overdue balance of £1219.85.

  Due to non payment, please take notice that relevant documents are being prepared in relation to further action being taken against you.

  This matter requires your immediate attention. Most people who contact us are able to avoid further action being taken.

  Please contact us urgently on 01872 713621 or make immediate payment using the details below.

• So first of all I consider this to be a threatening mail, rather than one that could have been a more polite and request more info.

• I spoke to them and asked what this was all about as I am not and have never been with Shell. They informed me  Shell told them when Bulb went bust my account moved to Shell and I should check on the ofgen site.  I did and it does not mention Bulb with Shell anywhere.  I told them as I understand octopus has taken over Bulb customers and not Shell, also I was with Bulb during all my tenancy so they are mistaken. They were adamant Shell had the account.

• I sent them evidence of my continued payments with bulb and eventually I got a mail saying 'following an internal investigation from our trace department we can confirm your details have been removed from the above account.

•  I had to chase for this reply and received no 'sorry a mistake was made' or any explanation of what happened from Mil or Shell.

I'm posting this so people know that SHELL obviously has made mistakes and they don't pay them without clarifying and pushing back. I know of another person that the same thing has happened too so this is not an isolated incident.

Raxiel

I'm pretty sure the E in MIL stands for Ethical.

[Deleted User]

Bulb never went bust as such: Ofgem put the company under the control of a Special Administrator until it was sold on to Octopus Energy. I am not sure why anybody would think that Shell was appointed as the Supplier of Last Resort for Bulb Energy.

I would be inclined to report both Shell Energy and MIL Collections to the FCA. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bulb-energy-limited-consent-to-apply-for-a-special-administration-regime