Pastdue credit solutions have sent me a

johnryder84

Hello, I had separated from my wife in October 2021 and had moved in with my father who I share the same name with. I was paying him rent etc. From August 2022 I had moved out and haven't lived with him for over a year now but today I received a debt collection agency letter from "PastDue" requesting £810.17 from Shell Energy. I then checked my Experian to see this affected my credit score which wasn't great anyway with just under 11 grand debt but all bills and loans etc are paid on time every month. 

How do I proceed to get this removed from my credit score?

Also this has left me worried for my father we don't have a great relationship but I know he is struggling with late payments on bills etc I spoke to him about this matter and he is claiming that the electricity meter is too high for a single person usage and has requested Shell come out and check the meters but they have said it will cost him £100 to do so which he has refused to pay.

Ps my father had himself declared bankrupt a year or so ago, is the debt collection agency taking a chance with me with this debt??
Thank you I'm advance 

sourcrates

First off, is this your debt or your dads ?

If its dads, what time period does the bill relate to, before or after his bankruptcy ?

Are you saying the debt is his, but is being reported on your credit file ?

Past due are just acting as a collector in this matter, on behalf of their client, Shell energy, so they are unable to enforce this through the courts at this stage.

johnryder84

Hi, yes the debt is my fathers which has appeared on my credit report. We have the same first and last name.
from my credit report it says the last six payments so maybe 6 months??

sourcrates

You have two issues here.

(1) The Debt

Has he been discharged yet ? what are the dates here, If the debt preceded his bankruptcy, then it vests within it, and there is no further liability.
He should contact them with proof of his bankruptcy.

If it was accrued after he became bankrupt, then he is liable for it.

Any issues over a faulty meter will need to be addressed by the utility company, not the DCA.

(2) Your Credit File

Now, with regard to your credit file, you should contact Shell energy, as the data provider, and raise a complaint with them regarding the incorrect reporting on your credit file.

Explain the mix up over you both having the same name, ask them to correct this.

You may both have to provide ID and DOB in order to get this amended.

johnryder84

Thank you SourcratesDo I also need to contact Experian as that's where I had also seen it? 

And do I just ignore Pastdue then and deal with Shell?

I'm not sure about my fathers bankruptcy the dates etc he won't tell me either 🤦

Grumpelstiltskin

johnryder84 said:

Thank you SourcratesDo I also need to contact Experian as that's where I had also seen it? 

And do I just ignore Pastdue then and deal with Shell?

I'm not sure about my fathers bankruptcy the dates etc he won't tell me either 🤦

Assuming England or Wales you should be able to find him here.

Search the bankruptcy and insolvency register - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

fatbelly

Grumpelstiltskin said:

johnryder84 said:

Thank you SourcratesDo I also need to contact Experian as that's where I had also seen it? 

And do I just ignore Pastdue then and deal with Shell?

I'm not sure about my fathers bankruptcy the dates etc he won't tell me either 🤦

Assuming England or Wales you should be able to find him here.

Search the bankruptcy and insolvency register - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

as long as he's not been discharged more than 3 months

Grumpelstiltskin

If you can't find him on the GOV.UK website you can try on here

Notices | Insolvency | The Gazette

But searching on the Gazette can be difficult.

sourcrates

johnryder84 said:

Thank you Sourcrates Do I also need to contact Experian as that's where I had also seen it? 

And do I just ignore Pastdue then and deal with Shell?

I'm not sure about my fathers bankruptcy the dates etc he won't tell me either 🤦

Shell provides the data to the credit reference agencies, presently Experian and the rest, will only confirm with them what they have already submitted, as Shell are as yet unaware of the issue.

It would be pointless contacting the CRA`s just yet, you need to reach out and complain to Shell in order to get the matter set straight, and call off Past Due.

If Dad is unwilling to cooperate with you over this, then he will have to deal with the debt matter himself I`m afraid, your only issue is that you are not the debtor, he is.