EDF debt collector for 11 yr old bill for previous tenant

keenyear7728

I bought my house 1 year ago. 

A few weeks ago I received a bill addressed to "owner/occupier" for a billing period during 2012. Yes 2012

I called EDF and explained that I had just bought the house 1 year ago and have no idea who lived here then.  The agent said she'd noted this and would take care of it.

I've now received a debt collectors notice for the same.

My name doesn't appear on it again - just owner/occupier.

A little detail that may or may not make a difference - 11 years ago this house used to be 3 flats - A, B and C.  About 5 years ago they were converted to a single house.  My house number is 45, the bill is addressed to 45A, which obviously does not exist anymore.

So what am I supposed to do - call EDF again and spend 45 min waiting on hold and speak to another useless agent, or ignore it all together.

I'd rather not call the debt collection company as they will probably ask for my name and may try to collect it from me.

Any advice appreciated.

jlfrs01

With large bureaucratic organisations like EDF it's very difficult to find anyone who is willing to take responsibility for a mistake of their own making. Ultimately, this isn't your debt and it's their mistake/problem.

One course of action could be to send a letter to the debt collection agency excluding your details but outline what you wrote in your OP for background informing them that any future correspondence will be returned in the post to them and you consider the matter to be closed.

fatbelly

Just send it back, unopened.

It's only a problem if they make an allegation that you owe the money in your name. Until then, it's just a fishing expedition and there's no reason why you should help them with that. 

If they are stupid enough to start writing to you in your name, post on the debt-free wannabe board. 

FreeBear

fatbelly said:

Just send it back, unopened.

It's only a problem if they make an allegation that you owe the money in your name. Until then, it's just a fishing expedition and there's no reason why you should help them with that. 

With a 10/11 year old debt, they are well out of time to take the matter to court (6 years in England/Wales, 5 in Scotland). In addition, they would have needed a name.

If you feel the need to communicate with these people, do so in writing. Don't go wasting money on phone calls. Letters/emails provide a paper trail, so things are less likely to be denied in the future. Returning the letters unopened or just binning is probably the least stressful course of action. if they are stupid enough to issue a court claim, do not ignore those letters.

Robin9

Don't waste your time on the phone

Qyburn

I'm not sure it would be a problem knowing the OPs name. In a way it makes it clearer because there's hard evidence that he's one person who definitely can't be held liable. As opposed to threats against "the occupier" as if they think there's someone who's been in the house since 2012 and isn't giving their name.

I don't know the structure of all the boards, but "debt-free wannabe" sounds like an area for discussing debt. This isn't the OPs debt.

GingerTim

'Return to sender - not known at this address'.

M25

Unless it's addressed to you (has your name on it) it's none of your business.

You shouldn't be contacting anyone they'll end up with all your information.

Ignore it and mark it as return to sender or bin it.

born_again

GingerTim said:

'Return to sender - not known at this address'.

I see what you said there... "owner/occupier" 🤣

Jonboy_1984

GingerTim said:

'Return to sender - not known at this address'.

I have added :

"property sold xx/xx/2022"

To similar. 

CrispyChris

Wouldn't worry about it too much, my house used to be a shared house, and I get all sorts of bills and letters turning up for people I've never heard of, I just return everything to the senders, I've never had anybody try to take it further, just send it back.