Energy Company threatening CCJ for money I don't believe I owe

missemma04

I moved home from England to Scotland in November 2020, settled and closed my energy account with Utility Point and took up supply with Eon.  Utility Point subsequently went into administration and around 12months ago, I started receiving emails and texts from Barratt Smith & Brown solicitors saying I was due £104 from an outstanding bill.  I had not received any bill or communication from Utility Point, I have requested a copy of the bill from BSB to no avail and now they are threatening a CCJ.  I don't believe I owe the money and would like some evidence to show I do.  They also have my previous address registered for the account and despite advising them of this, it has not changed.  What should I do?!  I don't want a CCJ on my credit record but don't believe I am due the money!

Netexporter

Did you submit a meter reading when the supplier went bust? (ideally with a date-stamped photograph) 

missemma04

No - I had already closed and left them as a supplier when they went bust.  I closed my account with them (and supplied meter readings) on 19th Nov 2020, they went into administration on 14th Sept 2021 almost a year later.  It was only after this I started to receive the comms from BSB.

FreeBear

missemma04 said: I started receiving emails and texts from Barratt Smith & Brown solicitors saying I was due £104 from an outstanding bill.  I had not received any bill or communication from Utility Point, I have requested a copy of the bill from BSB to no avail and now they are threatening a CCJ.  I don't believe I owe the money and would like some evidence to show I do.

It is for BSB to prove that the money is owed, without it, they do not have a valid claim.

BSB have history of making claims that a debt is owed based on spurious data - Whether it is the administrators of the failed energy companies at fault, or systemic failures at BSB is open to debate.

missemma04

So what should I do??  I've requested the bill, they told me it was coming, I've chased it twice since and nothing.

born_again

missemma04 said:

No - I had already closed and left them as a supplier when they went bust.  I closed my account with them (and supplied meter readings) on 19th Nov 2020, they went into administration on 14th Sept 2021 almost a year later.  It was only after this I started to receive the comms from BSB.

Do you not have a copy of your final bill from them?

FreeBear

missemma04 said:

So what should I do??  I've requested the bill, they told me it was coming, I've chased it twice since and nothing.

One does not request anything from these people. You demand proof, and until such time it arrives, you ignore them.

Just don't ignore court papers should any turn up in the post.

Scot_39

Search the debt free wannabees section of the board or Web  for a template "prove it" letter e.g. from a quick search one such template was given at


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter

Unless they can - in some cases they either cannot or simply won't bother as costs too much and go away - if they can to your satisfaction - you can then pay it - or contest it.

missemma04

born_again said:

missemma04 said:

No - I had already closed and left them as a supplier when they went bust.  I closed my account with them (and supplied meter readings) on 19th Nov 2020, they went into administration on 14th Sept 2021 almost a year later.  It was only after this I started to receive the comms from BSB.

Do you not have a copy of your final bill from them?

No.  I don't.  Can't get further back than 12 months in my email archives (that's a different battle today)

FreeBear

missemma04 said:

born_again said:

missemma04 said:

No - I had already closed and left them as a supplier when they went bust.  I closed my account with them (and supplied meter readings) on 19th Nov 2020, they went into administration on 14th Sept 2021 almost a year later.  It was only after this I started to receive the comms from BSB.

Do you not have a copy of your final bill from them?

No.  I don't.  Can't get further back than 12 months in my email archives (that's a different battle today)

Any bank statements from around that time showing a payment to UP (late Nov or early Dec) ?

Qyburn

FreeBear said:

Just don't ignore court papers should any turn up in the post.

You should get a formal Letter Before Action first, before an actual County Court claim is raised.

Having said that, you're resident in Scotland but the alleged debt would have arisen while you lived in England. So I'm not sure if the claim could be raised in England, or whether it would have to be in your local Sheriffs Court.