Debt collectors for previous tenant

funbarrel

We moved into our rented property two years ago. The gas was supplied by SSE, and we transferred to another company . The transfer took three weeks to become effective. We supplied meter readings and all seemed fine until SSE started sending us bills for the period from the beginning of June until the date of the transfer, 18th August. The amount they say we owe is £300 (that is for 3 weeks when we were hardly here, and used very little gas). 

We contacted SSE and after several lengthy calls they seemed to understand the error, and agree to send an estimated bill for the 3 weeks in question. This was a year ago, and no estimated bill has arrived.

Today we received a letter addressed to "the tenant"  from a debt collection agency demanding payment of the £300.

Should we attempt to contact the debt collection agency, who will, no doubt still press for payment, or should we return it to them with a covering letter, or simply ignore it?

peteuk

Theres lots of questions here and potential errors on both sides. I have moved a few times and so this is a sitaution I am familiar with.

So when you moved in...

Did you give SSE start readings? 

• I ask this as technigaclly although it took 3 weeks to transfer, up until the point of switching they are your provider and you are liable to pay them.

If you took start readings on moving in did you give them to your new provider?  

• This would mean you've paid for the provision just to the wrong provider. (If so SSE may wipe the outstanding) 

Did you take a seperate reading for the switch? 

• If you took readings at moving in and switch this will give you the amount you used and hence the amount you owe to SSE. 

Did you turn everything off when you moved in?

• If things like water and heating were on a timer then they would still come on, so depending on the month we are talking about £300 isnt a stretch - bearing in mind SSE would have put you on standard rate (so probably one of their highest tarriffs) 

The more difficult approach would be to see if the previous owners/tennant provided SSE with exit readings.  That would give you a starting point and if you took readings on switching then youll have a finish point for SSE.

I personally (and this is what I have done) and I know this is not what most people on the boards would do, is contact the debt collecting agency,  advise them that there is a dispute at present.   They will be able to either put a 30 day hold on it or best case send it back to SSE. 

My second call would be to SSE and ask to speak to a manager,  raise a complaint about the dealy in the new bill and see what info they have...

If you have a smart meter and it was connected then they may be able to pin point the move in day readings.   I currently have one of the first "Smart meters" for which I dont have a display but it sends daily readings.   Just a thought. 

MSE_ForumTeam5

We've moved this to the Energy board

funbarrel

Thanks. We've emailed the debt collectors. We have all the meter readings and copies of emails, so it is clear we have no liability for the period before we moved in. SSE had promised to send us a bill for the 18 days before we changed supplier, but they never did this, and that was nearly 18 months ago.

peteuk

@funbarrel - 

This may seem a daft question but did you register an account with SSE?  The reason why I ask is because when I moved into my current property I changed from Shell (previous provider) to EDF.  I advised them on day one but didn’t register an account with Shell.  So it was still under Owner Occupier.  Shell agreed not to bill me (after a complaint similar to yours) but a year later the debt collector letter came through…

Shell said they couldn't zero the bill because it was still under Owner Occupier.  It was resolved over the phone.

As I said speak to SSE - find out why 18 months ago they didn’t bill you  and why now it’s been sent to a debt collector.  In resolution to the complaint, you will need them to amend your credit profile, written apology and be cheeky and ask them to zero the balance.