Utility Point - Barratt Smith & Brown

mini2022

Hi All, looking for advise of what todo next really. Here's the background. 

I was originally with Utility Point, my bills were always pretty low always about £38 in 2020. Before they went into liquidation I missed a metre reading so final bill was sent to me of over £420. However I contact Utility Point via email and on phone and sent pictures of updated meter readings. I was assured on the phone that metre readings would be updated as the jump to £38 to £420 is excessive. 

Anyway never heard anything back from UP as they went into liquidation and I also assumed that everything had been sorted as I sent the updated meter readings. 

Fast forward 2 years I was sent letter from BSB, explained everything i.e, not owing the debt, asked them to send me a prove it letter etc Everything stopped again until recently they have now started sending me letters again, the most recent one was from a Joint Liquidator for an on behalf of Utility Point Ltd with a notice of assignment of Debts to BSB. 

What do you suggest I do now? My bill have always been pretty low so there is no way I would never have a final bill of that amount of a tiny 1 bed flat. 

I have contacted the Ombudsman and they said it's within their remit. 

TIA

MeteredOut

Do you still have your UP bills. Can you remember if they contained actual or estimated readings?

If your £38 each month was based on estimates that were lower than your actual usage, and you submitted a final reading, the final £420 might have been valid.

But, they need to show you owe it, so I suspect you need to reiterate that "I'm not aware of this debt, prove it" message.

Brie

I'd send a final letter to the Liquidator and tell them the matter was resolved (enclose a copy?) and tell them to stop harassing you.  

MeteredOut

Brie said:

I'd send a final letter to the Liquidator and tell them the matter was resolved (enclose a copy?) and tell them to stop harassing you.  

Enclose a copy of what? The OP only has the £420 bill as UP went into liquidation before they could send a new bill.

OP, if you still have old bills and the photo of that final meter reading, that should give you the evidence you need if you feel inclined to provide it to them. But, I'd not be taking on the onus to prove I didn't owe the money.

Brie

MeteredOut said:

Brie said:

I'd send a final letter to the Liquidator and tell them the matter was resolved (enclose a copy?) and tell them to stop harassing you.  

Enclose a copy of what? The OP only has the £420 bill as UP went into liquidation before they could send a new bill.

OP, if you still have old bills and the photo of that final meter reading, that should give you the evidence you need if you feel inclined to provide it to them. But, I'd not be taking on the onus to prove I didn't owe the money.

Sorry - thought the previous prove it had a response.  If not, resend and say if you can't then it's harassment.  

mini2022

MeteredOut said:

Do you still have your UP bills. Can you remember if they contained actual or estimated readings?

If your £38 each month was based on estimates that were lower than your actual usage, and you submitted a final reading, the final £420 might have been valid.

But, they need to show you owe it, so I suspect you need to reiterate that "I'm not aware of this debt, prove it" message.

Everything was online, not been able to access the account since they went into liquidation. Only proof I have is the money going out of my account. 

They haven't shown me anything other than I owe this money even though I have also sent BSB pictures of metre readings etc and explained over and over the problem. 

mini2022

Brie said:

MeteredOut said:

Brie said:

I'd send a final letter to the Liquidator and tell them the matter was resolved (enclose a copy?) and tell them to stop harassing you.  

Enclose a copy of what? The OP only has the £420 bill as UP went into liquidation before they could send a new bill.

OP, if you still have old bills and the photo of that final meter reading, that should give you the evidence you need if you feel inclined to provide it to them. But, I'd not be taking on the onus to prove I didn't owe the money.

Sorry - thought the previous prove it had a response.  If not, resend and say if you can't then it's harassment.  

So resend the final metre readings I sent to Utility Point to BSB? They never actually directly email me. They contact me through Switchd even though they do have my email address through the various people who I have contacted at BSB as well as my contact number. 

Alnat1

Who were you switched to when Utility Point went under? Do you have the starting meter reading with them? 

Hopefully you do and can check if the accurate final meter reading you recorded was used or if it was the high estimate that UP claim.

It may be that the new supplier didn't charge you for any energy until the high estimate was reached and that would mean the money is still owed.

mini2022

Alnat1 said:

Who were you switched to when Utility Point went under? Do you have the starting meter reading with them? 

Hopefully you do and can check if the accurate final meter reading you recorded was used or if it was the high estimate that UP claim.

It may be that the new supplier didn't charge you for any energy until the high estimate was reached and that would mean the money is still owed.

From Utility Point it automatically went to Green Energy Network who were then taken over by EDF within months. As soon as it was moved over I was informed I didn't have to provide anything everything was automatic. 

Alnat1

The important part still is.......

What were the opening/closing meter readings used by each of these companies. If there are unpaid units at some point then you do still owe for them. Even if you didn't give any numbers they should still appear on any bills issued.