OVO taken me to court for debt not mine.

MWT

Steve321VFR said:

Thank you all, I do know the couple that moved in straight after I moved out by their names and met them as the new tenants, proving this however is the tricky part.

Worth the effort though, but as it seems likely they took the benefit of not paying for their energy, they may be less than enthusiastic about helping...

MWT

... one extra thought, did you even get a final bill from OVO at the time?

That would at least show that they had received your readings and accepted the notice that you had left...

MeteredOut

MWT said:

... one extra thought, did you even get a final bill from OVO at the time?

That would at least show that they had received your readings and accepted the notice that you had left...

..and if you didn't, are you sure the debt is for energy used after you moved out, rather than energy used till you moved out (eg, if you were previously only billed for estimated usage).

Have you asked OVO for copies of the bills, including those after you moved out. eg, who were they addressed to?

Gerry1

Were you listed in the Electoral Register at the old address and then at the new address?

Have the new tenants been listed in the Electoral Register at your old address?

Steve321VFR

Thanks MWT. I phoned them (SSE)  a few days after I moved out, the person said I was in credit and they'd send me any money owed, it wasn't until over a year after I moved out OVO said I owe an entire year for after I had moved out.

MWT

Steve321VFR said:

Thanks MWT. I phoned them (SSE)  a few days after I moved out, the person said I was in credit and they'd send me any money owed, it wasn't until over a year after I moved out OVO said I owe an entire year for after I had moved out.

So did they ever refund the credit?

If not, and you did nothing at the time then then it is another opportunity missed to have avoided all this...

Steve321VFR

Hi Gerri1. I did check, but was gutted they only have themselves on the electoral role for 2023 but not for the year they moved in on 2022.  

MWT

Steve321VFR said:

Hi Gerri1. I did check, but was gutted they only have themselves on the electoral role for 2023 but not for the year they moved in on 2022.  

How about you though, were you still on the register for that year or did you change it to your new address straight away when you moved?

Green_hopeful

You might ask the council whether you were liable for the council tax at the old address. Presumably you notified them and the new people started paying. There is a provision under the data protection law to enable people to get personal data in certain circumstances. They might not give you the new tenants data but I am pretty sure they will say it wasn’t you at the relevant dates. This explains the current rules. https://www.integrasolicitors.co.uk/section-35-requests-no-more/

Scot_39

Steve321VFR said:

Hi Gerri1. I did check, but was gutted they only have themselves on the electoral role for 2023 but not for the year they moved in on 2022.  

Unless there is an imminent election, I tend to wait for the - here annual letter  (I believe the Eng  legal limit)  - request from council to update the role.

It's not done automatically with council tax.

Many are not registered to vote at current address - around 8m iirc last time read The EC reports.

It's not a brilliant guide.