Lowell and old British Gas account

Tisiphone

Lowell are after me for two old debts they say I owe British Gas from a former address.

I left the old address in 2017 but had left British Gas before that, at the latest 2016. I wrote to say I didn't acknowledge the debts but they would be statute barred.

Lowell then claimed I'd last paid in 2022. I wrote to say I couldn't find any payments in my bank statements and asked them for proof of the British Gas accounts.

They have now revealed that the payment was to Overdales and I can see payments to them going back to 2019 which is as far as I can look online.

They haven't provided any proof of the original account, sale of the debt (if any) or given any details of what they're asking for ie is it money from unpaid bills or charges by Lowell?

So what do I do about Lowell? Can they enforce this? All they've been threatening me with is more emails and phone calls which makes me think they aren't really able to take further action.

sourcrates

Lowell must be able to provide evidence of these accounts when asked to do so.

Your best approach would be to send the prove-it letter to them, and see how they respond.

Its not really a question of enforcement, you can only enforce something that`s already been to court, they have to prove your liability first, no matter if you have paid them previously or not.

Lowell love to play games with terminology.

ManyWays

So you were paying Overdales? Did you know that was for an old energy bill?

Tisiphone

sourcrates said:

Lowell must be able to provide evidence of these accounts when asked to do so.

Your best approach would be to send the prove-it letter to them, and see how they respond.

Its not really a question of enforcement, you can only enforce something that`s already been to court, they have to prove your liability first, no matter if you have paid them previously or not.

Lowell love to play games with terminology.

Thank you. My last letter to them asked  for full details of the accounts and what they claim is outstanding and their reply contained without any of that information. When they replied to my statute barred letter they wrote that they couldn't give any details of my accounts because they were from too long ago! I will try the prove it letter.

Tisiphone

ManyWays said:

So you were paying Overdales? Did you know that was for an old energy bill?

I must have done when I set up the direct debit but it's a long time ago and I honestly don't remember. I had to set up quite a few payment plans at that time after my joint tenant suddenly moved out leaving me with double rent and a lot of unpaid bills. Everything else was paid off long ago.

Tisiphone

Just before I send off the prove it letter, what amounts to proof of the debt? So far they've given me the old British Gas account numbers which prove nothing.

I'd expect to see proof of the original debt, any charges added by them and previous debt collectors and a record of my payments - is this unreasonable? Should they not have told me when they acquired the debt from Overdales?

FWIW there's no doubt there was a debt to British Gas but looking at what I've paid, I doubt there's anything left of it

sourcrates

They have already stated they have no evidence, so not much they can do really.

Overdales are Lowell`s legal arm, they are one and the same company.

Tisiphone

Thanks so much for your help