House purchase completed, but previous owner owed electricity bill

zaq1xsw2

We are in the same situation with the debts totalling £1300. Ovo have now said we need to contact the previous homeowner. Madness what do I do now? 

"I understand your frustration regarding the debt associated with your property.

Debt on the property

As discussed, when you created your account, the debt on the property should have been addressed. OVO isn't liable for removing the debt, as it's the responsibility of whoever was financially liable for the property before you bought it, whether that's the housing council or the previous owner.

I know you mentioned that you're unable to contact the previous owner.

Next Steps

I recommend contacting the estate agency you purchased the property through. They may be able to provide contact details for the previous owner or send them communication regarding the debt."

MeteredOut

zaq1xsw2 said:

We are in the same situation with the debts totalling £1300. Ovo have now said we need to contact the previous homeowner. Madness what do I do now? 

"I understand your frustration regarding the debt associated with your property.

Debt on the property

As discussed, when you created your account, the debt on the property should have been addressed. OVO isn't liable for removing the debt, as it's the responsibility of whoever was financially liable for the property before you bought it, whether that's the housing council or the previous owner.

I know you mentioned that you're unable to contact the previous owner.

Next Steps

I recommend contacting the estate agency you purchased the property through. They may be able to provide contact details for the previous owner or send them communication regarding the debt."

What you should do now is create your own thread so people don't get confused between your situation and OPs, which might be completely different and is 8 months old.

What is the same in both cases is that you are only liable for the energy you use from the day you move in, and so long as you have evidence of the meter reading at that date, that should be relatively easy to show.

I'd not be contacting previous owners to resolve a debt owed by them to the energy company.

housebuyer143

If it's a prepayment meter then they should be wiping the debt so that you are not paying someone's bill. It is not your responsibility to contact anyone about this - it is there's. 
You need to raise a complaint so the right person sees it and tell them you are not liable for someone else's bill. 
I worked at the letting agent for years and debt was wiped all the time by the utility companies when a new tenant moved in