Should this be easy to clear up? Bailiff-type letter about energy bill I don’t owe.

i_like_cats

I just received a bailiff-style letter relating to an alleged energy bill debt, from a firm I don’t want to name but who have been discussed on this forum previously.

It relates to a flat where I used to be a tenant, that I moved out of over a year ago.

However the Account Number that they supply is not the account number for that property.   Also I submitted meter readings on the day I moved out and was fully up to date.  I had a final bill and actually received a refund from the energy provider named on the debt letter.

So - what do I do now?  Phone up the energy provider and tell them to call off their hounds, since the debt doesn’t relate to my account with them?

Or it’s too late now that it’s been passed on to this company, and I have to deal with this company?  

If so I guess I am best to email them a formal letter, maybe including the final statement relating to my flat.  It’s easy to prove they have the account number wrong and I don’t owe anything.

I just wonder the quickest way to make it go away.   

lincroft1710

Never end a formal letter "Kind Regards". If "Dear Company" it's "Yours Sincerely" 

Jenni_D

I'd end it Yours faithfully, as the letter is not addressed to a specific person. But then that's how I was taught by my English teacher.  

Baldytyke88

i_like_cats said:

I just received a bailiff-style letter relating to an alleged energy bill debt, from a firm I don’t want to name, who have been discussed on this forum previously.
It states it relates to a flat where I used to be a tenant, that I moved out of over a year ago.

If you receive an energy bill that is older than 12 months, you generally do not need to pay it as per Ofgem regulations, which prevent energy suppliers from charging for energy used more than a year ago due to their billing errors; this is known as "back billing" and is considered illegal under UK law.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/what-do-if-you-get-back-bill

lincroft1710

Jenni_D said:

I'd end it Yours faithfully, as the letter is not addressed to a specific person. But then that's how I was taught by my English teacher.  

I was taught Dear Sir/Madam.... Yours Faithfully, Dear (name) .....Yours Sincerely

TheMilkmansDad

daft question - rather than account number, have you looked at the meter serial number on both your final bill and this new alleged debt bill? I'd focus on that rather than the account number as if your account was closed and a new one opened then the same serial number would show. Who was liable for the new bill would depend on other factors- was it a rented accommodation? Was the final meter reading based in your last day there or the last day of your tenancy/sale date?

Ergates

lincroft1710 said:

Never end a formal letter "Kind Regards". If "Dear Company" it's "Yours Sincerely" 

It's a debt collection company who are incorrectly chasing the OP for a debt they don't owe - there's no need to be polite at all.

General_Grant

If we are getting pedantic on how to top and taill a letter to a company -

               Salutation:     Dear Sirs
Complimentary close:  Yours faithfully

eskbanker

"Dear Sirs, Madams, or those who don't wish to identify as either"?

"Yours faithfully" or "Yours traitorously"?

TheMilkmansDad

first thing to to send the Debt Collecting firm a "prove it" letter, usually by snail mail - do not respond via their portal or by phone and by no means acknowledge the "debt" (goes without saying, but thought I'd say it anyway!).

Energy provider will not be able to assist you so no point talking to them - they'll just say they've passed one a Debt collection company so out of their hands.

TheMilkmansDad

i_like_cats said:

Thanks, TheMilkMansDad, that’s useful.

But surely in my letter I should tell them the correct account number and meter numbers for the flat I rented?  Then they will realise they are barking up the wrong tree.

I am actually still able to log in to my account and view all my old bills and payments, including the final payment.

I wouldn't give them anything, they're wasting your time so repay the favor in kind. They need to prove that you owe the debt remember. It's not for you to prove you don't.