Opened an account without consent and now chasing a debt

MDUK

My daughter was a resident with other people in a rental property when she was a student. About a year after leaving she received a bill from the water company saying she owes money for unpaid bills.

The bills were included as part of their rent and the landlord should have paid these.

She contacted the landlord (she only has his email) he says he’s sold the property now, that he had paid the bills and basically said it’s nothing to do with him. She has had more correspondence from the utility company so will go back to him when she knows what to say.

My daughter asked the utility company why they had contacted her, and they said they had the property listed as empty looked for the name of a person who was living at the address previously on another credit company's record, and found her, and then opened a water account in her name

She had previously sent a copy of her tenancy agreement showing the dates she was there, which is before the dates on the bill they are chasing. They have replied they are not accepting this as proof and asked for a list of items including names/DOB/address of who she thinks is liable.

She has also had a letter from a debt recovery agency, I assume it was passed to them before they manage to trace my daughter. This debt  actually now appears in her credit check reference, which I find appalling.

She is living with us back at home temporarily and sent the correspondence to my address.  Now they've told her to supply the name of the person she thinks is liable and should be paying the bill. I think this harassment is totally inappropriate, I don't know what she should do, I'd like some  advice please.

 

Voyager2002

She should provide the contact details for the landlord and the letting agency.

She should also make a formal complaint to the water company and this should mention that they are in breach of GDPR because of their careless treatment of information about her.

Brie

I'd also suggest that she might put the obligation on them to prove she wanted the account opened in her name. 

While this is being sorted out and until they remove the incorrect information from her debt record I suggest she put a note on the record to state that the info is incorrect and has nothing to do with her. 

QrizB

The onus is on the water co to prove that your daughter is liable, not the other way around.

I'd suggest a "prove it" letter.

See for example this thread (thread is old, link is still correct):

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4469415/what-is-a-prove-it-letter

fatbelly

Formal complaint, in writing, refer the response or if 8 weeks have elapsed, do it anyway to

https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/investigations/making-a-complaint/

She might have been liable for water use while she was living there but there is no way she is liable after she left.

And she is under no obligation to help this company with their investigations