how to stop threatening letters - Scottish Power

debitcardmayhem

Ask your mother's solicitor to forward the letter perhaps.

Swipe

Give SP the name of the estate

QrizB

Give SP the name of the estate

Yes, "estate of" is the debtor here.

[Deleted User]

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81897071#Comment_81897071

"The previous owner died so his estate needs to pay the bill. In terms of the purchase, I think we only have details of "estate of the late Joe Bloggs" kind, not contact details of the Executor(s)."

Yes, that would be as expected. Whilst the executor(s) is the a named individual appointed to legally manage, protect, and distribute a deceased person's estate, (in this specific case to arrange the sale of the property, amongst their other responsibilities) the seller's details would be given as the "estate of the late Joe Bloggs".

Similarly, it would appear that the debt is owed by the "estate of the late Joe Bloggs".

The executor can only usually be held personally liable where there is evidence that they are in breach of their duties, act negligently, or distribute assets incorrectly, etc. There is no suggestion of that in this case.

As suggested by Swipe, pass the details of the "estate of the late Joe Bloggs" to SP.

IOWJJBTM2025

Items sent to your address but with someone else's name

• Cross out your address
• Write 'Not known at this address' on the envelope
• If there's a return address, circle it
• Pop the item back in the post

You have tried to notify SP and they have ignored. At least you can have the satisfaction that they will now have to pay a couple of pounds to the post office to get the letter delivered back. They can send a letter every day and it costs them to send and also to get back again. After a while they should stop.

Why should you have to spend any more time than necessary chasing SP debts on their behalf. They can employ companies to chase down the estate of the previous occupier to pay the debt.

Tell your mum not to worry and make sure she gets her energy from a different supplier so she never has to deal with the incompetent SP again.

[Deleted User]

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81897213#Comment_81897213

Whilst I agree with your comments on how to treat items sent to your address but with someone else's name (indeed I have recently posted similar comments elsewhere), the difficulty here is that the letter does not contain someone else's name, but rather 'the occupier'

The danger with treating such correspondence in the same way is you could miss out on important information.

e.g. I have seen important information intended for the occupiers of properties that comes from Civil Engineers/local council (regarding roadworks, etc), National Grid, water suppliers, etc all warning of possible local disruption/issues, etc

Unfortunately, changing supplier at this stage will not stop SP pursing the debt they believe they are owed. Also all energy suppliers operate in a similar way when pursing debts they believe they are owed.

[Deleted User]

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81896958#Comment_81896958

"You don't pay money for a bill that isn't yours."

Why not? I do very frequently.

(although I am usually compensated by the person or other legal entity that I believe should foot the bill)

e.g. for others who are elderly or infirm, for those I hold a PoA or for my employer who has asked me to collect an order for them, but the supplier will not release the goods without being paid. I've even paid Royal Mail to release a postal item with insufficient postage or customs duty to pay intended for someone else.

Just a few of the many examples.

WiserMiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81897213#Comment_81897213

"At least you can have the satisfaction that they will now have to pay a couple of pounds to the post office to get the letter delivered back. They can send a letter every day and it costs them to send and also to get back again."

Nope. Scottish Power won't be charged by Royal Mail. See Section 15.6 of https://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/UK-Post-Scheme-May-2018.pdf

Sadly, even in 2018 Royal Mail were just as bad as Scottish Power. Section 15.7 warns that if you strike out your address and write 'Please Forward to xxxx', they may just dispose of it.🙄

I have no doubt that Royal Mail are now even worse because they're owned by the EP Group (specifically EP UK Bidco Ltd), controlled by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský.

t0rt0ise

OP you are right not to ignore this. It doesn't take much for "the occupier" to change to your mother's name. This is what British Gas did with the bills that aren't mine that were sent to my address. With the help of the Ombudsman I am just now sorting it out. I hope you can sort this out more easily than I did.

EssexHebridean

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81897254#Comment_81897254

your examples are all completely different to the situation where it is being suggested - directly or obliquely- that someone might want to assume ownership of a debt in order to “make it go away” - that is a dangerous game, which is why the suggestion of it as an option has been called out.