Threatened for incorrect bills via BG

beatthenasties

Hi,
Moved into a new house 18months ago and swapped energy suppliers from British Gas to Southern Electric.

My Electiric went without a hitch (right readings, final bill etc.) but my Gas did not....
....I started paying SE who passed the start reading to BG (I also rang and confirmed) but BG sent a bill charging me for units I was paying SE for. After a number of complaints I never heard or received anything more....until 12 months ago a debt collection agency sent a letter threatening me with legal action if I did not pay the bill.

Of course I went through it all with them and showed them the bills etc showing I was being incorrectly charged and they duely put the account on hold whilst they investigated. I then received a letter from them saying I was correct and they were passing the matter back to BG.

I have heard notheing from BG since, but just before Christmas I received more finalnotices for payment of the bill, this time from a different debt collection agency, and more threatening than the first. They have not responded to my letters or emails and when I rang they said they would look into it.

I have heard nothing since and am now quite worried about what's happening. Does anyone know:
a) whether they can threaten me 18 months later for a bill I do not owe?
b) what effect this may have on my credit rating or anything else?
c) where I can write to, to complain and take this matter up with (an officiating body)?

Many thanks!

nikki_angel

I can't answer all your questions but Energy Watch are the people you need for this.

Cardew

Write(not ring) a recorded delivery letter to BG as well as contacting Energywatch. Calls will just get ignored.

Much as I loath these debt collection agencies(who use threats and bluff etc) it is BG who have given them your name; so they need to call off the dogs.

stimpo

Cardew wrote: »

Write(not ring) a recorded delivery letter to BG as well as contacting Energywatch. Calls will just get ignored.

Much as I loath these debt collection agencies(who use threats and bluff etc) it is BG who have given them your name; so they need to call off the dogs.

I assume you, DCAs do not bluff.

adouglasmhor

stimpo wrote: »

I assume you, DCAs do not bluff.

Can you post that again in English please? And debt collecting agencies rely on bluff and fear in many cases.

stimpo

adouglasmhor wrote: »

Can you post that again in English please? And debt collecting agencies rely on bluff and fear in many cases.

Debt collection agencies do not use bluffs. Any threats will be carried out. I know, I deal with them everyday.

adouglasmhor

So do I, usualy sending them packing as they try and extort money from new tennants or landlords for absonders debts.

Cardew

stimpo wrote: »

Debt collection agencies do not use bluffs. Any threats will be carried out. I know, I deal with them everyday.

Stimpo,
I am aware from your previous posts that you work for a utility company, and most of your posts are informed. However the above is the most ridiculous statement I have seen in a long while.

The whole modus-operandi of these companies is to use threats and create fear. Their letters are couched in quasi-legal terms that the layman finds difficult to interpret.

To give but one example of their practices, the Office of Fair Trading has expressed concern about the so called ‘look alike’ letters:

These are documents issued by or on behalf of a creditor or debt collection agency which resemble a court summons or other official document, or are intended to lead the debtor to believe that they come from or have the authority of a court. The Office has also received complaints regarding documents which it is alleged contain false or misleading information intended to coerce the debtor into paying.

There are countless complaints about them using fear and intimidation as a standard practice – try using Google or read some threads in MSE.

I have no sympathy with people who ignore legitimate bills and detest the culture that believes swindling companies is justified.

However the accounting systems of the Utility companies are a disgrace in many cases and defaulting accounts based on incorrect bills are often passed to DCAs by uncaring/unsympathetic/incompetent call centre operators without any proper investigation.