I wouldnt pay untill I have something in writing.. They know your phone number, postal address etc. They have the means to mail you so they should. Bit like when UPS tried charging me 22 quid for "administrative fees", good luck with that.
Debt collection - not happy
- Thread starter Big Chris
- Start date
If you can find proof that you settled your bill then pass that info onto the debt collection agency. They will stop hounding you - then take it up with Eon and insist they fix your credit file - they have the ability to do this.
I went through the same thing with NTL, I closed my account only they forgot to close it their end. Twelve months later I start getting calls and letters from a debt collection agency about unpaid bills. I faxed the agency my final bill which showed I owed NTL nothing - the agency stopped calling me and then I went mental with NTL to sort out their mess.
I kept all the paperwork for that flat for a few months after we moved out and we'd paid the final bills, then shredded it at xmas once I was sure it wasn't needed anymore (given that I hadn't heard from any of the utility providors for over 3 months).
But what was said earlier was ********. (sounds like bullocks)
Associate
As Cuchulain said, previous advice was incorrect. this will reflect on your credit file so you need to get it sorted.
Have you tried contacting E-On? It may be an administrative error, a lot of these processes are automated, with little to no human interaction unless prompted, so a real pair of eyes looking at the records may identify a simple mistake that will get rectified.
Right - I think I've got the bottom of it. It looks like the fault of the letting agents (they were useless the whole time we were there so I'm not that surprised).
For some reason, they thought we got our gas from another providor, so wrote to them when we moved out asking for a final bill, not E-On. The girl from the agents tried to blame this on me saying that we must've changed providors, but since the tenancy agreement specifically asked for tenants not the change the providor - we didn't. It was E-On when we moved in and E-On when we moved out.
We left on the 31st July, and a new chap moved in on the 22nd Sept. As the agents never told E-On we'd left, they've billed me between those two dates until the new chap moved in (£14.70) - which I've just paid but will attempt to claim back from the letting agents.
Once I assured the girl at the agents that we'd not changed any of the providors, she still suggested that it was the fault of a previous tenant for not telling them they'd changed providor in the past, but I don't buy that. Surely as letting agents managing a property they should keep up to date with stuff like this? Either way I don't see how I should be landed with the bill. It's only a small amount but it could've been much more.
For some reason, they thought we got our gas from another providor, so wrote to them when we moved out asking for a final bill, not E-On. The girl from the agents tried to blame this on me saying that we must've changed providors, but since the tenancy agreement specifically asked for tenants not the change the providor - we didn't. It was E-On when we moved in and E-On when we moved out.
We left on the 31st July, and a new chap moved in on the 22nd Sept. As the agents never told E-On we'd left, they've billed me between those two dates until the new chap moved in (£14.70) - which I've just paid but will attempt to claim back from the letting agents.
Once I assured the girl at the agents that we'd not changed any of the providors, she still suggested that it was the fault of a previous tenant for not telling them they'd changed providor in the past, but I don't buy that. Surely as letting agents managing a property they should keep up to date with stuff like this? Either way I don't see how I should be landed with the bill. It's only a small amount but it could've been much more.
Soldato
Ah right its what I suspected was the case. Tenant 1 moves out and there is a gap till tenant 2 moves in, even if tenant 1 closes the account they will still bill **someone** at that address.
Tenant 2 should have given it to the agent but probably just binned it.
The responsibility for the bill remains at the doors of the owner, which will be managed by the agent from the point you moved out.
You may have more issue getting your file fixed now since you have paid they wont really care about you. I would suggest you get letting agent to give you a letter on headed paper stating you had settled bills and were clear before you moved out and that the responsibility for billing was theres from date xxxx. Then contact Equifax and Experian directly and ask them to correct your history based on the letter you have.
Lots of damn hastle for you and nothing you could have done to prevent it really.
Tenant 2 should have given it to the agent but probably just binned it.
The responsibility for the bill remains at the doors of the owner, which will be managed by the agent from the point you moved out.
You may have more issue getting your file fixed now since you have paid they wont really care about you. I would suggest you get letting agent to give you a letter on headed paper stating you had settled bills and were clear before you moved out and that the responsibility for billing was theres from date xxxx. Then contact Equifax and Experian directly and ask them to correct your history based on the letter you have.
Lots of damn hastle for you and nothing you could have done to prevent it really.
Soldato
Bailiffs =/= debt collectors.
Associate
I have had this before too for such a small amount I would just pay it off keeping all paperwork as proof. I have learnt now when I get my final bill keep copies of everything and I pay the last giro at the post office just so I have that proof too.
I paid the £14.70 earlier, the girl said it was their in-house debt recovery people that had contacted me so hopefully no black marks on my credit report?
I'm not too fussed about the money really, but I'm gonna have a word with the letting agents anyway since it's because of them this has happened.
I'm not too fussed about the money really, but I'm gonna have a word with the letting agents anyway since it's because of them this has happened.
Think about just how many people they'll do this to though. It's essentially free money as a lot of people think "It's a low amount, too much hassle to not pay it, so I just will".
Just something to think about.
Soldato
- Joined
- 31 May 2009
- Posts
- 21,456
I was assuming it was their in-house recovery people, as there is no agency would recover £14 in debt or fees, without tacking on a recovery bill of several hundred pounds for their efforts.
When i initially heard how small the amount was I had wondered if someone had got an old bill and phoned you to try to scam your CC details or similar.
Thankfully not.
I'm to lazy to read thread tonight. So probably already been covered, but no it shouldn't affect credit rating. Also just tell debt collectors you are in dispute with e-on and for them to pass the debt back, then phone e-on up and sort it out.
In house = trying to scare (scam) money out of you, as they know a lot of people will just see "debt collection" and crap themselves, so pay up.