Huge problem with BT - now have baliffs visit threats!

Send a stiff letter to BT's Legal Department stating clearly that the debt is not yours. Advise them that if they continue to harass you via any means then such will constitute grounds for action under the civil tort component of the Prevention of Harassment Act 1997.
 
Debt collection isn't baliff though. If you have a bailiff as you said initially they probably have a genuine court directive thats different to Joe Bloggs debt collection.
You will in fact probably have more issue with a debt collection agency than proper bailiffs.

They are much less likely to believe you than a bailiff. Make sure you have some photo ID with you at all times so you can prove its not you. A rent agreement or something that shows you are the one renting along with the ID means you stand more chance.

Unfortunately for you the "thats not me, I dont know who he is, Ive only just moved in" is the oldest most common excuse people will try in this situation so have some very very good proof your not the one listed.

They will try all sorts of tricks to get you to pay by pretending to decide what to take etc, the fact is they cannot take stuff but they try to make out they are as a way to get people to pay. They basically won't care that its not you or they wont believe you they just want some money. So be prepared to be calm and stay focussed. If your other half buckles easily under pressure I would suggest not leaving her until you know its sorted.

BT should be able to stop the action pretty quickly if you are indeed sorted with them. Make them accept responsibility for this situation.

Alternatively send them to the other number 13 ;)
 
You have nothing to fear from bailifs, as said you would have to lose a cout case first. If it does go to court you would have plenty of warning, and frankly, the case would be thrown out before it even got to the hearing stage.

If I were in your position I would switch suppliers, they are in clear breach of contract and so cannot hold you to the 12month term. Then let them Chase you for whatever you owe. I certainly would be in no rush to tidy up after their mistakes.

As for threats of legal action from debt agencies, simply bin them. Nothing will come if it, and its pointless entering into communications with them.
 
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robskinner said:
BT should be able to stop the action pretty quickly if you are indeed sorted with them. Make them accept responsibility for this situation.
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Our bill seems to have been sorted out - in a way. BT have billed us from July.

We took over the premises in May. BT say we called twice but we ended the call (hung up on them) on both occasions so its all our fault nothing was done. This is not true.

The original bill included April for which we were not responsible. The debt collectors are after the April to July bill. The May to July part of that debt is ours. This is where I failed with BT - and got the snotty response from the girl about me wanting to pay more than BT was asking for?

One problem is that the above conversation ended badly on my part and I lost it ending in me telling her BT was "mating feaces"

Wrong of me I know but in my defence I was only trying to put things right and pay what we owe.
 
EddScott said:
We took over the premises in May. BT say we called twice but we ended the call (hung up on them) on both occasions so its all our fault nothing was done. This is not true.
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For this very reason I always send a letter if I have had to repeat a call. i don't bother every time, but if I have to call again on the same matter, it gets put into writing too.

You get 1000% more action from a letter than a phone call :)
 
On a side note, in legal threads like this, is there usually a website/legal forum that gets mentioned? I tried to search for it in threads, but not had much luck. Thanks! [/derail]
 
They are crap. I changed to BT for my ISDN line, I run two business with a number each on the ISDN line when they took the account over they did not set up the 2nd number. It took them over 9 month to get the 2nd number up and running which casued untold damage to my business. You can write to all your existing customers but you cant change the phone book and yellow pages until next year.
 
cm1179 said:
as has said, hit them with words like ombudsman and media and things will swing more favourably to you
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lol. No it wont. That's the last thing it does. Low level people wont be affected by words like that. not to mention if you go to an ombudsman he will show you the door unless you've gone through an OFFICIAL complaints procedure, which will be BTs own one.
 
lee32uk said:
If anyone from the Debt Collection agency turns up, which is very unlikely, just tell them to leave. They are not Baliffs, and have no legal entitlement to take anything. If they refuse to leave then calll the Police.
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This, all to often you'll get Debt Collection agencies masquerading as Baliffs, if they even ever turn up at all.

I'd bet serious money they don't.

Another trick they do is writing you letters pretending to be from thier solicitors, which it is not.
 
Leviathon said:
This, all to often you'll get Debt Collection agencies masquerading as Baliffs, if they even ever turn up at all.

I'd bet serious money they don't.

Another trick they do is writing you letters pretending to be from thier solicitors, which it is not.
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While in most cases you are correct. We have a legal team here who do issue proceeedings and contact the debtor so its not a trick. It can be a genuine notice that it is being pushed for a legal resolution as such.
 
Gornall said:
While in most cases you are correct. We have a legal team here who do issue proceeedings and contact the debtor so its not a trick. It can be a genuine notice that it is being pushed for a legal resolution as such.
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Fair play, I did some work the CAB (long time ago) and noticed a lot of debt collection agencies were up to this.
 
If things really are as you say - fire off an email to [email protected] his high level complaints team are excellent, shame the rest of BT isn't of the same calibre. Don't use this if you haven't exhausted every normal angle however.
 
Rroff said:
If things really are as you say - fire off an email to [email protected] his high level complaints team are excellent, shame the rest of BT isn't of the same calibre. Don't use this if you haven't exhausted every normal angle however.
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This is very good advice. I have been royally messed around by customer services in different companies a few times over the years. Each and every time I have ended up contacting the CEO, the situation magically gets sorted within hours.
 
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