Please help, I'm at my wits end!!

kelgt · 18th April 2007, 13:34

I'll try and keep this short, currently I have a DCA recovering an old united utilities bill possibly going back 10 years! the original amount was for roughly £1800 and I agreed to pay them £30 pm of which I've been doing (begrudingly)
even though I can't afford it. Then yesterday I get a letter saying "our client has forwarded to us for collection your current water charges. this amount has been added to the balance you owe for previous years charges and the balance you owe in total is now stated above (£1,835.01)
then this in caps

" THE AMOUNT YOU ARE CURRENTLY PAYING IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MEET YOUR ARREARS AND THIS YEARS WATER CHARGES"

"An increase in your payments is necessary to ensure the current charges are clear within the next 10 months.Unless we hear from you within 1 month your instalment will be increased to a repayment amount which will ensure the account is clear before your next bill is issued"

I thought wtf!! I have never even had a water bill through the door, so I phoned up united utilities who said they sent me a bill this month (not had anything) but they sell this years bill within days of issuing it! I asked what they had on their system what I owed them they said they can only go back 3 years but they will send me some itemised bills in the next few days.

Now as far as I'm aware debts over 6 years can be quashed so I'm hoping that if I contact the DCA they can give me a breakdown of the debt and I can tell them to whistle for anything that's over 6 years, can I do that?

Also was the water company in the wrong for selling this years bill to them only days after issuing?

this is really driving me crazy!! I'm quite willing to pay my water monthly just like eveyone else does but i've really had enough of this DCA sending me letters and phoning me at night and stuff, they phoned me the other night to remind me to pay this month and ask if i can increase payments!! I told them polity I do not like being phoned up at 8.30pm and no i cant and wont increase my payments. and i hung up on them.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks for reading

sequenci · 18th April 2007, 13:56

i've just had a brief look through. who is the water firm? have you spoken to offwat about their conduct?

certainly a breakdown is well worth requesting.

have you been paying this historically?

kelgt · 18th April 2007, 14:07

I've been paying through the DCA for about a year now, the water company is united utilities.

kelgt · 16th May 2007, 18:34

Update, I have received nothing from United Utilities since I phoned them and asked for my old bill and even my new one, not a thing!! feel like I'm flogging a dead horse here.

As for Robinson way DCA, well I haven't phoned them, I've been throwing their letters in the bin and I've changed my phone number.
What's the worst that could happen to me?
If I get taken to court do I have a leg to stand on?

Fred Bassett · 16th May 2007, 19:46

Subscribing and wish you luck.

Fred

sequenci · 16th May 2007, 20:27

take a look at this!

National Debtline England & Wales | Debt Advice | Factsheet 23 Water Rates New Rules

CAG Products - We think that these will help you to make your claim or Reclaim your Right These sales also help us to keep helping YOU and keeps this site free of third party adverts!

Small Claims Kit	Small Claims Court Guide New Edition	CallBurner - Skype CallRecorder Review	Last Will & Testament Kit	Fight a Motoring Ticket

Alternatively you could purchase a CAG email address here, or maybe you'd prefer our address labels here
UPDATE: Consumer Forums ConsumerWiki is now LIVE - click here: ConsumerWiki N.B. Please note - due to postage costs these products are only available in the U.K.