how do i go about disproving money owed to british gas?

[tomjeffery]

hi,

british gas have passed on a debt of £300 to a debt collection agency for an amount i owed them from Jan 07 (i had already switched to scottish power by then)

the debt collection agency cannot give me the meter reading that this was linked to and i am sure that i don't own BG anything.

i have made a £10 holding payment with the debt collection agency so that they don't take me to court and i have a month to get in contact and prove that i don't owe the debt.

how do i go about this? i think i was being billed by both suppliers for a period of time.

can i contact anyone who will have the meter readings so that i can get some info together. also, can i contact BG and demand all their bills from me and get them to state what usage i still owe them for?

i'm not very good at this kind of thing and am really annoyed that i have to build my case against when the debt collection agency can't give me their case!

thanks

tom

[saintly_1]

You ask them for proof of the debt

Dear Sir/Madam

Account no:

You have contacted me/us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by myself/ourselves.

I/we would point out that I/we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to (insert company name).

I am/we are familiar with the Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidance which states that it unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

I/we would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

Furthermore ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

I/we would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above account unless you can provide evidence as to my/our liability for the debt in question.

I/we await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to the trading standards department and consider informing the OFT of your actions.

I/we look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully



(Your Name) Print do not sign

[tomjeffery]

ok cool, thanks for that i will send that to them and see what happens.

should i still go about trying to find out what my meter readings were for that period of time?

[WebMaster]

A couple of things that I'd be interested in knowing .....

By making the 10 pound payment, has this weakened TJ's case? Eg is this seen as admission of the debt?

The DCA (which one is it anyway?) shouldn't be taking action on the debt if it is being queried ... is this correct?

As I say, I'm asking for my own benefit here - I've been in a similar position with npower.

[Dipply75]

Hey all, have been to hell and back with BG myself and am finally getting somewhere (i hope lol). Phone Energywatch, log the complaint and get a ref no from them.

Then leave it a day or so then call the complaints/escalations/relations team (they call themselves all sorts depending on which fib they are telling) on a number which I will find and post in a sec, oops, ,mrs disorganised!

When they first answer tell them that Energywatch gave you the number (they will ask where you got it), for some reason this gets you somewhere. Then basically just as saintly said, repeat that you are demanding proof from them, you asked for this in writing blah blah. From then on you should have one person to bug about it, and I would really bug them. I phone every 2 days or so and made it very clear from the start I will be charging them the cost of all the calls. amazing how they agreed to this and things are actually being dealt with now!

Hope that gets you somewhere with them, they are a nightmare.

[Dipply75]

right, phone no is - 0800 316 1209. ps, if your nominated advisor then gives you an 0845 no with their extension, dont use it! you'll wait forever and go through idiots again, keep using the 0800 one.

Energywatch - 08459 060708

[tomjeffery]

thanks for the tip and the number - i will try that.

is that for BG the number you have given?

the thing is i haven't had any correspondence from BG about the debt, just a call from the DCA (Moorcroft btw).

i have sent a letter similar to the one above by recorded delivery and will await a response. do you still think i should take this up with BG in the meantime?

cheers

[2Grumpy]

It is up to Moorcroft / BG to prove that you owe the money rather than for you to prove that you don't.

Tell BG / Energywatch that Moorcroft bullied you into paying £10 to avoid immediate court action and that you want the money back because you don't believe that you owe anything. Also telll them that giving you a month to prove you don't owe is equally unacceptable when they should have proof that you do owe the money before they start, and that none of this was in writing (unless it was).

Also tell them that you want all of this in writing for when they set Moorcroft on you again.

Grumpy