British Gas and numerous DCA's hassling for debt at address we've never lived at!

[kilic]

Hi, i'm hoping someone may be able to offer some advice on what to do next. This may get a bit long!

We've been living in our current flat for 2 years and out of the blue a few months ago, a letter arrived from a DCA regarding an outstanding bill of £135 to British Gas in my husbands name. I contacted them straight away as we've never been with BG and they told me that it was for a previous address. The address they gave however, we've never lived at. More to the point we've also NEVER had an account with BG. The address they gave me is quite close to my mam's house so i done some digging and found out the name of the tenant and the letting agent at the time of the supposed debt. I contacted the agent who confirmed we have never been tenants there and also confirmed that i did have the correct name for the tenant at the time. They, aswell as us, contacted BG and confirmed this info and thought that was the end of it. Weeks later more letters started to arrive from BG, Westcott, Buchanan Clark & Wells and more still demanding payment. The agent then wrote two letters confirming we were not tenants there and not liable for bills but we're still getting nowhere.

A couple of weeks ago i e-mailed BC&W and received a reply apologising for the inconvenience and confirming that our details would be removed and a trace put out fo rthe correct person. Surprise, surprise we then start receiving more letters from BC&W threatening court action and demanding more than £435. I'm now at my wits end and don't know what else to do. The letting agent aren't really interested in keep phoning and sending letters as it's not really their problem.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks Kilic

[Goldlady]

I would just ignore them. They will get bored eventually and start hounding some other innocent victim. After all if they did try to take you to court you have a full defence, and even have their apology to throw back at them.

You could send BC&W a copy of their apology. These people are unbelievable

[Sparklez30]

or you could try writing enclosing all the evidence and requesting compensation for the inconvenience and upset they are continuing to cause you (always worth a try I think )

[gni03349]

More to the point, I would do the above to BG.. they are the idiots who decided you owed money on somebody elses bill. However, having said that, would they actually be able to comprehend what you are telling them?

I would send a strongly worded letter demanding compesation from BG, or even going so far as to threaten court action against them!

Also, contact OFGEM about this (Ofgem can't deal with individual consumers, but they will note the problem, and pass it to Energywatch who should help).

[kilic]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to send letters again today to BG and DCA again offering contact details for the letting agent so they can get in touch with them direct to confirm we were never tenants. Problem i have, which DCA's are playing on, is that i can't prove our address for this time. However, i can prove that the address in question was NOT our address (via letting agent) if that makes sense.

[gni03349]

It's up them to prove your "guilt", not for you to prove your innocence. It doesn't matter if you can't prove your address at the time... it has nothing to do with it, as your address at the time is nothing to do with the claim.

I would send them a reminder of the new unfair trading guide, and politely ask them to either prove the debt is attributed to you, or to "cease and desist" (there is a link to the new unfair trading guide at the top of each page).

[Sparklez30]

I agree with gni - it is up to them to prove that this account is for you which as you never lived there they obviously can't!

From what I know of DCA's you may be better to contact british gas direct. I would write them a stinking letter saying how appauling this situation is and that due to the stress and inconvenience you will expect compensation - maybe the threat of them having to pay you will get them to get their act together!!!!

[kilic]

Thanks again guys. I am going to contact one more time and go with what you are saying, that it is up to them to prove the debt.