Thanks Stu007 I've checked - no mention of utilities debt on either credit report.

Ah I see. Thank you.

Thank you do 100 uk - but if I ignore them won't they just take me to court? How can I prove I don't owe this money? Do I even have to prove it?

Ah I see, well thank you very kindly

Hi Scott - thanks for the welcome. And also for sorting out my post - did I do it wrong? Lol

Hello. Newbies 1st post. July 2014 I went abroad for a year and a tenant was in my house for that period. I was up until then using Cooperative Energy for both gas & electricity. I was paying £130 every month. I gave final readings on changeover day. A year later, tenant moved out and I moved back in. Again I contacted Cooperative Energy to transfer it back to my name. I was amazed - and double checked - when they said it will be £72 per month for both. Wow I thought prices have dropped! 3 months later and 3 payments of £72 made I receive a letter saying I have arrears of £462! Naturally I called them to advise there must be an error - to be told no, it was outstanding from when I lived here before! I asked how? And said this isn't possible. And where was the bill? They said they sent it - 9 months after I went abroad! I told them I genuinely had not received any bill and that I fail to see how this can be right. The (un)friendly woman just snapped "well its correct and you'll have to pay it as it can't be written off". I then requested a copy of the bill. It never arrived. Just another threatening letter. I called again. I asked how come it took them 9 months to send a bill and why send it somewhere that I wasn't living? Also, when I made contact on my return to the UK why wasn't I informed of this alledged outstanding amount then? I again requested a copy if the bill which never arrived. I did however, Ewelme a letter from Search UK Limited saying they now own this debt. Not sure how to proceed so advice /action recommendations would be gratefully received. Thank you. Apologies it was 2015 I went abroad not 2014!