S.R.J. Debt Recoveries

[naylinski]

Hello,

 

New here although I have spent a little time review similar problems, although my circumstances may be different, hence the post. The reason it is different is that I have already contacted SRJ over the phone many times, after each letter to try and explain.

 

I have received over the past couple of years a series of letter from SRJ, including Trace Confirmation, Notice of Litigation etc.

 

The disputed debt story is as follows, and is in the same form I sent to SRJ in a letter:

 

"The debt being chased by British Gas is an incorrect amount. If you look at the dates they are quoting then this will become apparent very quickly. I moved into the property XXX, on the 31st November 2007. Before this date I had asked the letting agency, a XXX, for the meter reference for the gas supply. I was given a reference, and on the date of moving in I rang British Gas and gave my notice of wanting to switch supplier, instead preferring to use a company known as Utility Warehouse, whom I had used at my previous residence. I gave them the reference number that I had obtained from the letting agency, and then set up my contract with Utility Warehouse. Shortly after the 30 days minimum time to switch supplier had finished.

 

I then never received another letter or bill from British Gas during my time as a tenant at the property. I am aware that there should have been one for the 30 days notice period, but one was never presented. However during the tenancy, it became apparent through my billing with Utility Warehouse that the meter reference number was incorrect, as the estimated bills were coming in way above what I had previously been paying at my previous residence, a larger house with more people living in it. It wasn't until after I moved out that I managed to obtain the correct reference (or at least that was what I was told), and gave this to Utility Warehouse. I tried to also give this to British Gas, but was told that because I wasn't a customer, and didn't have any account with them that it wasn't necessary.

 

The main reason for the problem in giving the correct meter reference number in the first place was that first I was given the wrong information, second when I tried to look myself I couldn't find the correct meter for my individual flat outside the property (some were unaccessable, all those that were had no indicators to show which property they belonged to. And thirdly, despite my efforts to try to get the Letting Agency to sort out the problem, they did nothing about it. So in a nutshell, British Gas are trying to charge me £422.46 for a 30 day supply of gas, in a two bedroom flat with two occupants. This is not my debt, and I am unhappy that despite constantly telling Debt Collection Agencies about this, it seems to consistently end up back on my doorstep. I am happy and willing to pay a fair amount for the 30 days use that I do owe for, but have never been presented with a bill for such. And in all fairness I feel that the constant need to explain this story to 3rd party debt collectors, despite British Gas NEVER once trying to contact me direct, and the fact this is now over 2 ½ years old, is something I am very much unhappy about. I suggest that if British Gas still have a problem with this then they contact either the letting agency or the landlord of the property."

 

After sending the above letter, I have again received another standard Letter of Litigation from SRJ, "Seven days to respond".. I called again to try and explain once more, and also to check that my letter had been received. They confirmed that it had been, and that they had simply put my account on hold for 28 days whilst sending on my letter to British Gas.

 

There had been no response from British Gas, so therefore had reactivated my account and sent the letter. I also learned from them that the Debt Account they are holding is now only a couple of months old, so it appears that in the past it has probably been shut down after a certain amount of time, until British Gas have sent it off again to SRJ.

So basically I seem to be stuck in limbo. I cannot contact British Gas as they won't talk to me because, "I am not, and never have been, their customer", nor can I do anything about SRJ because even if I respond, all they do is respond back to British Gas, who then ignore them, and so the account becomes active again.

 

Any advice on my next steps. I cannot afford any CCJ (whether correct or not, or any other financial marks against my name, as I work in the Financial Industry, and it would lead to instant dismissal).

 

Thanks in adavance,

Adam

Edited August 23, 2010 by naylinski
removing identifying information - sorry! easier to read!

[harrassed senior]

Please edit all identifying information out of your post asap.

[dx100uk]

and add some blank lines so's we can atleast follow the story.

 

dx

[MARTIN3030]

Calling is a waste of time.

You will need to have a good paper trail and if you have,then I would seriously consider turning the tables and looking at a possible claim for harassment.

[naylinski]

Calling is a waste of time.

You will need to have a good paper trail and if you have,then I would seriously consider turning the tables and looking at a possible claim for harassment.

I was thinking the same, however I don't know quite how well my paper trails will be. We are currently living in at parents, and in the meantime a lot of things have been thrown out especially old paperwork. The problem was that none of this started until a while after we'd moved out, and as such we didn't realise that old paperwork would now be so needed! Any suggestions?

[dx100uk]

from the time you left the property did BG send you a bill within one year?

 

dx

[Bazooka Boo]

Yep Billing code was my first thought, they've no leg to stand on here.

[naylinski]

from the time you left the property did BG send you a bill within one year?

 

dx

 

Yep Billing code was my first thought, they've no leg to stand on here.

 

I have never to my knowledge received ANY bill direct from BG whatsoever. Only the letter from S.R.J. demanding payment. The letter quote a BG reference etc but nothing is direct from them.

 

I presume this is a good thing for me?

 

Thanks so far for your help, appreciated just knowing that there may be some light at the end of this long dark tunnel!

[dx100uk]

SRJ are VERY well known for this kind fleecing operation.

 

IF BG def did not send a bill for that amount to YOU in the last 12mts then there is nowt they can do about it.

 

SRJ buy it up for pennies & then theaten disconnection etc if you dob't pay, all the money goes to their pockets not BG, whom under the billing code cannot now get you so's wrote it off.

 

just type in SRJ in our search

 

you might also want to browse the utilities forum

lots of posts/threads in there about then.

 

 

 

dx

[king100]

Please explain the billing code?

[king100]

Just found it sorry, is it for gas elec and water or just gas elec?

[dx100uk]

i think its only gas/elec.

 

dx

[naylinski]

Just found it sorry, is it for gas elec and water or just gas elec?

 

i think its only gas/elec.

 

dx

 

I have looked through the paperwork that I have and cannot locate any bill from British Gas. Is there any way I can confirm for definite they haven't sent one?

 

I can confirm it was just for gas supply, and like I said previous, it wasn't even an account i wanted, only the 30 day minimum switch-over period as I wanted a different supplier.

 

Do you have any suggestions of how to get rid of S.R.J. Quite simply, just receiving the lettersis becoming stressful and tedius, and as I'm living with the in-laws at present, not exactly ideal.

 

Cheers,

 

Adam

[dx100uk]

right i've just read through you post.

 

you owe nowt to know-one

bg did not send a bill whilst you were there, so's i doubt they would send one after!

 

sadly, it will matter not what you do..

you won't get rid of SRJ , they are bottom feeders,

best thing is to ignore them.

you respond, they'll think a mug awaits fleecing.

 

please remember

they are only a DCA

 

DCA's have NO LEGAL POWERS

they are NOT bailiffs

they can do nowt bar send thread - o - grams

 

dx