Had payment set up with Moorcroft for UU Now receiving letters from buchanan Clark & Wells

[kerry-h]

Here we go again.

 

I defaulted on my water payments last year due to more important debts to pay.

 

I have had a payment plan set up with Moorcroft this year paying both lots of water bills.

Our payment plan was £40 per month (based on a financial summery completed by the C.A.B) and occasionally i would pay £50 pm.

 

With my husband being self employed and me losing my job we had no income this summer at all, nothing.

so I rung Moorcroft and told them I would not be making payments for the next two months,

they didn't like it but agreed I would contact them in October.

 

I rung them in September to ask how much the debt was (having NEVER received a receipt from them) and was told £312.

 

Come October Me and hubby found ourselves in the position to pay off the whole debt

so I rung Moorcroft and was informed by a snotty so and so that I had to pay £530

and as I had made no payments for 2months I had to pay the outstanding balance now.

 

10 minutes later after lots of arguments and haggling

 

I payed the £300 I was willing to pay anyway and set up a payment plan of £76.66 on 3rd of November £76.66 on 3rd of December and £76.68 on 3rd of January.

 

Job done, sorted.

 

So I received a letter this afternoon from Buchanan Clark & Wells It is a formal Demand to recover the overdue debt for United Utilities, in the sum of £530.00

 

I rang Moorcroft straight away and was told that UU had taken the account back and it had nothing else to do with them.

 

So I rung UU and was put straight threw to BC&W (great!)

After giving my reference number I was asked to CONFIRM my phone number I told them I preferred to be contacted via letter

and asked what phone number they had for me, to which I was told letter would be fine

 

I was told that the outstanding debt was £530 to which I told him that was wrong as I had paid £300, they had no proof of this.

 

I told them I have Moorcroft letter stating that they took payment of £300 and a payment plan of £76.66 etc..

to which they asked if i could send them them letters, I said no I'll send you copies

 

I then rang Moorcroft again and explained the situation and asked if they would send me a statement of all payments up to date.

the guy on the phone seemed genuinely confused and concerned, and confirmed that £300 payment had been taken on the 3rd of October and had no idea where BC&W had got £530 from.

 

I'm worried about getting involved in all this again as we've only just got bailiffs off our backs and our finances back on track,

but there is no way BC&W can add £200 to a debt they've just bought is there?

 

Also I do not have a water card so does any1 else know of a way I can pay money to UU directly.

Or has anyone delt with BC&W before and have any advice.

[dx100uk]

you should ONLY pay what the original bill was - endoff

no DCA nor their tinpot fake solicitors have any legal remit to add ANYTHING.

 

dont be spoofed

if you've paid what the org UU bill was - the thats it.

 

you REALLY need to stop phoning these people

they will threaten all sorts to spoof you into paying more than you should.

they ARE NOT BAILIFF and CANNOT send bailiffs around

that has to go before a court FIRST.

then you fail to pay the CCJ, then they send bailiffs.

 

these muppets have no more powers than THE MILKMAN or ME to demand money from you

 

NEVER EVER discuss any debts on the phone to DCA's or anyone really - even the OC.

 

everything in WRITING ONLY!!

 

time to ignore everyone now

 

dx

[kerry-h]

I didn't intentionally ring them, i rung United Utilities and was put threw to their "debt team" aka BC&W and I do still owe money on this debt but have no idea who to pay it to now.

[dx100uk]

oc by internet banking

 

how much left then £12?

 

dx

[MARTIN3030]

Lets get one thing straight.

First of all United Utilities are jointly liable for actions of agents they appoint to deal on their behalf.

Moorcroft should also have informed you that UU had taken the account back,although it may well be the case that they passed it back themselves,so should have contacted you and informed of this.

You are entitled to have a statement of your account that shows payments made and any fees or charges added.

The CAB are very good at dealing with UU-maybe you should consider going back to them armed with a log of whats gone on.

I would also put something in writing to BCW asking for a copy of their complaints procedure and a statement of account,asking who engaged them and on what date.

As for UU,you could file a complaint with the water regulator,as well as your local Trading Standards.

I went through pretty much the same as you but stopped them from flouting their responsibilities sooner rather than later.

 

And yes-as DX says-you can make payment online via their website with a card payment-or else do it directly from your account online.

You simply enter your UU account number and an amount-it takes 2 minutes and you can also print off or save a receipt.

[MARTIN3030]

Consumer Council for Water North West

(Representing consumers of United Utilities)

 

Suite 902, 9th Floor, Bridgewater House, Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 6LT

 

Telephone: 0161 236 6112, Local rate: 08457 056 316, Fax: 0161 228 6117

 

E-mail: [email protected]

Office hours: Mon to Fri 9.00 to 5.00

[kerry-h]

I have £230 left to pay 2 payments of £76.66 ND 1 PAYMENT OF £76.68 I will pay it directly to UU on line, thanks for your help every1