EDF Energy bill liability - shared accommodation - advice?

[Jmulv]

Hi,

 

I'll try keep this short but would really appreciate advice where I stand!

 

I was living in a 3 bedroom house for around 6 months with 2 others,

Person A and Person B.

Person A set up the electricity bills with EDF in his name with all Direct Debit info.

EDF knew nothing about me or other tenant and Person A didn't really know any info about me aside my name.

I moved out after 6 months of paying my share of bills to person A as did Person B.

I moved out due to disagreements with Person A etc so thought it'd be best if I moved out.

This was in January and all bills were paid up till then.

 

Fast forward to today,

I get a letter forwarded to me from Person B (Who is still friendly with me) it's an EDF bill with my name on saying I owe 200 pounds for last 3 months of electricity/gas. Bill says from January to march and I've got to pay by April 03.

What Person A has obviously done is just claim he's moved out and closed his account with EDF then told them my name and said oh he's still living there and they seem to have just automatically set up an account with my name on and no information about me?!

how is that even possible? surely if you can just do that I could do it myself just ring energy company make up a name and say yeah they are still living there I was a housemate I've moved out so put the bills in their name and just continue to live there and use the energy ignoring bills addressed to this Joe blogs I made up?

My question is will I be liable for this? I don't see how it can stand up, they have no information about me, I never set up an account with them all they have is my name and that's it no date of birth anything.

I remember being forwarded a letter from Person B in January addressed to me that just said good news we're still supplying your house you just need to ring us and give us meter readings your name and a few details to set up your new account.

The letter had my name on and an account number on it but I didn't set up anything and didn't think anything of it. Obviously person A didn't set up the account or follow up on that letter as he never saw it.

If you can just go changing names without consent of people or setting up new accounts what is to stop me ringing up about this letter and claiming I'm him changing the name on bill to his.

where do I stand here?

If it's confusing at all please let me know and I can try edit my post!

 Or he just changed the bill into my name randomly and I was not informed of anything like that happening.

[honeybee13]

Hello and welcome to CAG.

 

Sorry to hear about your problem and I hope we'll be able to help. The forum guys should be along later.

 

My best, HB

[Jmulv]

Hi,

Thanks it's a confusing situation, I just want to make sure I'm not liable if I choose not to pay it.

Even if I somehow liable and EDF chase me I will refuse it.

[steampowered]

Do you know if Person A is still in the property? If so, its probably quickiest to call EDF and explain what happened.

[Jmulv]

Hi,

Unsure, I just don't want EDF trying to stick the bill onto me if I do phone if they have nothing on me.

People do say energy companies will try to chase anyone they can for monies owed.

[unclebulgaria67]

All you need to do is send some document to EDF proving when you moved out and also in a covering letter advise that you had never signed up with EDF, but contributed money to the bill payer while you were resident.

 

I am presuming you have something from a landlord or letting agency confirming when you were a tenant at the property.

 

I believe there is legislation, which enables the energy companies to charge you for usage, even if you are not the named person on a bill. All you need to do, is send them details of when you were resident and advise them of the situation. Suggest you send this by recorded delivery and to keep copies.

[steampowered]

The longer you leave it, the less likely they are to believe you because it will be more difficult for them to chase the person who is genuinely liable.

I don't think it is a good idea to sit on this.

[Jmulv]

Hi,

Is that definitely true?

any links or anyone can back that up?

seems absurd to say you can just get lumped with a random bill when you didn't agree to anything or they have no details what so ever about you.

[assisted blonde]

Don't know if its true or not but more importantly have you contacted EDF to say that you were not living at the property and given them proof of your new address?

arguing about what could happen etc etc isn't solving the issue.

if you dispute a bill weeks after it was sent the company are less likely to believe you,

personally if I got a bill I shouldn't have got I would be shouting blue murder from the minute I received it until it was sorted.

[Jmulv]

I got a similar letter the other day.

Lowell and EDF.

Although my situation is a lot more complex....

it's a pretty old bill from uni days when I was in a house share.

Someone evidently didn't pay what they had to now i've got a letter through.

I had no idea and i've got no contact with those individuals anymore.

I'm just going to ignore it.

If i'm forced too i'll have to try set the record straight and tell them the situation but since these companies buy debt for pennies and chase whoever they can (they don't care if it's you or someone else who owes it) they can politely off.

I'm more surprised EDF made no effort to contact me in this said time?

it's been years....

[Bazooka Boo]

You are aware of the limitations act?