Received threatening letter from CLA on behalf of EDF Energy

[jimmyp87]

Hi!

 

3 years ago I lived in a student house,

we all paid bills together yet apparently somehow we didn't pay the gas bill

for the entire time we were there (1 year)

 

Received a CLA letter today addressed to me..

..no one else got said letter demanding £1082.67

but if we pay within 14 days it's reduced to £866.14!!

And threatening court action proceeding soon

 

This is a huge amount of money and I simply cannot pay.

 

What will my next step be?

 

I'm trying to deal with them but they are very rude and demand I pay,

then I'll be free to dispute it which i find really odd.

 

Am I within my right to demand proof we lIved there?

 

They might just be fishing.

Thanks for your help

[AndyOrch]

Thread moved to the appropriate forum.

 

Regards

 

Andy

[ericsbrother]

whose name was on the energy supply contract or held the head tenancy for the house?

 

They will be legally responsible but you would all have a duty to ensure

that you paid your fair share to that person.

 

As for the DCA, they cannot take action against you unless they

 

1/ own the debt and

 

2/ have proof that you are debtor.

 

Both are unlikely.

[jimmyp87]

What proof would we need to ask for?

We asked for a bill but they are pressurising...

 

Was 8 of us in the house in all, student house

4 are ignoring my calls in regards to this so looks like us other 4 will have to pay their share!!

[ericsbrother]

When you moved in who signed the tenancy agreement?

 

Who contacted EDF and opened the account with them?

 

Basically the person who put their head above the parapet at the time is responsible

so how did EDF's bulldog get your details?

From a bill, electoral roll or landlord?

 

You dont have to pay a penny unless they can prove the amount owed and who owes it.

 

You may have lived in the house and owe a share of the bill to whoever agreed

with the supply contract but that doesnt mean that you owe EDF anything

as you would not be the responsible person.

 

Yo must have made some sort of arrangement at the time.

[jimmyp87]

Apparently we were never contacted by EDF....we were there over a year and I guess we just assumed we were paying the bill (one of us was paying electricity and we assumed he was also paying gas)

[dx100uk]

who is CLA?

 

dx