Shakespeare Martineau chasing old electric bill

[Starbug]

Hello. 

I have Shakespeare Martineau chasing me for a debt at the moment.  I have looked them up and can't find out much about them, has anyone here had experience in dealing with them?

 

The debt is for electricity from a previous property. 

I had a DRO, they asked for a meter reading and I gave one. 

They wrote down the wrong number, and didn't write off all the debt. 

I have been in touch several times, and even asked for a recording of the call to prove they wrote down the wrong number, but they didn't have it recorded and refused to acknowledge the problem. 

 

Now, it's a couple of years later and I have Shakespeare Martineau chasing me for the full amount. 

I'm receiving ESA and waiting to hear from my PIP claim. 

 

I have mental health problems and am also in a deficit each month. 

My savings are going down to nothing as my rent is too high, but due to the DRO my options for rental are limited as I have bad credit.

 

I'm worried that Shakespeare Martineau will take me to court and I'll get another CCJ. 

In the past, some debt recovery companies have offered payment plans and reduced settlements. 

Do Shakespeare Martineau ever offer this?

 

I have written to them to complain about their tactics. 

They have not taken my mental health condition into account. 

 

They are bullying me asking for full payment or else action will be taken. 

They have not taken my limited financial circumstances into account. 

They have ignored me when I tell them I do not owe that amount. 

Classic bullying tactics...

what can I do?

 

Thanks.

[London1971]

Stop engaging with them by phone, they are trained to make you agree to things that are in their interest. Everything in writing by post with proof of posting.  Ignore all phone calls, emails and Texts!

 

Also they are powerless, ignore them. Unless you get a PAP letter telling you they are going to take you to court, in which case you run it past this thread. 

 

Just make sure they have your current address.

[Starbug]

Hi, thanks for the reply.  

I've not spoke to them on the phone at all, I emailed them so that I could keep a record of all responses. 

May I ask why you say to do everything by post? 

Surely email is just as good or better, as I have a record of everything?

 

they have to send me a PAP letter before they can take me to court? 

That's good to know. 

 

I'm very worried about this as I just can't afford to pay them, and don't even have enough money coming in to pay my bills.

 

Thanks.

[London1971]

Forget about them, I've had a tonne of old energy bills, from back in the bad old days, lots of dire threats but no court!

 

Don't engage by email, block them. It's just another avenue they use to harrass you.

 

 

[Starbug]

Yeah it did seem like they're trying to coerce me. 

The email ended with "we look forward to payment in full",  after I'd told them about my dire financial circumstances. 

 

I was worried as they seem to be a solicitor firm, who don't usually mess around. 

Haven't come across them before so wanted to know what they're like. 

Thanks.

[London1971]

Ok, this is Paramount.

 

Do they have your current address?

[Starbug]

Yes they do. 

I emailed them after recieving a letter at this address, as I wanted to explain that I couldn't pay.

[London1971]

That could just be a phishing letter.

 

It is very important that you write to them with your current address (by post)

 

Use free proof of posting available at the post office

 

All you need to do is quote you're name and account number, then

 

Dear Sir Madam,

 

For all correspondence my address is now ' xxx yyy'

 

 

Please do this today.

 

Also it is imperative you keep the postage receipt and proof.

 

 

Edited June 27, 2019 by London1971

[dx100uk]

just a though

who are their CLIENTS??

 

might be better to write to them

then dealing with the gofer

 

[Starbug]

Hi, it's iSupply. 

I've tried emailing back and fourth but they refused to budge on their position. 

They say the meter reading was correct and that I owe that amount in full, and asked me to provide a photo of the meter on that date(which is impossible as I don't have a time machine).

 

They also say they record calls when you ring them, but couldn't provide a recording of my call when I gave the meter reading. 

They have also added late payment charges, and I asked them to provide details of these(what it cost them) and they haven't.  Generally they took a couple of months to reply to an email, it was frustrating as they're impossible to deal with.

 

They managed to get a court order to fit a pre payment meter at my old property. 

But the meter couldn't be installed due to regulations(it would have been too high) so it went back to them. 

Now I have Shakespeare Martineau chasing me on their behalf.

 

33 minutes ago, London1971 said:

That could just be a phishing letter.

 

 

I'm not sure I follow.  The letter has all details of my debt so how would it be phishing?  Do you mean like an email [problem]?  Or just to see if I reply?

 

I'll send them a letter as you suggested, just to make sure they have my current address.  I did provide it to iSupply when I moved, so it should be on file. 

[London1971]

It means they could send a claim form to your old address and you will know nothing about it unless you write to them advising them of your current details

Edited June 27, 2019 by London1971

[dx100uk]

send Isupply an sar VIA ROYAL MAIL

ignore the powerless solicitors from now on

 

that will kill 2 birds with one stone

get you everything they hold

and inform them of the correct address.

 

inc a CTAX bill copy

and

a copy of ONE of the sols letters.

 

stop and block ALL email/text/ etc and bounce them back

writing only from now on 

 

dx

 

 

 

[Starbug]

DX - why do I need to write everything? 

Can't I email them? 

That way there's an electronic copy of everything? 

 

Is there a reason to use post? 

I haven't done it yet, been putting it off but need to deal with this. 

Haven't heard anything from them yet, also checked post at my old address the other week and nothing.

[dx100uk]

emails can be manipulated and doesn't serve as a papercopy giving a papertrail you might need should things say go legal or be refered to say an ombudsman.

 

you've been here since 2006 and should know these things as part of your self help reading on like issues.

 

use 2nd class post and get free proof of posting from any PO counter.

legally that's all you need to do. prove xyz was sent.

 

 

 

 

[Starbug]

Ok, an update on this situation. 

The solicitors have wrote to me at my current address. 

They have claimed that iSupply are still claiming the full amount unless I can provide a photo of the meter reading on the date I took it. 

Obviously this is impossible, as I don't have a way to travel back in time.

They have also said that I was offered a payment plan but didn't have any money.

 

Where do I stand here? 

As far as I'm aware, my financial circumstances are supposed to be taken into account, and also that they are supposed to offer a payment plan, instead of demanding the amount in full.

 

Also, it's not my fault they took down the wrong meter reading. 

But I have no way of proving this. 

 

Lastly, I'm currently receiving benefits, on PIP and registered disabled. 

I am Autistic and am classed as a vulnerable person. 

I have told them this but they are very persistent and keep writing to me. 

Should I just ignore this letter?

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

On ‎11‎/‎09‎/‎2019 at 12:46, dx100uk said:

you've been here since 2006 and should know these things as part of your self help reading on like issues.

 

I may have been here a while, but that doesn't mean I come on every day to read up on various subjects just in case it happens to me. 

I've only had a handful of posts over the years, and if I knew these things, I wouldn't be asking for help.

[dx100uk]

send  an sar

 

dx

 

 

[Starbug]

What does that have to do with anything?  They're posting to my address and threatening me, what would a SAR do?

[dx100uk]

its gets you everything they hold on you.

told you to do this in june!

[Starbug]

Ok, but they're writing to my home address, how would this help?  I've asked them to do everything in writing from now on... just want to know what next steps they might take, and what can help me?

[dx100uk]

put ismart to strict proof by sending an sar to get all the data regarding this dispute.

whens this debt from?

dx

 

[Starbug]

Put ismart to strict proof?  What does this mean?

 

Yeah I can see the advantage of getting all of the data to see what they have on me.

 

When is the debt from? 

That's the tricky part...

 

I had a DRO in 2016 and they wrote off some of my bill from the meter reading I gave... but they took the wrong reading. 

 

I contested it, and they asked for photos of the meter after several weeks.  The problem of course is that I can't go back in time and take pictures of the meter. 

 

I left the property at the end of 2018, and owe them money up until then. 

 would the debt be from when I last acknowledged it? 

Which would be when I disputed the reading in 2016? 

Or would the debt be from the end of 2018 when I moved out?

 

Also, they're supposed to take my financial circumstances into account, and offer a payment plan.  The only thing that ever happened was that iSupply went through my budget, saw that I was in a deficit and said they can't legally enter into a payment plan.

 

I'm also currently registered disabled, receiving PIP and ESA, and classed as a vulnerable person.  Having mental health issues such as ADHD, OCD, Anxiety and Autism.  I have told them this and asked them to stop harassing me.

 

By law they're not supposed to put pressure on me to pay more than I can afford. 

And I can't afford to pay them. 

I don't know where I stand. 

Really wanted to know if anyone here has dealt with these people before?

 

Yes, I've just looked up the law on disability and discrimination.

They should have made special allowances due to my mental health problems. 

They have a duty to make reasonable adjustments. 

Instead they are just sticking firm - pay us or face the consequences. 

No offer of a payment plan, just a threat of action if I don't do as they say. 

[dx100uk]

get the evidence they must be relying upon from their system.

that means send an sar.

if you have not informed someone in writing of your health/wealth issues.

they cant adapt.

 

dx

 

 

 

[Starbug]

Well I've definitely informent them.  They just don't seem to care.  Just pushing on demanding money, not understanding that they're trying to get blood from a stone.  I don't want another CCJ as it'll set me back years, and I'll also have to deal with bailiffs.

[dx100uk]

nor should you

but you will if they don't know your correct address.

sar kills 2 birds.

 

dx

 

[Starbug]

They have my correct address, that's for definite.  Like I said above they wrote to my home address.

 

I've also been to visit the new tenant and given him my contact details should they try to write to my old address.  I don't know why the address is the issue here, I'm really looking on advice on how to deal with them chasing me.