BCW chasing old utility bill.

[TerryNoon]

Hi all,

 

I've also recently received one of these letters, so I wondered if anyone has any advice. I'll describe the history to this issue:

 

A few years ago (about 4, I think),

I suddenly received lots of increasingly threatening letters relating to an unpaid utility bill from a property I lived at until Autumn 2005.

 

The problem was, the utility bill covered a period from around June 2005 to the following year, Summer 2006.

 

I (probably foolishly) contacted BCW to explain my position.

This turned out to be a big mistake, as they continued to send letters demanding the debt be paid in full,

and they also started to call me at the house where I was staying, and on my mobile.

 

I stood my ground and kept asserting that I was not liable for the bill period after I moved out of the property, and eventually they stopped contacting me.

 

I then moved house again and have not thought about it since.

 

I recently got a new credit card, which is presumably how they have now got my new address and contacted me again.

 

they are chasing a bill from a property I have not lived in for 8 years, and the bill itself is now 7 years old too.

I can't quite believe they are still pursuing this (I seem to recall the bill is about £500), but my position stays the same.

 

If they sent me a bill for the few months when I was still resident at the address, I might even consider paying it,

but they were never willing to enter into that conversation,

 

my current intention is to do nothing - does this seem sensible?

 

Thanks.

[maroondevo52]

Hello and Welcome,

 

I have started a new thread for you, please continue to post here regarding this issue.

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

Scott.

[TerryNoon]

Just to be clear: the letter I've received this time is one of BCW's "verification" letters, where they are asking me to confirm that I am their "client".

[Ros1609]

Phishing trip - stay quiet til you get a letter naming you and the debt. In the meantime check your CRA file, if the debt is 7 years old and you haven't acknowledged it in that time or made a payment then its almost certainly Statute Barred

[TerryNoon]

Thanks Ros, I did write several letters to them in the past, but I always pointed out that in writing to them, I wasn't acknowledging the debt. I've certainly not made any payments either, I'm just a little concerned that BCW are still harassing me after such a long time though-so I'll do what you suggested and check my file, but I seem to recall signing up to experian when this happened before and I don't recall ever seeing any reference to it on my credit report, so I don't see how that could have changed.

[dx100uk]

if the util co THEMSELVES have not sent you a bill in the last 12mts

 

its DEAD they are trying to fleece you

'cause they think people are stipid

and think old util bills must be paid as they are a priority debt [bar water bills] - they are NOY.

 

ignore them

stay off the phone.

 

just remember

 

dca's are NOT BAILIFFS

 

they have NO SUCH LEGAL POWERS

 

 

dx

[Ros1609]

If its not on your credit file then send the Statute Barred letter. The onus is on you to send that letters as DCA's will continue to attempt to collect in the hope that you will pay up

[TerryNoon]

Thanks both, I think for now I'll just get my file checked again and make no contact with BCW. I've no doubt they'll send some follow up letters but as long as they don't start calling me I'm happy just to let them waste paper. I've amused myself today by digging out all the previous correspondence I've sent them over the years. They seem to send a flurry of letters to me roughly every two years, I've looked at all my previous responses and not once did I accept any liability for the bill!

[dx100uk]

the reason why they keep doing it is because you keep playing letter tennis.

 

ignore them!

 

did you not read that PDF?

 

dx

[TerryNoon]

I did read the PDF, which did confirm that the utilities companies themselves can only pursue a debt for 12 months, but since the debt has apparently been purchased by a third party, I'm not sure the back billing rules offer me much protection. You're right though: the best option is to ignore them, so I'll stick to that plan.

[dx100uk]

huh

well id the original ower cant ge their money back

 

what in the world do you think a fleecing no powers DCA can do?

 

they couldn't do anything anyway

 

so even less when the debt does not even exist.

 

stop playing letter tennis

and they'll eventually go away

 

dx