Utility Companies

[pinkbabytots]

British Gas!!! I moved house over 18 months ago and changed supplier at my new address. I received final bills from British Gas and everything was paid. In fact I was in credit on my electricity bill, only for about �5, but never received any money off them. Approx 2 months ago, I receive a letter from a debt collecting agency claiming I owe �230 to British Gas. What an attitude they have!!! It comes as no surprise that I got nowhere with the debt collecting agency. They are arrogant and are not prepared to do anything to sort the problem except threaten you with court action. Anyway, I've dug out my old bills (good job I kept them, but what if i'd thrown them away). As I thought, they owe me money. Havn't got round to writing the letter as yet. This morning I decided to apply for a loan. Now my credit has always been very good. Much to my astonishment I discover that British Gas have put a default on my credit for �230!!! Consequently, this has an adverse result on my credit. Firstly, how can they put a default on my credit. I have not heard anything from them in over 12 months. Furthermore, I have never signed any credit agreement with them and so don't know how they can get away with it. I thought that defaults on your credit file was in relation to credit agreement accounts. I use to pay my utilities on a monthly standing order basis, sometimes I would be in credit with them and sometimes in debit. Thats the way it goes Secondly, who do I take the complaint to as I now seek compensation for the incovenience this lot has caused. Thank you very much in advance

[gouldc]

Did the same to my missus - we had months of wrangling with the cretins in India (British Gas), england (British Gas again), and the idiots in the debt collection agency.

Compensation - probably could get it, but don't hold your breath.

Complaint - try offgas (the regulatroy body), although again, they haven't replied to my missus yet after several letters, e-mails and calls over a twelve month period - probably inundated with complaints about british gas!

[themas]

1. Write to the debt collector (recorded delivery, keep a copy) saying you do not owe this money so are in dispute with B Gas about it. Tell them you will not be paying anything till the dispute is settled & that they should not contact you about it again.

2. Write to B Gas (again, recorded delivery, keep copy) setting out the situation & enclosing copies of all relevant correspondence & bills. Request removal of the adverse entry on your credit record, confirmation the debt will be recalled from the collector & written off as it is not your debt. Ask for compensation - you should get something, but probably only a nominal amount.

3. Contact the Energy Supply Ombudsman (much more helpful in my experience than Energywatch). Speak to them on the phone (get number from website). They should be able to advise you on the best way to go about complaining to B Gas & give you the address to write to. If you get nowhere with B Gas you can make a complaint to the Ombudsman.

[novalis]

Look on a website to find name of BG's Managing Director or Chairman. All directors of PLCs are required by law to have their names and HOME addresses on public record. Your local reference library should have access to that information. Write to the boss-(wo)man at their home address.

[Mamjet]

Pay them. What's the point in trying to wriggle out of it? Honesty is always the best policy.