LCS Utility Debt recoveries driving me crazy!

A question about : LCS Utility Debt recoveries driving me crazy!

Hi Everyone!

I'm new to the MSE forum and could really do with some advice!

I have received ALOT of letters from a company called LCS who are a utility debt recoveries company based in Leeds.

They are saying that I am responsible for an outstanding balance with British Gas of Ј1371 for a property that I used to live in. They are saying that this is for the gas supply between September 2009 and 2013.

I did live at the property they have mentioned but I only lived there for 6 months (Nov 2011 - April 2012) this was a house share with 7 other people and was managed by a company called MCR Properties. My rent payment included all bills. So I have never (and still to this day never) set up any accounts in my name with British Gas.

I phoned LCS to explain and find out how they got my current address and they said through Experian. Because I am showing on Experian as living at the previous address they have put it all under my name! I am furious!!!!

They have said that they need to see a copy of my tenancy agreement to prove that all bills were included in my rent - as it was 2 years ago I no longer have the tenancy agreement.

I contacted MCR properties who have so far been very unhelpful and even though I have emailed, phoned and wrote to them they have still not sent me a copy of my old tenancy agreement as they are very busy.

I received another letter from LCS today stating I have 72 hours or they are going to take court action. I phoned them to explain I am waiting for a copy of my tenancy agreement but they said basically they don't care and until I have it then the debt has to stay in my name.

I am really worried this is going to affect my credit rating and I really don't want any court action taken when it is not my debt in the first place. Help!!

Thanks

Steph

Best answers:

• I wouldn't make any further phone calls.
  I would simply write back to the debt collector to state that you are unaware of the alleged debt and that you were never responsible for any utility bills at that address.
  If the debt is listed on your credit file then also put on the letter that require them to confirm that the entry will be removed from your credit file.
  Don't get in to any further discussion with them, it is not up to you to prove this is not your debt or when you lived at the property or who paid for bills, it would be up to them to prove that you were responsible for the debt.
  You may want to use this template letter as a starting point for your reply to them. Letter when you know nothing about about the debt - AKA "Prove it" letter
  If they were stupid enough to try to take court action against you then you would defend the claim and simply point out that the account was not set up by you and you never gave permission for an account to be set up in your name, you were never responsible for the utility bills and that you were not even resident for the majority of the period they are claiming you owe.
• As Tixy says.
  Never ring, they will say things they will never put in writing.
  Complain, in writing. Tixys link is a good start, but you need to complain about the credit file entry and insist it's removed or you will refer to FOS and report to OFT.
  You do not have to prove anything to them.
  Doubt they would be stupid enough to try court
• Is the letter addressed to you personally? We got a few letters from LCS demanding payment for utilities debt as well, but it was address to "the occupier", so we just ignored it! Eventually we got sick of the letters and wrote one back essentially telling them to p!ss off and have heard nothing since.
• Yea it was addressed to me personally. They said they found my details on Experian showing that I had previously lived at the address so that's why it has gone down in my name!
  Thanks for your help I will try sending the letter to them.