SevenTrent Bill nothing to do with me (Debt collectors on me, need help)

A question about : SevenTrent Bill nothing to do with me (Debt collectors on me, need help)

Hi,

It seems I posted the topic in the wrong place so posting it here for urgent help. Sorry about that.

I've only ever lived with my parents at two different address's since the age of 10. I've never been in debt or paid any official bills (Always paid parents etc)

Last year, I got a letter from a debt collecting company saying that I owe Ј1,299 from Seven Trent Water dating from 2001 to 2007 (Around that, just rough figure and dates) from an address I've never lived at (And don't even know where it is unless looking on google maps) I phoned the company up and explained I've never lived there, only lived at two address's since I was 10 at parents only. They fully understood, cooperated and dropped my case straight away.

So not heard anything from it till the last couple of weeks where another debt collecting company have been sending me letters saying I owe them that money from again the address I know nothing about. I was planning to phone them but got a letter today saying I've got till the 23th of this month before they will take me to court or send debt collectors round to get the money's worth., obviously this got me mad so I phoned them as planned anyway.

On the phone, they was not nice at all, at first they said they would only drop it if I shown them a tenancy agreement confirming where I lived, despite me saying I've only lived with parents and not signed any tenancy agreement. I went a bit mad and we had a argument of me really telling them why the *$($ have I got this debt from somewhere I've never lived and know nothing about (And that I've never been in debt etc etc) in the end the Women said okay hold a minute. She come back and told me what you can do is get your parents to sign a form confirming you lived there from 2001-2007, she would not explain what form and we ended up ending the phone call.

For me I want this dropped, but I need help as to what form do my parents need to sign and how can I show them I did not live in the address from 2001-2007? I spoke to my parents and they just keep going mad how I should not be paying a debt which is nothing to do with me and let them take me to court, but I don't want that crap with potential debt collectors coming round, I want to show them the proof and end this, or show them anything at all.

What can I do?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Best answers:

• Hi D. Omen, thank you for your query regarding seventrent.
  I would suggest you write to the debt collector stating you dispute the debt explaining you are not the person they are chasing and have never lived at the address in question (there is no need to send proof of address) and explain that you have already established this with the utility company. Ask them to hold all action until they can provide you with proof you owe the debt and keep a copy and send recorded delivery. You can find more information about complaining at www.adviceguide.org.uk.
  Hope this is of assistance.
• Thanks for the advise ,appreciated.
  I have not established anything with the utility company, should I say that in the letter anyway?
  Would phoning Seven Trent Water do any good?
  Also they said on the phone they will hold the debt for 7 days until sent them proof (Which as am gathering I dont need to do now)
• This is what I typed up quickly, what should I add or change?
  "Dear Advantis,
  I am writing in response to your "Advantis reference 4675015" and your request regarding the debt.
  I am informing you that I dispute the debt, because I never lived in the address and I am the wrong person you are chasing. I request you to hold all actions and provide proof that I owe you the debt.
  Yours Sincerely,
  **************"
• I think that I might say:
  Dear Sir/Madam,
  Re Advantis ref 4675015
  I refer to your letter of x date under the above reference and to a telephone conversation with your representative on y date.
  I confirm that I have never lived at (nor have any connection with) ................(and have proof of my actual address for this period) and have never been a customer of Severn Trent Water.
  I shall be happy to provide the above information in person in court.
  
  Please note that I shall require your company to reimburse any expenses I may incur in any such proceedings.
  I am keeping a copy of this letter which will be sent by first class recorded delivery.
  I await your speedy response.
  Yours faithfully,
• Ok thanks, copied that with a little correction to sort stuff a little but all is there.
  Thanks for the help.
• I sent the letter off about a week or so ago, not heard anything back from them yet.
• Give them some time.
  If they do contact you again, point out that OFT guidance say that it is unfair to persue third parties for payment when they are not liable. Then consider informing OFT.
• I would get hold of copies of your credit files just to check you haven't been linked with this person in any way (get hold of all 3 Experian, Equifax and Callcredit).
  I presume you share the same initial or something with this person and/or the debt collectors are fishing - ie approaching everyone with the same surname in the area/rough date of birth and hoping someone pays up.
  If it's not on your credit file then you should be fine, if someone has linked you incorrectly to this person then you will need to fight to get it removed from your file (post back here if that turns out to be the case and I'm sure you'll get more help).
  Best of Luck
  df
• Okay thanks for the replies. I now got a letter back from them today. Also it's very possible someone could of just used my name (Identity theft) and they are just chasing up me based on their evidence (As the bill maybe is in my name even though it's not me)
  I actually have a credit report from Experian, and it shows that I lived in only two address. I guess I will print them this in my next letter just to get this over with.
  Here are the main points they said in their letter.
  Quote:
• Aslo I think they made a mistake I need to check, before they said the bill period was from 2001 to 2007, on this latest letter they say its from 2007 to 2011 (With days/months)
  Shall I bring them up on that and what should I say?
  Also it's still possible they may ask for more evidence which I don't have (As only lived at parents don't have no tenancy agreements etc) they are stubborn what should I add to letter.
• You don't have to provide evidence you are the debtor in question, it's up to them to prove you are, and sending evidence of who you are ,where you live(d), unfortunately can, in some cases be used against you by dodgy debt companies (not saying this is true of this situation but the less you send off information about yourself the better , in my opinion).
  There should be a template letter on here somewhere, hang on. I'll see if I can find it for you.
  df
  Edit: the letter you need is here:
  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=2607247
  I'd maybe add a bit in and say that this is the second time you have sent a letter in this manner, explaining that you are not the debtor and any more contact and you WILL report them to trading standards and the OFT.
  Oh and if they do contact you again, please do exactly that. The more people that comaplin about dodgy debt collection tactics the better.
  Oh and don't talk to them on the phone, it's only another opportunity for you to get sucked in to them and some companies will ie and twist things and try and get payment out of you or get you to admit to a debt that isn't yours.
  What letter have they sent you today?
• You are under no obligation to provide any details to them, though it may help. It is up to the them to establish you are the debtor, not the other way around.
  Some reading.
  UPDATED OFT Guidance on Debt Collection - READ IF YOU ARE BEING HASSLED UNFAIRLY
  Please remove the reference number.
• Thanks for the replies and advise appreciated.
  Quote:
• It is unfair to place the burden of proof on the person being persued for a debt to establish they are not the debtor. That said, if you do have proof of residency then you could prove you are not the debtor and they should update there records and leave you alone. In doing nothing, they may still think (incorrectly) that you are the debtor trying to avoid the debt.
• You might try something along the following lines:
  Dear Sir/Madam,
  Re Advantis ref 4675015
  I write with reference to previous correspondence and to your letter of....
  As previously advised, I have never lived at, nor had any connection with, FLAT 1A, WELLINGTON SQUARE, NOTTINGHAM, NG7 1NG, nor have I ever been a customer of Severn Trent Water.
  With regard to your request for tenancy agreements relating to my address between 2001 and 2011,
  as I have always lived with my parents, (owner occupiers), no such documents exist.
  I do, however, have a copy of my credit report from Experian
  which shows that I have only ever lived at ..
  and also copies of bank/building society/tax statements for the period to which you refer.
  I would remind you that I have no legal obligation to prove that I am not the ex-tenant of the property in question; the burden of proof is yours.
  I consider that the actions of your company in continuing to pursue me for a debt that you have been repeatedly advised is not mine amount to harassment; if this continues, I intend to report your company to Trading Standards and to the OFT.
  I trust that this will bring an end to this matter and I await your speedy confirmation that this is the case.
  Yours faithfully,
• You could send the 'prove it' letter and make it part of a formal complaint as they have not followed OFT debt collection guidance in ensuring the person they are chasing is the actual debtor. Complain to FOS if they continues. Complaint to OFT regardless.
  Have you spoken to the water company about this.
  I would think very carefull about refusing to provide proof of residency should it be requred. After all, it is in your best interest to make this problem go away as smoothly as possible.
  CAB might be able to help with the complaint.
• Thanks everyone for the responses and advise ,it helps allot.
  I am going to send them the credit report just to see if this will get them of my back with the following letter below, however if they don't close it I will report them to the Trading Standards & OFT and send them the prove it letter (With some edits and confirmation here first)
  I have not spoken to the water company, maybe I should try that as well and if so what should I say?
  Quote:
• They might be able to confirm you are not the actual debtor.
  Be friendly with them, its more likely the debt collection agency made a mistrace than the water company gave them your details. Dont settle for anything less than them looking into this.