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So I've just checked my emails and there is one from a debt collector agency, it's for electricity. There's a site to go to and use a ref number to log in, so I've done that but the address for the bill is our house we sold in the first half of 07 so 6 years ago? And even stranger is the billing date or maybe when it was transferred to the collection place is 2011.
This is the first I've ever heard about us owing them money, I don't think we do?
So what do I do? Do I call them?
I think I would possibly ignore it to be honest. Does it tell you the company that the electricity bill is from? I would call them first & follow it up.
It sounds a bit like a scam to me. Is there a phone number? Can you google the debt collection agency to see if they're legit?
I would ring them. You don't want to be sued. That stays on your record.
Yeah it said who the provider is but why am I only hearing about it now? It's rather odd..
No, you do not owe money. You have proof you were not at the address or owned the property at the time of the debt, so it cannot be yours.
Unless you sign up with a company, any unsolicited e-mails should be regarded as spam and not trusted. A reputable agency will contact you through other means - "I sent an e-mail" does not cut it for claiming or stating a debt. You ignore this and you ignore the African prince who needs your bank details to give you $100000.
I'm with div. Whilst it sounds like a scam. I've known of people using old mail to create electricity accounts and letting it go into default and not paying. I know this because it happened to me. They used my name (even though it was spelt wrong) and a random DOB. It's is why you should ALWAYS have your mail redirected after you move. So I would follow it up with the actual electricity company. Do not use any debt collector website. If it is a scam they can get your details.
I wouldn't respond via email or any link that they provide, but I would definitely be calling them on any phone number they have provided - blocking your number though. If it is a scam, no harm done except wasting a few minutes of your time. If its not a scam but just a general screw up over who the owner was, like Divvy says you need to sort it out before you get issued with a writ. Sure, you could prove in a heartbeat that you were not the owner at the time but all that sort of stuff takes time to sort out and it damages your financial record in the meantime. Stuff like this can take years to sort out and its a frustration you don't need
Thanks I'll call them direct tomorrow and find out what's going on.
We've recently been contacted by debt collectors (long story, we don't owe anyone anything :wall: ) but they always contacted us via phone, never email! Seems very dodgy! Definitely give them a call
How did you go was it a scam?