Be aware of the debt collectors that British Gas have employed. As per normal we have struggled recently to arrange an agreement with British Gas, we have however beem making regular monthly payments to clear an overdue bill. I had a call last Friday from a bunch of debt collectors demanding £150, I informed them that I would be paying British Gas as normal at the end of the month and he must be mistaken. I also queried the amount. I was informed that I was not to attempt to pay BG direct and that I had to pay them as they were now "running the account". I started to laugh but this seemed to irritate the guy at the other end who demanded to know when I would pay. I told him that I would contact BG and would pay at the end of the month and cancelled the call. Yesterday we received the standard warning letter from BG informing me that I owe £61. When I got home from work I found my wife had been upset by another call from the debt collectors who informed her thet he would be coming round"in person" to collect £150 on Monday night. Having already shredded their letter I couldn't call them but did ring BG. Of course I was put through to an offshore operative who couldn't understand what I was on about. I insisted on speaking to someone in the UK and had to call again twice more before I was eventually put through to someone who could help. I was told that debt collectors was something that BG were "trying" and that they would "talk to them". I insisted there and then that they try and make contact but no joy. I also questioned why they were allowing companies to use these tactics when they clearly have the wrong balance and that it was somewhat sinister to state that we couldn't talk to BG direct. I stated that I believed they were trying to obtain money under false pretences, but it would be difficult to prove. My concern is that vulnerable people may be handing money to these people and that maybe additional "charges" are being added. I'll pay BG at the end of the week as I promised and I really do hope this guy turns up on Monday night.

Hi --- If you or your family do get harassed, remind them you are fully acquainted with "section 40 of the administration of justices act 1970" below and the relevant counter-action will be enforced by yourself for any breach of the act.

http://www.insolvencyhelpline.co.uk/debt_factsheets/harassment_of_people_in_debt_by_creditors.php

Thanks for the reply, the firm involved were AIC. I had a chase letter from them demanding not only the still incorrect amount but payment for Gas and Electricity when I only purchase gas from BG. As I expected, they failed to tuen up last night as they had threatened to. For the record I paid the outstanding £61 as agreed with BG, their collectors are demanding £115.