Hi,

I find it slightly strange that the letting agency are chasing you for this bill, when in fact it's the power company that should be doing this? As per regulations, it's the resident of the property that is responsible for the final balance, not the owner or landlord. All the letting agency would have to do would be to prove (using letting agreements etc) that they were not responsible for the supply.

As such, the letting agency that's somehow in Belfast would have no obligation to pay this bill on your behalf, and therefore should not be chasing you.

An SAR is certainly a good idea. Additionally, contact the bank and ask for a printout of the month that the final bill would have been paid. If you can show that you paid the balance to the power company, then it could be that they credited it to the wrong account/meter serial no. Contact the power company and state that the account is in dispute and that you would like them to provide all details necessary.

As your sister was the account holder, you'll either need her to contact the company, or, phone up with her present, and have her confirm over the phone to the operative that she is happy for you to deal with her account.

Thanks Jelexa,

I did think the CSM properties thing was strange, I would have thought the contact would have been made by the provider or at least a dca but this company appear to just be a letting agent... ... not even her old letting agent!

Not too sure how it was paid will find out I believe she did leave a forwarding address. But will check also.

EllieandCraig:

Quite a surprise to have got so far in such a short period of time. Something serious must be amiss. The £10 SAR is money well spent. It will tell your sister in law what they know and by omission what they don't know. Make sure your request specifically includes bills and correspondence.

It's possible the records might show the bill wasn't paid. Perhaps the money was credited to the wrong account. Was the final account paid by cash, cheque or debit card? Worst case is cash, there will be a bank audit trail for the other methods.

Did your sister in law leave a forwarding address? Nobody can be forced to provide one but it's standard practice to be asked. Is there any evidence that the utility asked? Which address did the confirmation letter go to? Where did any other letters go to?

Plenty of things to consider.

Given the short time period I am suspicious of the CSM Properties involvement.

My sister in law left a property in may 2008 and recieved a final bill for gas and paid in full. We have now recently recieved letter's being threatened with court action for an outstanding amount. She says she's certain it was paid and recieved a letter to confirm but didnt think the need to keep it. Would an SAR be of any use here as would that unearth the letter they sent confirming full payment? It's really stressing her out and the letter she recieved was from csm properties which is apparently in Belfast! The property is in Birmingham! Any help on this would be greatly appreciated

Thanks