Utility Bills

[Twiggy71]

Hi there I have been separated for 3 1/2 years now and we have a financial agreement in place and everything agreed. The problem I have is that after all this time my exh. name is still on the utiliy bills electric/telephone.I have asked him numerous times to change this with the companies as when I called them up they said that only he can do this. He has lied and said he had done it but he is obviously. lying I am just fed up that bills I have been paying for 3 1/2 are still in his name ...

[Homebird8]

Is it all paperless or do the bills still go to him (or the emails?)

[Twiggy71]

They are paper bills with his name at the top and mine as co/twiggy ..etc it just feels like him still holding on as he loved to control everything including me...

[Homebird8]

Do they come to your address. If so get a male friend to phone them as him and tell them that you need to be the main name now. I recall it being ridiculously simple to do that sort of thing when I was trying to sort out the billing for an organisation I was part of. After all, you're trying to take responsibility for the bill not avoid it!

[Collaborate]

I don't understand. At all.

You simply need to contact each service provider and tell them that you're solely responsible for the bills now. They'll issue final bills for the joint accounts, then start billing you on your own.

[Twiggy71]

Thanks Homebird I never thought of something as simple as that....what a good idea ...
Collaborate every time I called them they said they couldn't take exs h name off the bill because he was the bill payer it has pissed me off no end. Even when I told them I have been paying the bills for over 3 yrs....

[Homebird8]

There may be a few security questions but I think I was surprised that there were none asked of me. Write down his date of birth, mother's maiden name etc down before your friend rings.

[Collaborate]

Homebird that's not only not ethical it's also unlawful.

Twiggy you should be closing down the joint account, and opening up a new one in your sole name. You get a new account number issued.

[feirless]

i think he's responsible for pying those bills if his names on them, maybe i'd mention that to him when asking him to contact them to give them his new address.
you're in control now :D

[feirless]

*paying

[catsrus]

You just tell them Mr X has moved out and you want new accounts set up - I found that as a new customer I also got some new deals on things like Sky - free new sky boxes etc. So look out for that - you can also change provider so have a look for better deals elsewhere.

It does feel good once it's done :-)

[vole3]

BT are so helpful - not.
I have paid the bills for the last 12 years, but the account is in STBXH name.
My 2 choices are to 'take over a working line', for which they try to contact him, give me a new account in my name, but I will lose my current number.
Or I can arrange that he will cancel the account, effective on a given date, I then call and arrange a new account to commence on that date and I may get to keep my number.

Alternatively if he drops dead, I can change the name, keep the number and they bend over backwards to help.
You can guess which I'd prefer

EON, Anglian Water, the council tax folks have had no such difficulty in changing names.

Come on BT - we never asked to be put in this position so why throw more shit at us when we really don't need it!!!

[Dropdeadfred]

I'd just tell him if he doesn't get it changed you will stop paying and will forward him HIS bills