Letter Debt Letter Received

[jack1236]

Hi Guys

Just really want opinions on the following, o.k. it could be an error, but if you receive 4 / 5 of with the same message, it can't be an error. Also I was recently told that it makes perfect sense:

Email received on 21st May 2023.

'Payments are considered until close of business: 18th May 2023. If you have already made sufficient payments, please disregard this letter. Please note that your payment can take up to 3 working days to show on our records.'

Many thanks in advance for your responses.

I can sort of make sense of it. It seems to say that as at 21/5 their system shows an issue with whether payments are up to date. But payments made after 18/05 may not show.

Why, if the date that matters is 18/05, they don't allow a week or so for payments to be properly brought to account is a reasonable question.

The email was generated on basis of situation at close of play on 18th. You may have made a payment since but it has not yet shown.

O.K. but say I'm in debt, what if I interpret it as, they will 'consider payments' until the 18th May before they take action.

Isn't that what they're saying?

The words about three days etc is in case payments are in processing. I think, to be honest, that debt letters have always come with a caveat about payments in clearing etc.

Probably north of 40 years since I was sufficiently disorganised not to make the minimum payment on my Access card. But that was before Direct Debits were widespread and could be set for options including full balance due, minimum per statement or a found amount of cash every month.

You really haven't given enough information. What is the debt for? Are you liable for the debt or do you think it could be a scam? Are you in arrears? Has the debt been passed to a debt collection agency or an enforcement agency - or is it still with the original creditor? Have you attempted to contact them to make an arrangement to pay? If you do nothing you can expect them to start proceeding to collect the amount owed - and start adding court costs and collection fees.

By consider payments they means any made since 18th but before date of email, yet to show on the account. Have you paid anything since May 18th?

It's an energy debt, it's disputed. I've offered to pay some monies to them several times.

But it says 'until close of business: 18th May 2023'.

No, it means they'll consider payments made ON May 18th, which may take a few working days to show on the account.

I'm not sure what you're asking OP? It's quite clear to me.

Have you paid them anything prior to May 18 or not?

Why is it disputed? Did you give a metre reading? What is the issue and why aren’t you paying? In all honestly I’d pay by credit card then take it up with them once I had evidence of them being at fault and would have cc company behind me.

Do you think it could be clearer?

I keep reading it, to me it says 'payments will be considered until 18th May', the email was received on the 21st May.

When did you make a payment? If you give that information then people can offer an opinion on how the wording of the letter might apply in your specific situation.

Why are you getting so hung up about it though? Unless they are overlooking a payment and charging you a penalty for paying later than 18th. Either your account is up to date at that point or not.

I agree with Billy. I think it makes sense and is clear.

It's a debt, an outstanding balance the energy company is pursuing.

The wording to me says, we will only except 'payments up to the 18th May', so a pointless email.

The wording to me says, we will only except 'payments up to the 18th May', so a pointless email.

It's telling you that if your have paid the debt before the 18th then the matter is closed.

Its giving you specific information about the date so that you don't t have to contact them saying 'I paid on the 18th and so I'm worried it won't clear'. Now you know that if you paid on the 16th or 17th or 18th for example that it will have gone through the system on time.

I don't think it means they won't accept payments after the 18th. Rather that this stage of the process is over after the 18th. So whatever they said would happen if you didn't pay will now be launched after the deadline of the 18th.

They are keeping you informed of what's happening. Even though the deadline of the 18th had passed by the 21st. You still now know what the situation is.

The Gas and Electricity Acts are clear on 'misleading' information being sent to customers, so I'm trying to determine the exact wording.

OFGEM (Energy Regulator) through the Electricity Act 1989 and Gas Act 1986 are very clear on ‘misleading’ information being sent to customers.
The Standard Conditions of electricity / gas supply license states:
Condition 0. Treating Domestic Customers Fairly - 0.3 The Standards of Conduct are that the licensee and any Representative: a) behave and carry out any actions in a Fair, honest, transparent, appropriate and professional manner; b) provide information (whether in writing or orally) to each Domestic Customer which: i. is complete, accurate and not misleading (in terms of the information provided or omitted);

What date did you pay? If you haven’t paid, then 18 May is irrelevant to you. If you have paid anything after 18 May, then the letter is telling you it hasn’t been taken into account. If you paid before 18 May and it isn’t showing, then you need to tell them.

what part is misleading?

You said it was pointless before which inferred that you thought they were giving you irrelevant or too much information.

Whereas to me they are trying to give you absolutely all of the information they can so you know where you stand if you paid before the 18th and where you stand if you didn't pay before the 18th.

It's not misleading.

I'd suggest you stop focusing on trying to prove the energy provider has been unclear or misleading. They haven't.

You said the debt is disputed. Have you made a complaint? Has the energy provider responded to that complaint within timescale? If you were unhappy with their response, have you raised this with the ombudsman? If so, what was their response?

It’s not unclear or misleading though is it? Stop trying to catch them out on a technicality (you won’t!).

if you give us more info I bet you someone here can help.

If your account was overdue on the 18th May, they haven't sent any misleading information? They are advising that any payments you've made up to the 18th will be accounted for in their perusal of the overdue debt.

It's not about catching them out, I think they've done that themselves, they've gone bust.

Who’s the company?

I had a massive issue with Boost. The debt letter they sent me with the figures meant that I’d used £25000 of electric in 6 months. There was also an issue of me not being with them at the time of billing etc.

As it’s also only been 2 months, I wouldn’t worry. Just get them to send an itemised bill.

They have one of the least number of customers and probably the biggest losses, last time I checked they had losses of £7m from 2018 - 2020.