Company want payment from October 2022

[Cottonheadedninhymuggins]

I have received an invoice from a heating company - we are on oil heating showing we haven’t paid a bill from October 2022. They’ve never been in touch before now. We have been on oil heating for 15 years and it’s always the case you pay for your heating in advance so I am not sure what’s happened here. I don’t have £567 to pay in one go. I don’t even have the bank account we would have used at the time so I don’t think I can check what has been paid. Can I ask them to evidence that I haven’t paid or is it just a case of asking to pay in Instalments? Can’t believe they are only just asking now over 2 years late.

Don’t pay anything right now - or make any suggestion of paying in installments. Simply don’t accept you are liable for it.

I’d get on the phone to them and be raising a complaint. Asking them to note their records that everything is on hold due to this complaint.

As you say, payments are made in advance so I’d be querying why there is an ‘alleged’ missing payment and WHY has it taken them two years to become aware of it?!

I’d be asking for a full payment history from them - evidence. I’d be getting them running around trying to prove it.

I’d do it all nicely though. Very polite to begin with, but then ramp it up a bit (if you need to). If it turns out that a payment didn’t go through - just say you can’t afford and offer them £20 a month to be added to the account.

Thank you for helping me. I’ll note this down and call them tomorrow at lunchtime.

Do you have evidence that you have paid them?

Apologies, just realised you said you no longer have access to the bank accounts.

I'd be mindful as they may decide to not deliver any more oil. Make sure you have a back up plan.

No idea. I’ve changed bank since then twice I think. Could have paid by credit card which thinking back has also been closed but may still be an open one. I’d need to sit and check and speak to my old bank to see if I can get old statements called back.

i know you said you’d closed that bank account but if you request it the bank will send you statements. I’d get that ball rolling as they’ll take a week or two in post and might help your case.

Thanks everyone. This is all helpful. I am a bit concerned about this financially. We have been using an oil club in recent years which raises funds for our local primary school so will need to check when last used this company and also get evidence that they did deliver as they say they did.

First port of call will definitely be to confirm they did deliver.

If they did, contact your old bank/credit card to confirm if you paid or not.

Once you have that info, others will be able to advise more.

You.might be able to get the information from the old bank if you submit a SAR (specifying dates)