Sil threatened with bailiffs/debt collectors

[Bunnygotwhacked]

We are currently living with Sil whilst we find a place. She has had a rather large energy bill that she obv can't pay but hasn't said anything about it to us otherwise we would of helped when we could've. We unfortunately are not in a position at the moment to provide more than we already do.
So this afternoon there was a knock at the door and a man stood there he asked if she was in I said no he then proceeded to tell me that Sil owed a substantial -his words- amount of money for an unpaid gas and electric bill he then folded a piece of paper with all the info on and gave it too me asking to make sure she see's it.
After he had gone I took a look at the letter yes i am a terrible person but i just want to help her it is a large amount and it does say if she doesn't pay then within a time frame bailiffs will be round to remove her belongings.
This is quite frightening but at the same time doesnt quite ring true do bailiffs come out for gas and electric bills there was no mention of court judgement or anything on the letter and it looks like something the dc's could knock up with paint in a few mins on the computer not very professional.
Is it likely that these are infact debt collectors using the bailiff aspect to scare?

Which bailiff company is it?

THat sounds odd. Don't energy companies come to cut you off and install key/card meters to pay off the debt?

...and by sharing the information with you, the debt collector has broken the data protection act I would have thought. So if they ARE genuine then they are a right shoddy outfit.

And yes, energy companies usually obtain their money via key meters etc if someone goes into arrears.

I used to work for npower and if she ran up the bill at a previous address or changed supplier before her previous supplier realised how much she owed then you can't fit a prepayment meter so bailiffs will be sent round.

ie if she was with Scottish Power, moved and signed up with npower then Scottish Power wouldn't be able to collect their debt through npower's account.

Gets confusing with transferring monies between companies. Bailiffs like to embarrass people hence the folded note, not in a sealed envelope.

Sadly if she owes it then she needs to address it and start making payments. They don't go away, more costs get added to pay for the person being sent to her door.