Hi,
I'm desperate for some help and could do with advice from people who can look at my issue from my perspective and not someone impartial. Let me give an overview...
We sold our house and moved out last year in may. When I left, I submitted final reading and our final bill was paid with British gas. We had contact with them about 8 weeks ago to say they hadn't closed our account because we were in credit, so they were going to credit the £60 back then close the account fully.
A few weeks ago, we racieved notification from our bank that an unaranged overdraft was agreed, which we didn't understand. We checked the account and found a payment going out of £629 to British gas.
We raised a complaint and put an indemnity claim in with the bank, who stopped the payment going out.
Since then, we have been getting calls and emails from the debt collection team. My husband explained to a caller the situation, however they spoke over him the whole time and he ended up hanging up on her because she wasn't listening.
We had a response to the complaint since, telling us that a dispute was made by a 3rd party so the readings were altered in April 2017. This is 11 months after we left the house.
I've spoken with citizens advice this morning, but because they have to remain impartial, they can only advise based on my meter reating being potentially wrong.
I know that the people who bought the house did some renevation work so didn't move straight in. My suspicion is that they submitted readings when they did move in and I'm now being charged for their usage.
The advice I've been given basically says that I'm going to be liable unless I can provide evidence, which I don't have. The father of the buyer is a soliciter a played games to get money knocked off all through the buying process. I just worry that this is another of his money schemes, because I threatened to take the house off the market if they continued to mess around.
I'm so stressed right now. I have two young children. I work full time as a nurse and my husband is away in the military. I don't know what to do next.
Has anyone had any success resolving a similar issue?