15+yo debt has been sold on and harassing my family!

[StresHed]

More than 15 years ago (2008) I moved house and I as I understand it, there was an outstanding utility bill with EON (under £300)

at the time I was splitting from my ex so it was financially messy. I didn’t know about this debit until Some years later the debt got sold to Lowell, however it was over 6 years so I ignored the letters after checking MSE, never engaged with them and they stopped coming.

Recently I moved again and they are now bombarding me with letters, emails, texts and calls about this £220 EON debt, from 15+ years or so ago! they have now started harassing my relatives by text who live in our household!

Am I just to write them a cease and desist type letter? Any advice?

Make sure to verify all the details before making any decisions. Don’t hand over any money unless you’re completely certain about the situation. If the debt isn’t yours, you shouldn’t pay it. But if it is your responsibility, then it’s up to you to take care of it.

It’s not on my credit report. I check my credit report every month and have done for years. I even get alerts! I have no idea if the debt is mine, or my exes, or what period of time it relates to - only that I recall I was an EON customer in 2007/2008, and I moved house and it could possibly be old meter readings? I assumed my utility bill was clear obviously, but 6 years later they were chasing me via Lowell’s

I don’t have any paper work, or bills, or proof of this. No correspondence with EON only Lowell’s.

They contacted my daughter on her mobile number today. why would I make that up?

Even if I did owe it, it’s statute barred and not the original company I owed it to, its a debt management company?

I don’t have any online billing as it was before online billing how the fuck am I meant to check to verify this?

there has never been any ‘recovery action’

@StresHed when they contact you again, ask for the original paperwork showing proof of the debt. They haven't got a leg to stand on unless they can produce documentary evidence that the debt is yours.

If they continue to harass your family, report them to Trading Standards at the local council.

• I don’t know whose name the bill was in. 2 adults lived in the house and my ex was the main earner so I would assume he had the direct debit? I also can’t ask him
• I don’t have any bills from 2007/2008 anymore
• there has never been any court action or a CCJ.
• I cautiously assume it’s a meter reading gap or error that’s being chased - how would I ever prove my electricity usage now?
• we sold our house in 2008 and I vaguely remember doing meter readings but my ex lived in the house for 3 months longer than me as I moved in with my mum (due to domestic abuse) so I really don’t think I owe this or used it
• they are harassing my daughter by text now
• they are also spamming me
• I think I can ask them to provide proof and if they can’t, tell them to stop harassing me
• I don’t know what proof I have of when I moved out, I used to claim tax credits when I lived at my mums at her address but I don’t have this paperwork all these years later

I will be honest I am disappointed by the assumptions I’m running away from a debt on purpose rather than being pursued for something for years on end I don’t know if I owe but it won’t go away!

My ex left me with so much debt and I worked really hard to pay this off. I should have given more info in my OP I suppose this my own fault but I am going to ask for this post to be removed as it’s not a representation of the circumstances. It’s well known that these debt management companies use harassment tactics. I hope no one is on the receiving end of this themselves

1. Speak to citizens advice
2. Tempting to block number but don’t - use it as a log for a formal complaint
3. Make a complaint of harassment to Financial Services Ombudsman

Fuck me. Some of the responses on this thread are clueless. Totally get you op. Why should you pay a debt from 15 years ago that may not even be yours 😂. The onus is on them to prove you owe the money, and involving your daughter is out of order

This tells you everything you need to know if you are in the UK

too much time has past and they should no longer be chasing this debt.

your relatives should return the correspondence marked not known at this address.

sorry you are getting so many responses from arseholes.

@StresHed As far as I can see, this debt collection firm doesn't care who they intimidate as long as someone pays them. The debt may not necessarily even be yours, and they are just chasing you because they know that you happen to have had a connection with that address.

I'm going to take a punt here and say that I don't think they have 100% proof that the debt is yours, otherwise they would have taken the easy option, given you the statutory notices, and gone to the small claims court to get a CCJ against you.

The fact that they haven't done so speaks volumes.

Ignore it. Tell your daughter to block and ignore. They are trying it on at this stage and will not pursue

Have a listen to this episode of Moneybox about back billing.
(Sorry, wouldn't link, it's available on BBC sounds, moneybox, episode from March 2025).

This template letter seems like it could be a l good response to the debt management company.

https://www.stepchange.org/Portals/0/documents/info/Statute-Barred-Template-Letter.pdf?ver=2016-04-14-162947-590