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Rank 2
January 2, 2024
Solved

Owe my old supplier? But I was PAYG?

  • January 2, 2024
  • 85 replies
  • 3113 views

I am trying to contact SSE energy Services limited. I have received a default notice on an apparent debt I owe them on my PAYG electricity account, from  before I was switched to OVO. The period given is 04/04/2019 - 23/05/2023. I have not received a bill before. The first I knew was a default notice from LCS.  I am trying to get a copy of the bill as I am still unsure as to how I owe them anything. OVO have no record of any debt. Any advice would be welcomed.

Best answer by Jeffus

Updated on 30/07/25 by Chris_OVO:

 

 

 

@NeddyMorai it could be debt built up on the meter, e.g. Emergency credit not paid off but as you say without more information it is impossible to know. 

SSE has been taken over by OVO so OVO have to handle it even if they find it difficult.

If you have no luck via ovo collections and difficultly with ovo raising a complaint then pop back and one of the regular posters will flag the ovo moderators on the forum.

85 replies

Nukecad
Super User
Super User
January 6, 2024

I am not sure what they will say next but all I know CS are making statement as they go along.

 

Yes I had noticed that they tend to do that. (Many DR companies do).
When asked for proof of what they are saying it never materialises.

DON’T phone them or speak to them if they phone you.
You want a written record of everything that either of you says.

Just stick to your position, and keep repeating it. Use the same words again.
Don’t let them sidetrack you with peripheral issues, stick to your position that you do not recognise or accept the debt.

Have LCS confirmed to you that the alleged debt originates from EDF?

If they have confirmed that then if/when they contact you again you can try asking them the following:

I request/require that you clarify:
Are you acting as solicitors for EDF? or;
Are you acting as debt collectors for EDF? or;
Have you purchased the alleged debt from EDF?

When dealing with such people I also add this to at least one email, or to every email I send them:

PLEASE NOTE that any further communications regarding this matter should be made by email to the originating address of this email, or by written letter to my current home address.
Please do not attempt to contact me by telephone, either by mobile or landline. I will refuse such contact and hang up.

Also note that I will not be registering/logging in to your website. I will not be setting up a payment plan. I am not your 'customer'.

I’m assuming that you haven’t already registered an LCS account?

They are being somewhat semi-legal agressive towards you, so push back at them with questions and statements like the above.
But keep it formal/polite and to the point, don’t let them sidetrack you, don’t degenerate to name calling or abuse.

 

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
Newcomer
January 6, 2024

@Nukecad  I did not register on there portal but they have send email with details i.e. embedded link as MY Portal. So this has happened without my consent then. Also can I ask before the account was put on hold they were saying they will continue send me letters to which I said you need to send me emails. But I am wondering if they will lie to me and say I have send letters. I would never know about this letter unless the current person who is residing would have not contacted me.

LCS have said that Debt has been raised by SSE energy. But when @Blastoise186 suggested that pay as you go was transferred to EDF then I came to know about this as Ofgem said you need complain to OVO. So I have put to OVO and no response 48hours have passed I have also email Raman-Team as they will not contact me if I was not there customer. I have web chat evidence said that I have no account on the property or in my name as I said when I called SSE for which now I have traced 3 calls made to SSE then customer service who advised I can top-up with Fob.

EDF is saying the customer is in control of meter so it can never go in debt more than 10 pound. And if there is debt then you will also see on the meter and will keep deducting money and standing charges together. LCS was saying I am responsible standing charges etc etc which also EDF said you pay along with top up. I am planning to go to see the meter to take some pictures to see if there is anything else in display. Also they were asking me details of person who moved in the property and I denied saying under GDPR policy I can discuss all this SSE should have means to validate this.  But now I understand after speaking to ombudsman they need to confirm the debt. 

Nukecad
Super User
Super User
January 6, 2024

But now I understand after speaking to ombudsman they need to confirm the debt. 

Correct, but it is LCS who are chasing the alleged debt and so it is LCS who need to confirm that debt exists, and that it is repayable.
(Not all debts have to be paid).

You should not be chasing round multiple companies and organisations trying to confirm it for them.

It is LCS’s responsibility to confirm that the debt actually exists, not yours.

You don’t do their job for them, and you don’t give them a penny until/unless they can prove that the debt actually exists, and if it does exist that it is actually repayable.

To be honest here, LCS appear to have you running round like a headless chicken contacting various companies and organisations who know nothing about the matter.
It is of no use contacting companies who know nothing about this alleged debt.
It is just making things more complicated and confusing, for you and for everyone trying to help you.

If LCS themselves cannot provide evidence of (confirm) the alleged debt then there is no debt.
They have no evidence to put before a court to show there is a debt and get a debt repayment order.

(So their threats of going to court and getting a County Court Judgment, CCJ, are just empty threats - because without evidence that there is a repayable debt there is no way a judge would give them that).

 

Taking a step back:
I think that you have become mired down with all this and are now just complicating things further.

You need to stop trying to deal with it on your own and contact an advisor local to you, someone who can see all your letters up to now, and who can do something for you that we can't do here - which is to contact LCS on your behalf to sort out just what is going on.

Citizens Advice is the first that most people think of, but there are others.
Put your postcode in here to find advisors local to you: https://advicelocal.uk/find-an-adviser
Ring one of them and make an appointment to take your paperwork along so that they can see it and help you sort this mess out.

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
Newcomer
January 6, 2024

@Nukecad  thanks for the information. I have taken legal advice and you are write I was trying to solve the problem. However I have now been said they have to follow the step for “Prove IT”. 

 

Nukecad
Super User
Super User
January 7, 2024

In the end if someone, anyone, is asking you for money then it’s their responsibility to prove why you should give them anything at all.

If they can’t provide that valid proof, ie. proof that would stand up in a court, then they are just trying it on and can take a hike.

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
January 8, 2024

Any further update on this @iseb?

 

If not, I think the complaint route might be the best next step. 

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
Newcomer
January 8, 2024

@NeddyMorai have you heard anything from LCSDR please.

Rank 2
January 9, 2024

No I haven’t, yet. If/when I do I will post it here ASAP.

Rank 2
January 11, 2024

@NeddyMorai

You may already have done this

You are entitled to one off free statutory reports from credit agencies. These give you the raw information they hold without signing up for anything long term that costs money, although there are often offers. By law they have to provide these statutory reports free. 

For experian:

https://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/statutory-report.html

For Equifax

https://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/statutory-report.html

OVO use Experian.

It might be worth checking there isn't anything logged by SSE or OVO or anyone else.

I usually check my current address once a year just to make sure nothing dodgy has happened.

 

So I did as you suggested. The equifax report was what revealed the soft search I mentioned elsewhere but I was more interested in the experian report. The above is from my experian report . What’s interesting is that its with OVO and the balance is 0. ( My gas account is also on there but there are no issues there) Its also shown as ”settled”. I haven’t heard anything back from LCS as of yet.

Newcomer
January 11, 2024

@NeddyMorai I have received this response after giving evidence; I think 7 days have passed so they are just responding on that basis.

 

Thank you for your recent communication, the content of which has been noted.

I can confirm the case is now on hold due to LCS querying with our client SSE.

As soon as we gain a response we will contact you directly.