Charged a whole year supply for old address almost 2 years after I moved out

Hi ​@Steve107 ,

Please wait for ​@Nukecad . This looks like his specialist subject so I’ll ask him to swing by.

Okay, thank-you.

Hi, ​@Steve107 

I do indeed know about this stuff; and I know LCS - both from personal experience. - I know how to effectively deal with it all.

I'm not at home at the moment so am posting this from my phone. When I get home I can/will go into more detail.

But for now- don't agree anything with LCS (or any other debt collectors), don't even acknowledge that you are somehow now their “customer” you aren't and you certainly do not have any “account” with them no matter what they say. More about collectors later.

Don't even talk to them on the phone, insist that all comunication be by email or by letter so that you have a record of what is said.

I assume that you raised an official complaint with OVO and that's when you sent the documents so:-

How long has it been since you raised that complaint?

Have you had a letter/email fom OVO saying that they consider their complaint process to have run it's course and be at an end? (Known as a ‘Deadlock’ letter).

TBH it sounds as if you may be heading to the Ombudsman with this, but there are certain things you have to do before going to the Ombudsman.

(And yes, I have had my own similar complaint at the Ombudsman which I won - just to be clear that wasn't OVO ).

I will post more detailed advice later.

Hi ​@Nukecad 

it's all crazy, originally LCS tried to collect the debt, but when I showed my evidence LCS closed the case on their end in February this year, then in May OVO appointed a solicitor who asked for payment, I've shown all evidence to OVO and emailed countless times, also through their complaints team over last several months, they never replied and proceeded with a court money claim, I have to now attend court with my evidence to show the judge I don't owe this debt, hopefully the judge will see that I was not liable, I just can't believe OVO have done this.

Ahh, so LCS backed off and it's gone further than just the Ombudsman then.

(It does sound odd that OVO would do that - are you sure it's not just another DC agency? I was contacted by one that is owned/run by qualified lawyers, but they are working as Debt Collectors and not as lawyers. I don't have their name to hand here).

If it's  gone to court then that's above my advice level I'm afraid, I'm not a lawyer.

Once it has gone to court then the Ombudsman can't arbitrate either, you are past arbitration.

It will now be down to the Judge as you say.

Have you got a lawyer of your own to represent you?

EDIT - I remebered the one I meant, and that I had dealings with, if it's  Moriarty Law then they are debt collectors not solicitors 

​@Nukecad Thanks, I didn't try the Ombudsmen prior to court action, I spoke with them recently and I think they can help if I can get the case set-aside, it's just so annoying that OVO have not accepted anything I've shown them, I'm hopeful though as I've put in a defence with the same evidence to the court and they put everything on hold within 24 hrs of my application which is very fast work , so they must see I have a good defence/evidence, the hearing is a few days away so will update with my result.

Actually, if the Judge rules in your favour, the matter has to be terminated pretty rapidly IIRC and you’d see no further enforcement. But at the same time, you’d be unable to pursue it any further beyond what the Judgement says. But in that situation, you probably wouldn’t need to anyway.

​@Blastoise186 Okay, that's a pain as this has cost money to defend, I was hoping to get back should I win.

Judgements can sometimes award you money e.g. Costs if you win. I can’t say for sure though. AFAIK it’s only the Employment Tribunal where both sides always pay their own Costs - pretty much everything else I can think of makes the losing side pay.

If you Settle out of Court, you can negotiate terms - I’d suggest adding your costs to that deal.

​@Blastoise186  Thank you. Unfortunately OVO have stopped communication with me for some time, and still proceeding with court action , last I heard from them was when I sent full tenancy they asked for months ago prior to court hearing, I've tried all their emails, chat ect, but they're not responding at all, it all seems a complete waste of time for myself and the courts when it's so obvious I wasn't living there with the evidence I have shown, OVO say themselves a full tenancy is proif, yet I've sent them that and so much more, OVO wasn't even interested in who moved in straight after I left, even though I had the proof to show them, makes me wonder who the tenants at the time where paying their energy bills to?