Moved into new property and I owe previous tenants bill, why?

Hello, I have seen previous thread about debt collection letters sent to people for previous tenants bills, but don’t understand why is this still happening. I’m in the same position and I’m finding it extremely upsetting - I have just received the letter for the someone else’s debt addressed to ‘the occupier’ threatening with debt collection agency within next 7 days unless the debt is cleared. I have set up my OVO account when I moved end of November 2023 and I’m paying by direct debit. OVO clearly knows who the occupier is and when I moved in,  why am I getting threats for a different account number relating to a debt that is clearly not mine? These are very recent letters, so there can’t be any confusion as to who the occupier is. 

You could try calling ovo collections, explain the situation and ask them to stop sending the letters.

The number is 0800 069 9831. They’re open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

Hey @DK1,

Sorry for the issues you’re having, 

If there is a previous tenant who hasn’t paid the amount owed to OVO, we have to go through a collections process. Part of this process is showing we have sent letters.

Eventually, it’ll go to a debt collection agency who will find the tenant details through a process of ‘trace and search’. Once the tenant details have been found the letters ‘to the occupier’ will stop. 

You can ignore these if you have an account set up with OVO, or send them to the letting agency or ‘return to sender’.

I hope this helps. 

Thank you will do. 

Hi, 

I think the previous tenant may owe money as am continuing to receive letters from OVO for the person who I guess lived at the property before me. I would have thought they would have given their new address to OVO but seems not. If there's an unpaid bill, who is responsible? If a debt collection agency is involved, will they visit the property? I am worried that I will have issues with this

Hi @Shvorn , hopefully you have a record (photo?) of your meter readings from when you took over. As long as you can show this and get the start point agreed then you shouldn’t have a problem. 
They should have a way to trace the previous occupants if they need to. 

If the letters are to a named person rather than just ‘The Occupier’ then you should simply write “ RTS - no longer at this address” on the envelope and stick it in any postbox.

The Post Office will return it to the sender (RTS) who should note that the named person is no longer there and stop sending them letters.

If they don't stop after that then write to the return address yourself and tell them you are considering action against them for harassment.

I moved into a property in December and am with So energy. Today I got home and received two letters, one from OVO energy stating that I owe them money and it has been passed onto a debt collection agency - I googled the number on the letter and it was listed as an energy scam number (0333 034 1626).

The second letter was from LCS debt collection agency referencing the same amount as on the OVO letter and the same account number.

I called the number on the OVO payment support page and when I entered the account number, it said that the account doesn’t exist. 

Should I be worried here? LCS seems legit but everything is pointing to this as being a scam!

Hi,

This sounds like one for @Nukecad . He’s the master of these.

I’ve just managed to get through to OVO via the number on the website and the debt is apparently genuine (even though the reference number wasn’t recognised on the automated line), which is even more confusing as to why the number on the letter I got is a scam number!