Cheers for your help nottslad. I rang, and managed to get sorted out, although they tried not to connect me to a manager, I managed in the end and he was very helpful. The deal I got is a little over what I wanted, but it does include my future bill, so it turned out a blinding result, as I wasn't even thinking about future bills when I worked out what I could pay. I have it settled for now, which was the most important thing to me, I will write and ask them to consider the billing code, and if it doesn't fit in to tell me the reasons, then at least it is clear. Thank again!!

Thanks for that. I have to say I did not chase it, mostly because I did not know which supplier it was with. I have gone over everything they have sent me, I got a welcome to your new home pack the day before the first bill, and the bill does have the date I moved in. I am guessing it was the billing code they referred to on the phone when they said a lot would get written off. I will get onto the number you have given me and see how I get on. Thanks for your advice.

Thanks for your reply, after posting I had a look around at other posts and found the billing code. It said that if they hadn't sent a bill to my address for 15 months then the charges were to be written off. This was the case, so I was hopeful of that. Could you let me know why it wouldn't hold up on this one please? I am going through all the letters and bills I have had from EON this year, I even got a 'Welcome to Your New Home' pack from them, dated May 2009, when I moved in August 2004.

I moved into a new build 5 years ago, utility suppliers set up by the agents as I moved in. No gas bills, which I admit I should have queried, but was totallyskint and didn't know who to chase so I brushed it under the carpet. Finally last October I got a phone call from EON, who had my home number, so obviously had had me on record. They asked for a meter reading and said that as it was their error theywould write off the bill apart from the last 12 months. I gave them thereading and awaited the bill. Nothing. Then one day around easter a man knocked on my door saying I owed £2200 for my gas. He looked through the file, said all my bills had been going to some random address in manchester. They had never chased anything until now, and wanted the money. He took another reading and left saying they would bill me for my current bill and then set up an arrangement for the balance. I still got nothing until July(ish). They demanded the whole amount or I would be cut off. I wrote back asking to arrange to pay £100 a month initially, hoping to increase the amount as my situation improves. They replied saying I could only pay £169 a month, or go through a third party debt agency and see if they would accept less. I waited to hear from them again. Today I got a note through the door saying they have been and will geta warrant to change the locks, enter the house, cut me off, and claimthe money, plus charge me £230 for doing it. I have explained to them I do not deny the debt, but as it has taken 5years for them to chase I would like a little time to repay it. They have not reduced the amount of the bill. Does anyone have any advice for helping to get an arrangement accepted please? Thank you.

Hi, I have a similar situation. I moved into a new build 5 years ago, suppliers set up by the agents as I moved in. No gas bills, which I admit I should have queried, but was totally skint and didn't know who to chase so I brushed it under the carpet. Finally last October I got a phone call from EON, who had my home number, so obviously had had me on record. They asked for a meter reading and said that as it was their error they would write off the bill apart from the last 12 months. I gave them the reading and awaited the bill. Nothing. Then one day around easter a man knocked on my door saying I owed £2200 for my gas. He looked through the file, said all my bills had been going to some random address in manchester. They had never chased anything until now, and wanted the money. He took another reading and left saying they would bill me for my current bill and then set up an arrangement for the balance. I still got nothing until July(ish). They demanded the whole amount or I would be cut off. I wrote back asking to arrange to pay £100 a month initially, hoping to increase the amount as my situation improves. They replied saying I could only pay £169 a month, or go through a third party debt agency and see if they would accept less. I waited to hear from them again. Today I got a note through the door saying they have been and will get a warrant to change the locks, enter the house, cut me off, and claim the money, plus charge me £230 for doing it. I have explained to them I do not deny the debt, but as it has taken 5 years for them to chase I would like a little time to repay it. They have not reduced the amount of the bill. Does anyone have any advice for helping to get an arrangement accepted please? Thank you.

My friend at work has just had their car taken because it was not taxed. They have been told they have a standard 14 days to pay charges at the recovery company to get the car back but are struggling to get the money together. It is an old car (I think M reg) and they are trying to find out if they leave the car beyond the 14 days, losing the car, would they still have to pay the charges due up to the end of the 14 days? Would anybody know? Cheers.

Well, thanks to everyone for advice AND support. I stayed brave and have come out on top. I am sure this debt is one that was paid off a number of years ago through Blair, Oliver and Scott, BoS' own bailiff's. Yet they still sold the debt on. I, yesterday, got a letter from Lowell stating they had no signed contract and therefore the debt was cancelled and the account was returned to their 'client'. In this case that is 1st Credit. They are the people that could not find any contract. Is there a procedure now to get entries removed from my credit history, form both Lowell and 1st Credit? Does anyone have any more advice on how to move on this now? Thanks loads everyone!!

Well, I have had another letter, well two actually... One stating that the finance company they bought the debt from has confirmed they are looking through archives for the document and then this week another asking me to pay again, and agreeing to accept a settlement of under half the total amount they claim I owe. I know I need to report it now, can anyone offer advice? Also, does the fact the time limit has run out right off their claim or just suspend it while they continue to look into it? Cheers.

Cheers, that puts them well past the 12 days now and a good way into the month on top. Off to the Trading Standards we go...

Well, I sent the letter on Dec 12th (Recorded Del) and royal mail managed to 'lose' it! I couldn't do anything until into the new year and it has to wait 21 days. Even today they claim they have lost it, however, this week I received a letter dated Jan 9th from Lowell stating they had sent off for a copy of the requested documents and it would take longer than 12 days. I am unsure as to when I should start my month from, as I cannot prove when they got the letter as royal mail still claim it has never been signed for. Am I safest to go off the date of their letter? (which means the 12 days runs out tomorrow) or should I stick to my letters date? Any advice would be great, thanks!

Cheers, I have had some help via PM today and the bailiff is checked out and all above board. All I can think I can do now is sit and wait to see their response to my letter they will have received this morning, unless you can suggest anything else. Thanks for the advice.

That makes sense. A couple of years ago I was in a similar position and was scared into paying up and borrowing to do it. I am pretty sure it went into the next financial year though. Maybe I am on file as a repeat offender now... Thanks a million for all your advice.

Cheers foir that response. The car that was on the drive is not registered to anyone linked to the poroperty at all and I am the only name on the liablilty order. I have been re-reading the posts on bailiffs, I cannot remember the last time I left a door or window open, must be a few years, I am not sure if I am more aware of burgulars or bailiffs!! I will give it another day or so for the council to get the letter to the right department and then I will try talking to them. I understand the bailiff has attended before they will have recieved my letter, but got slightly worried they will try and return again.

Good morning everyone. I really need some advice re Equita/council tax. I had letters regarding this years council tax and was unable to pay due to change of job and loss of earnings. After getting a 'doorstep visit' I agreed, in September, to pay more than I could afford, which ended up putting me in more debt. Over 2 months I paid £285 off of a debt of £1020. On Friday I got a letter telling me the bailiffs were coming this week to remove my goods unless I settled the £745 owed immediatly. I looked through the site here and, yesterday, sent off the letter Zooman posted on the 'COUNCIL TAX AND BAILIFFS' post. I sent copies to both my council and to Equita. I offered to pay the balance at £61 a month for 11, and £71 on the 12th month. This morning I have a note through the door from the bailiff I spoke to when making my previous payements, in another unsealed envelope. He 'attended today with the intention of removing my goods and chattels as are necessary to dishcharge the outstanding Council Tax Liability Order and any additional ENFORCMENT COSTS incurred.' He will 're-attend my address with immediate effect and may REMOVE goods, even in my absence.' Along with this he has put a 'NOTICE OF SEIZURE AND INVENTORY OF GOODS'. This has his bailiff reference number on it and basically states he will take a car from my drive, which is not registered to me, and the amount due today is £939. Do I still sit and wait out the letter from yesterday? Does the liability order make a difference? Any advice and confidence boosters would be gratefully recieved. Thanks for ALL you do!

Hi all, I recently received a letter from Lowell demanding about £4k for a debt with HBOS. I have never had an account with HBOS and the only thing I can think of was a credit card which was through Sainsburys a few years ago, which was paid and closed 3 years ago. (Balance approx £3100) The payment was made to Blair Oliver and Scott in the September of 2004. Lowell cannot tell me any details of the debt as they have none and said it could take 2 months to request them from HBOS. I called them the day I received the letters, just to allay my fear it was something I did not know about. I refused to discuss anything but the origin of the debt and was very clear that I would not enter into any other discussion with them until they could provide me with the information. They are claiming that a company called '1st Credit' bought the debt from HBOS and could not track me down as I had moved, Lowell then bought the debt and found me inside a month. (I haven't been hiding and am on electoral registers etc.) It has not been six years so am not sure how to proceed. Does anyone think I would get much sense from Blair Oliver and Scott in regard to what I paid and to what debt it went? Any advice on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.