Am I liable for this water bill?

[penge430]

Hi, I have recently received a number of letters from a debt collection agency, and now one from their solicitors, about a water biil.

 

Back in 2008, I was asked to babysit a building site for a friends, friend. I lived in the site caravan and let contractors and potential buyers in to the site on weekends and during the evening. I was asked to keep people out, which I did.

 

I am now being asked to pay almost £700 for the year I carried out these duties in water rates. I have asked the debt agency for proof of the bill. I have also told them I was not resposnsible for the building site, but they are just increasing the amount owed and threatening with a CCJ.

 

Where do I stand as I dont have any bills, I have never signed any contract and certainly dont have the money to pay for someone else's house build! Unfortunately I also dont have the details of the owners of the house which sold according to the internet for £3 million.

 

Thanks for any advice

[citizenB]

They should be billing the the person whose name is on the water bill or even the site owner.

 

Can you not ask the Friend who their friend was ?

 

How has either the water company or this DCA been provided with your details in connection with this bill ?

 

I think all you can do is to assert your position. You were neither the owner or the tenant of the site - you were in effect, working there. It is for them to prove that you owe this money and not the other way round.

[dx100uk]

like all util bills

 

water bills are subject to these rules..

 

water is also NOT a priority bill either,

 

pers i'd ignore the DCA.

and the fake/tame solicitor.

 

as long as the debt is not on your cra file

you're clear.

 

dx

[penge430]

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I have lost contact with my friend, so only have the owners name. They dont seem interested in tracking them down. I suspect as the site was locked, the only way they happened on my details would be going through the junk mail that would have been in the post box.

 

So I take it if I dont have a contract with either the water company or the owner (as I was "working" for them). I should fight the case? Can I demanad to see the bills and ask where they got my details? Or should I just leave it and wait until I receive the court details?

 

Thanks again

[dx100uk]

they'll not do court

 

pers i'd ignore them.

 

only the water co' can take you to court

 

and as they have no contract with you

 

and its so old

 

all you'll get is cleverly worded letters

 

if.might.could.instructed.

 

IMHO i'd ignore them

 

dx