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Hello, I'm new to the forum and am hoping to get some advice regarding a debt recovery letter
I have recently received a letter from a firm of solicitors acting on behalf of British Gas Trading Limited stating a balance of over £2000 is owed for supply of electricity to a high street property I own that was unoccupied for some time. The letter is dated end of February but as I have been away I have only just received it. I have no knowledge of the debt but it is possible British Gas could have been a supplier during the void period prior to the current tenant. I understand a deemed contract may have been in place (the current tenant has been occupying for approximately 18months) but I have never been sent any bills or other correspondence either to my address or from the current tenant. The amount seems excessively high given there would be no usage, only standing charges. The letter only states an account number and amount of the debt with no specific details on any claimed charges.
The letter demands full payment by the middle of March which has obviously long passed. If disputed the letter also requests a response to the claim again by a date long passed and reserves the right to issue a court claim.
I am also away from the property where the letter was addressed for long periods of time so I'm worried other letters or claims may go missed.
I would appreciate any advice forum members can offer. My current instinct is to write stating I do not recognise the debt or any agreement with British Gas Trading Limited and asking them to provide more specific details of the claim but I'm also worried this may lead to further vague demands or worse an implied acknowledgement of the debt. If there are actual charges I owe in law due to a deemed contract I have no objections to paying them but this amount seems ridiculous.
Thank you in advance
I have recently received a letter from a firm of solicitors acting on behalf of British Gas Trading Limited stating a balance of over £2000 is owed for supply of electricity to a high street property I own that was unoccupied for some time. The letter is dated end of February but as I have been away I have only just received it. I have no knowledge of the debt but it is possible British Gas could have been a supplier during the void period prior to the current tenant. I understand a deemed contract may have been in place (the current tenant has been occupying for approximately 18months) but I have never been sent any bills or other correspondence either to my address or from the current tenant. The amount seems excessively high given there would be no usage, only standing charges. The letter only states an account number and amount of the debt with no specific details on any claimed charges.
The letter demands full payment by the middle of March which has obviously long passed. If disputed the letter also requests a response to the claim again by a date long passed and reserves the right to issue a court claim.
I am also away from the property where the letter was addressed for long periods of time so I'm worried other letters or claims may go missed.
I would appreciate any advice forum members can offer. My current instinct is to write stating I do not recognise the debt or any agreement with British Gas Trading Limited and asking them to provide more specific details of the claim but I'm also worried this may lead to further vague demands or worse an implied acknowledgement of the debt. If there are actual charges I owe in law due to a deemed contract I have no objections to paying them but this amount seems ridiculous.
Thank you in advance
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