Duke Energy Landlord Transfer Contract - Unethical and Preditory Business Practices Covington, KY Kentucky

I'm not sure if this is an issue that's to anyone else previously but this is what's happened to me and what I believe to be, at the very least, unethical business practices.

 

I sold a rental property in Jan '12 and was told at the time by Duke Energy that my final bill was FINAL. In April '14 (2+ years after selling it) I received a bill for this property for $750 citing a landlord convenience contract that allowed it to be switched back into my name without notification. I did sign this but was told at the time of collecting my final bill that they'd make sure the building was taken out of my name after explaining that I had sold it.

 

After talking to several csr's on several occasions I finally found one that agreed that it wasn't my fault and if I wrote a letter canceling the service she would credit my account. Last week I received a letter from a collection agency for twice that amount. Now up to $1,480.00. After several calls now I'm being told there's nothing they can do, that the debt is my responsibility even though they know I haven't owned the building in two years. In fact after 1.5 hrs on the phone today I was told by a csr supervisor that "it is what it is" and that I just need to pay it.

 

I understand there was a contract in place but it seems like a predatory business practice to threaten collections on a utility I never used for a property I haven't owned in some time. Furthermore, when I asked why I never received any notification that the service went back into my name in Aug '13 I was told that the bill was sent to the address of the property and that it was only an accidental occurrence that their system matched up my social on the one account with my residence and that's how they found me to deliver my bill. Had I known that the service was put in my name I'd have had the opportunity to deal with the issue when the bill was $100.

They take no responsibility for this and if I don't come up with the money immediately they're going to put this on my credit and charge outragous penalties. Needless to say I don't have the money nor would I feel comfortable paying it if I did.

 

If there's any help or information anyone can offer I'd greatly appreciate this.