Debt collector chasing debt company says doesnt exist

[shouldbworking]

I cancelled a broadband service months ago as the company were unable to fix a fault with the service. They tried charging me early contract termination fees despite them being in breach of the contract and not having any proof of the contract (They claimed my moving house meant id started a new contract, I never signed anything to that effect, and they were in breach of such a contract with the fault anyway).

After I'd had no response to my request for proof that id agreed to a new contract I got a bill from them. Called them up and was told that they couldn't find any debt on my account and that was it as far as I was concerned until I find they've sold on this supposed debt and im now being chased by the debt collector. I've denied the debt to them but they just sent back a letter saying theyve confirmed it with the original company??

Im not going to waste my time chasing the original company - it takes at least 15 minutes to get through to some useless person who cant even speak english and will tell you whatever they think it is you want to hear.

tldr version
cancelled service
told that i owed them nothing
being chased by debt collector
checked with original company again, told that i owed them nothing
denied debt
debt collector says they have confirmed debt exists with the company.

Just wondering what the debt collector might legally be allowed to do in these circumstances?

[Pot Bellied Fool]

You didn't agree to anything on the telephone that constituted a contract did you?

Otherwise, tell them to take you to Court if they're so sure...

(Ignore their warning letters, they're designed to cause alarm - if they haven't got judgement they can't send in the bailiffs.)

[Office_Monkey]

Write to the service provider with a SAR. This is a request for all information that they hold on you, and will contain notes on their systems etc, and could also include recordings/transcripts of your calls. This would help any case you have, I wouldn't bother dealing with the Debt collection agency at all.

What provider was it with?

[shouldbworking]

Office_Monkey said:

Write to the service provider with a SAR. This is a request for all information that they hold on you, and will contain notes on their systems etc, and could also include recordings/transcripts of your calls. This would help any case you have, I wouldn't bother dealing with the Debt collection agency at all.

What provider was it with?

Virgin Media.

To answer the previous poster I don't recall agreeing to a new contract and certainly never signed / wrote anything.

Thanks for the advice