Advice and Help

helpinghands_3

I work as a Support Worker and thought I would join this board in hope that some one can probably give me some advice as I am lost.

A person lives in a local authority house and has had electricity supplied by Scottish Power, the person lives alone and this persons mother died quite a few years ago and this person never changed the account details over and registered them in there own right. The electricity meter was a prepayment meter and this person then hit hard times a year ago and tampered with the electricity meter and gained electricity dishonestly. Scottish Power gave this person a second chance put the meter right and then off they went. This person then tampered with the meter again and again gained electricity dishonestly. Scottish Power have now removed the meter and have ordered that this person set the account up in there own name and also to put a new meter in the charge will be £500. They will not waiver the fee and this person has no electricity. Has anyone ever heard of this before and do you think any other electricity supplier would help out or not in suppling a meter to this property. This person is on benefits and is on £46 a week.

If anyone can help please do so as it will be much appreciated.

Cardew

Presumably some of the £500 is to be a deposit?

To be quite honest I can't think of any way a company who have been robbed twice can be expected to install a meter again, and no other company will do so if they are aware of the facts.

You could ask Energywatch for their advice, but I suspect there is no way a company can be forced to place themselves at risk.

You best bet will be to get one of the Social Services/Charities to stump up the £500.

dunloadin

To bypass a meter once and get a second chance is lucky, to then do it again is pretty stupid. The theft of electricity and his £500 debt will stop any attempt to change supplier in it's tracks.

I'm surprised they removed the meter in toto, normally they would put the debt on the meter and get their money back that way. I suspect as it's the second time it's happened the company have removed the meter and de-energised the supply and will expect £500 to be paid in full before they refit the meter. If thats the case the peson in question has a problem....it has to be said the problem is one of their own making.

Bypassing meters is VERY dangerous, I've been to a few calls to replace burnt out meters, in one instance the person bypassing the meter ended up in hospital with a severely burnt hand and loss of vision in one eye. I appreciate that times are hard and folk are struggling to pay bills, but to risk severe and possibly permanent injuries, or risking burning down your property for the sake of putting money in the meter is pure folly.

Dreamnine

Is that your job, supporting criminals..?

Andy_Hamilton

I'm suprised that they have not tried rewire it themselves without a meter.

Sorry but they stole and the supplier really does not want to do business with them. Have they tried another supplier?

riciticitavi

You will have a job getting another supplier to install a meter. The meter operator in the area will normally be the same for all suppliers. They will inform any new supplier that the meter was removed due to revenue protection.

helpinghands_3

I have to agree it is dangerous and my client should not have done it. My client has put themself in danger and also put there neighbours at risk aswell.

I support anyone who needs support in maintaining a home.

Getting the £500 deposit together is an impossibility, as benefits is the only source of income. I think my client will probably have to move house and get a fresh start.

Pink_fluff

The person in question is lucky it's not a £1000 charge for by-passing the meter and then the debt - ie. price and number of units stolen by interfering with the meter. for example. 10p per unit, 100 units stolen = £10 debt. Obviously debt would be much more, but that is just to show an example. this person is endangering themselves. I do understand you are trying to help this person, I would say though, even if the person moved house, the company would do everything in their power to trace this person and in the end it the debt would more than likely be passed to a debt collection agency and charges would be added on - therefore increasing the debt.