Arrears with gas & electric not sure what to do

aligerdie

apologies if I've put this in the wrong place but I'd appreciate a bit of advice.

I have an outstanding bill of £400 for the gas and electric (in hubbys name) which I'm not able to pay at the moment due to having absolutely no money.

He received a letter this morning from scotcall asking him to pay up or have a 'personal visit'. To avoid action they want him to phone up and sort this out. I know he won't do this, and once again its up to me to sort this out.

Could someone please advise me how to do this? I'm worried they will demand payment over the phone, and I have absolutely nothing to offer them. I would like to set something up to pay this off, but I am so worried its going to be something I have no way of being able to afford.

I was considering changing suppliers as I'm not sure ours is the best, but I'm guessing I won't be able to do that until this bill has been cleared...

Please can you offer me some advice as to what would be the best course of action? Our property is a rental property and I don't think the landlord would appreciate a prepayment meter being installed.

thank you x

Magentasue

Don't ignore this - deal with it today. You need to contact them and negotiate. Don't offer what you can't afford. Offer something and ask for time to get advice from the CAB or similar.

Forget about switching. Instead hop over to the Debt Free Wannabe board and find out about the free debt clearing advice. You need to draw up a budget and work out what you can afford to pay for the energy you're going to use from now on and then what you can pay to clear the arrears.

Also, start reading your meters and work out how much you can afford to pay and keep your usage in line. Once you taken a few daily readings, you'll know what your bills are going to be. There are lots of threads on here, the Green board and Old Style about cutting your bills.

aligerdie

thank you so much for your thorough reply. I was beginning to think no one would answer me!

I was just a little worried as the last time I rang up I got bullied into paying a minimum amount of £147 which I could not afford to pay. We were late with our rent because of that. They would not accept any less and I'm worried this will happen again.

I've took everything down to the bare minimum (thanks to this site!). I spend no money on things other than bills and food! I'll have a look on the old style board and see whether I can take things down any further.

I have never thought to have a look at the meter readings daily, that is a brilliant idea, thank you very much.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it. xx

Magentasue

We are brilliant at bills and budgeting but only because I learned the hard way. More than once, I made the mistake of agreeing to something I couldn't afford. We've cut our gas and elec use but we're a large family so it's still high. Other people get their daily elec units into single figures but I can only do that if we all go out all day!

aligerdie

do you have any top tips?! I switch everything off, heating is very low (bordering on freezing) and energy bulbs are everywhere.
I have to use my tumble dryer when the weathers bad as I have 3 little ones under 6 and they generate a mountain of washing! However whenever its dry the washings out (even when it gets so cold its frozen to the line!)

I can't think of how to get these bills down anymore, I only have the water heater on for 20 minutes a day too....

It would be good to get some tips from someone with a large family too to see how I can improve!

Just out of interest, how did you manage to make a payment which you could afford? When I ring up they do their little calculation and won't budge from that, which is what I end up paying!

Magentasue

Haven't had credit/debt problems for quite a while now. We usually borrowed our way out. Not recommended!

We average 12 units a day elec. The other day it was 19 - due to two loads of washing and drying. Like you I try to line dry but I give up in the winter. When the children (four now 14-23) were little, it was easier because they wore small clothes! I used to hang over an airer and then blast in the tumble drier to finish off. Bedding over doors at night, hoodies in the airing cupboard - anywhere to get dampish. We didn't have radiators then but do now, so I try to use them to finish off jeans etc.

Much cheaper to do a standard wash at 30deg than quick washes at higher temps. We've also done the energy saving bulbs. Everything is switched off when not used and I try to put the oven on only when full. How many units do you a day now?

brysiewysie

There are stacks of savings ideas in this forum. This is a super little thread that gives some good ideas;

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1184647

It's worth spending £8 getting one of the individual plug in measuring devices. I'm sure it will pay for itself many times over. Lidls and Maplins often sell them at this price.

Does anyone in the household get any benefits or is over 60 or 70 years old? If so you are likely to be able to get some sort of assistance through your supplier. Call them up and ask about this specifically. Also ask them about Social Tariffs. Since you're renting you won't get any cavity wall or loft insulation offers but it's worth asking for other help anyway. With my employer (Eon) if you're 'vulnerable' they can set your debt collection as low as usage plus £3 per week. Even if you're not they can still take a sympathetic response to your situation but you have to be paying more than your usage figure. Eon would probably class you as vulnerable because of the 3 kids under 6 so it's worth asking.

aligerdie

I'm not sure how many units we're using a day at the moment. I'm going to start as of tomorrow making a note same time in the morning and night to see whats going on!

I'm so careful with everything now, but with a husband who won't admit leaving his phone charger on uses energy, or the tv on standby, I have a long way to go!

Thanks again magentasue for your help x

aligerdie

brysiewysie wrote: »

There are stacks of savings ideas in this forum. This is a super little thread that gives some good ideas;

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1184647

It's worth spending £8 getting one of the individual plug in measuring devices. I'm sure it will pay for itself many times over. Lidls and Maplins often sell them at this price.

Does anyone in the household get any benefits or is over 60 or 70 years old? If so you are likely to be able to get some sort of assistance through your supplier. Call them up and ask about this specifically. Also ask them about Social Tariffs. Since you're renting you won't get any cavity wall or loft insulation offers but it's worth asking for other help anyway. With my employer (Eon) if you're 'vulnerable' they can set your debt collection as low as usage plus £3 per week. Even if you're not they can still take a sympathetic response to your situation but you have to be paying more than your usage figure. Eon would probably class you as vulnerable because of the 3 kids under 6 so it's worth asking.

Nobody in our household over that age unfortunately, we have a private landlord aswell so I'm considering ringing the letting agent to see if we can put a big curtain over the front door (soooo drafty!) and change the seals also.

I didn't realise we may be considered as vulnerable, whenever I've enquired about things before the answer has already been no! I'll have to ring them monday now and hold out for a lower amount that what they want. Last time they insisted on a large one off payment, I don't know if they'll let me pay a token amount for a while.

I'll have a look at that link and see if I can take on board some ideas! thanks for that!

Thanks for your help, much appreciated x

Magentasue

aligerdie wrote: »

I'm so careful with everything now, but with a husband who won't admit leaving his phone charger on uses energy, or the tv on standby, I have a long way to go!

Well, he's right in a way. The savings to be made by unplugging a phone charger are small compared to, say, not using the tumble drier. But it all adds up and what is more worrying is that earlier today you said he wouldn't contact your supplier. It sounds as if you're dealing with this on your own and your partner doesn't want to do anything about it. Have you been over to Debt Free Wannabe - there's a lot of support over there because your situation is far from unusual. The positive thing about reading your meter every day is that you'll become the expert in your house and knowledge is power! Not just in proving your case at home but in negotiating with your supplier.

aligerdie

thanks again for your input. I know its only little things, but its also lights, the shower, xbox etc, and over a period of time it adds up and I'm trying to save money!

Yes, its true he won't ring about the utility bills, I've got to sort the water out also which I'm dreading too, thats another £200.

I have been on dfw a few times and got advice, I have got issues with my OH in the fact that he doesn't give me money to help me pay these outstanding bills and pay off our debts. Sadly its meant I don't have alot of money in my purse. I'm at home all week with the little ones, so by staying in as much as we can I don't spend.

I'm hoping by reading our meter every day I can get these bills down in future so life won't be such a struggle. I was looking at one of those things you put next to your meter, are they worth it? I saw them on ebay but just can't afford to buy one at the mo so I'd like to save and get one if they're worth it.