Arrears with gas & electric not sure what to do

Magentasue

Yes, the little things add up, especially if it's every day. If it's an electric shower, more than a few minutes and it starts to get as expensive as heating water for a bath.

I have an energy monitor and have found it very helpful - as you see the reading climb, you can go round turning things off. When it's low, you know everything's off!

However, I think you need to get OH onside - no good knowing you're wasting electricity if he's not going to take any notice of it. I think drawing up a budget is the first step - any creditor is going to want to know how much you can affod to pay. There's a spreadsheet on this site and others online elsewhere. Would your husband go to CAB or similar and come up with a plan? I can't work out whether he's overwhelmed by your situation and can't face it, doesn't care or doesn't realise how bad things are.

brysiewysie

Could it be that the type of energy monitor Magentasue is talking about may interest him since it is a bit of a gadget? You can get these from various places and they can be picked up for around £30 sometimes. This is the type of thing, but there are several types;
http://www.currentcost.com/support-1.shtml

Some suppliers products come with a free one but you have to accept there's a penalty charge if you leave early.

With the abolition of Energywatch in September this year and the introduction of the CEAR 2007 act of parliament all suppliers have to be extra vigilant about taking care of vulnerable customers. Quoting this to your current supplier may help them take a more sympathetic stance, but I guess it depends how seriously they take it. However even if they don't the fact that you have asked and they've taken no action will help you if you want to escalate the issue because you are unhappy (see below). Eon certainly view families with young children as potentially vulnerable.

The CEAR act also has implications for how suppliers deal with customer complaints or expressions of dissatisfaction. They have to formally log these and if you remain unhappy they have to let you know what the next stage of the complaints process is. This should involve how you can escalate it beyond your supplier. Energy suppliers may be expecting audits from Ofgem on this new process as early as November when it's only been in place for a little over 1 month. This may be a good time to press the whole vulnerable/debt repayment issue and follow it through by complaining if you don't get a very low debt repayment plan agreed.

WhistleBlower

Ooh, my area of expertise.

Quick disclaimer, this is all from my experience at NPower so milage with your supplier may vary but it tends to be fairly industry standardised.

I don't think you're with NPower because i don't recognise the name of the debt collection agency.

Anyway, You have an outstanding balance, ultimately there are three options.

1) Payment in full.
2) Payment as a regular payment scheme. (Rps)
3) Prepayment meters.

Option 1 is not an option so scratch that, option 3, you say the landlord wouldnl't be happy baout having a prepayment meter fitted, however the meter remains the property of the supplier, not the landlord, so i'm afraid he wouldn'thave a choice. Once you lef the property all he'd need to do is provide proof and they'd come remove it again (slight risk of being charged for that though)

So that leaves option 2, a payment scheme. These are as a rule an excellent choice, you can spread out your payment rather than making it all at once.

They may require an "Initial payment" or IP, for NPOwer this is not applied if you've never had a plan before, 30% if you've failed one in the last 12 months, 50% if you've failed two or more as a rule.

From that point on they will split up the remaining balance over 12 months and add it to your usage each month so that you aren't getting further into debt. Each time your bill comes in you'll have paid it already.

Other potential options include things like NPower's "first step" scheme, which takes on people with a debt who are "fuel poor" and spending more than 10% of their income on fuel. They can offer a lower tarriff and also work out lower payment plans and if you stick religiously to their instructions, potenetially write off part of the debt.

Call your supplier and ask about any such schemes. If not, call the debt collection agency and ask about how much a payment plan would be.

If you have problems where you are paying off other debts and it's leaving you with no money go to your CAB, theymay be able to help you negotiate lower payments freeing up some cash.

Gas and electricity are considered a "Priority" debt, like your mortgage they are what keep yousafe and healthy. Credit cards / car loan etc are luxury debts (in theory) and should be less important when making financial decisions.

I hope that some of this helps.

Magentasue

brysiewysie wrote: »

Could it be that the type of energy monitor Magentasue is talking about may interest him since it is a bit of a gadget? You can get these from various places and they can be picked up for around £30 sometimes. This is the type of thing, but there are several types;
http://www.currentcost.com/support-1.shtml

Good point - if he's the one with an xbox. My kids have taken far more notice of the Currentcost monitor than they did of me. I think you can get one free if you're with Southern Elec or SWALEC.

aligerdie

Thanks everyone for your replies, only just logged back on and the information thats been posted is really helpful!

In reply to your question about my OH magentasue, he doesn't care and can't be bothered to sort anything out as its far too much effort. Everything is up to me to sort, and yet he doesn't give me any money to cover the bills, I have to sort it myself.

I mentioned getting one of those gadgets and the response was a scoff! I'm determined to get one though and will save up to get one off ebay. (we're with scottish power). I think it will really help to save me some money and make life a bit easier.

Whistleblower - your post is so helpful, thank you. To be honest I think it would be easier to get a prepayment meter fitted and then I know where I stand. You've bought me round to the idea, but just out of interest how much do they charge to remove it? I need to check our tenancy and see if there's any clauses in the contract about prepayment meters.

thank you all so much for your replies, you have been so helpful and I feel alot better. I need to ring up still but I'm summing up the courage.

duchy

I got really behind with both gas and electric (same supplier after recieved no bills due to a scam with another supplier poaching the supply) a prepayment meter really took the pressure off.
Taking a more long term view as a private tenent if you are on a low-ish income (I was working but claiming tax credit) it's worth checking the Warm Front scheme. I got a new boiler, window and door insulation and loft lagging all supplied and fitted for no cost. Can't see your landlord objecting to you improving the property

aligerdie

duchy wrote: »

I got really behind with both gas and electric (same supplier after recieved no bills due to a scam with another supplier poaching the supply) a prepayment meter really took the pressure off.
Taking a more long term view as a private tenent if you are on a low-ish income (I was working but claiming tax credit) it's worth checking the Warm Front scheme. I got a new boiler, window and door insulation and loft lagging all supplied and fitted for no cost. Can't see your landlord objecting to you improving the property

Thanks for your post, do you think that for now a meter would be the way to get on top of things?
I've had a look on the warm front thing, and our household income is too high for that. Sadly I don't see any of that income which is why I'm worried about getting out of this mess.

Incisor

WhistleBlower wrote: »

... ultimately there are three options.

1) Payment in full.
2) Payment as a regular payment scheme. (Rps)
3) Prepayment meters.

Option 1 is not an option so scratch that, option 3, you say the landlord wouldnl't be happy baout having a prepayment meter fitted, however the meter remains the property of the supplier, not the landlord, so i'm afraid he wouldn'thave a choice. Once you lef the property all he'd need to do is provide proof and they'd come remove it again (slight risk of being charged for that though) ...

Slight risk too of a switched on Landlord taking the cost of going back to credit meters out of the deposit too, especially if it is in the tenancy agreement not to go to prepayment.

Magentasue

The underlying problem here seems to be your partner. It appears you have an adequate household income but it's not used to pay household bills.

It's easy for me to say, but somehow you need to sort this! Otherwise, this will just be one crisis of many. Financially, you'd probably be better off on your own but, obviously, there are other reasons for maintaining your relationship. Is there any way of getting through to your husband - maybe through friends or family?

aligerdie

Incisor wrote: »

Slight risk too of a switched on Landlord taking the cost of going back to credit meters out of the deposit too, especially if it is in the tenancy agreement not to go to prepayment.

I don't mind paying for this to be honest and would pay if the landlord asked. At the moment I'm struggling and I so desperately want to pay this without having to worry about keeping the little ones warm. (its snowing now!)