prepayment installation, please help me

Pssst

OK Aligeride-heres your next stretegy. Get your pen out now. Write a letter headed with the world COMPLAINT. Explain that you fully accept that you are in debt and that you accept the pp meter as a means of paying off the debt whilst also retaining your supply. Explain your personal circumstances and also explain that the amount they are asking each week just isnt manageable for you. Suggest a figure you can afford.

Pop it in the post first class,asap..

spiro

aligerdie wrote: »

ok, well I spoke with Scottish Power today, and the charge is non negotiable apparently.
Of my weekly top up, £15 goes towards the debt, on both the gas and electric.

So thats £30 per week before I even start. I have no idea what to do now, they're fitting on the 10th december. The only way I can afford to do this is find £230 before the 10th so I don't have to pay the weekly charge on the gas meter, just the electric. That just isn't going to happen!

I explained the situation, told them my circumstances, but there was no leeway. I was also told the weekly payment card wouldn't be suitable for me either.

I give in now, I can't see how I'm going to manage, I just can't cut down anymore.

When fitting a prepayment meter to collect debt the supplier is required to take into account a persons ability to pay. Therefore suggest you document your weekly income/outgoings and then discuss the amount with your supplier. CAB may be able to help you with this.

Joyful

I second the above. Can I suggest if they will not negotiate get the CAB to write a list of incomings and outgoings to prove how much you can afford as Spiro says. An energy company does need to make it affordable for you to pay but there will be minimum amounts. The CAB will also help you to deal with your other outgoings and help relieve the pressure on you.

I also think you need to get your husband to wake up so you can both work with this together and see if you can cut back anywhere.

If they are like my Company (BG) please don't let it get to the Warrant process as you will have a lot more to pay back. Arrange the meter yourself for say a couple of weeks time and quickly get to CAB.

If Scottish Power will not budge go down the complaints route where a more senior person may have more authority to lower the payments also.

aligerdie

Thank you all so much for your replies, I appreciate them. This may sound silly, but will it be just as effective to email customer services? I would normally send a letter, but my considerate husband has gone to work without giving me any money at all, so I can't afford to send it. Don't even know how I'm going to get my daughter to school tomorrow. (its 5 miles away) and he's not back until tomorrow night.

Joyful - I've been trying for a long time to try to make my OH understand we're in a mess, and he can't keep spending like he does. He doesn't listen, and this has resulted in me having 2 visits this week from 2 different bailiffs. I am ashamed because I've got into this state, but also very very frightened and have no idea where to turn.

I'll send them an income / expenditure sheet so they can see whats going on, I know it needs paying, but I just don't have that sort of money. (my tax credits are a quarter of what they were last year).

Thank you all again. x

brysiewysie

I can't speak for Scottish Power but my employer, Eon, would probably view you as a vulnerable customer because of the 3 yound children. They would therefore accept debt repayment as low as £3 or £5 per week per fuel.

Pssst has the right idea although you don't have to write. Making a verbal complaint should start to get some movement for you. Since the abolition of Energywatch all Energy companies HAVE to keep a specific eye open for vulnerable customers and treat them carefully. Ofgem are expected to crack down hard on energy companies that don't take their new complaints process seriously and can fine companies up to 10% of their turnover.

The SP compalints procedure is here;

http://www.scottishpower.co.uk/Home_Energy/Customer_Services/Making_a_complaint/

You need to make a fuss and stress at the end of the conversation if you don't agree with the outcome saying that you want it escalated.

I hope that's of some help.

Pixie28

aligerdie, the weeky debt recovery rate is definitely negotiable. The agent who told you that it is not is talking a load of cobble. Sending an email to the customer services is exactly the same as sending a letter - the same team of peeps deal with all incoming mail. As your appointment has already been booked, it may be that you will have to wait until your prepayment meter is installed to have the debt recovery rate lowered, but don't worry about this too much because I can assure you that you will be able to negotiate a more affordable amount.

Pssst

Dont email-send in writing. Emails will likely just disappear.

aligerdie

Thank you all for your replies, I never know whether to believe agents on the phone again after the week Ive had.

The agent stated that it would be £15 per card per week. Because my husband works he assumed we could afford this without asking me any questions, and me stating I can't afford it!

I shall ring tomorrow and try again, hopefully I'll get someone different this time.

Thank you all so much xx

spiro

aligerdie wrote: »

Thank you all for your replies, I never know whether to believe agents on the phone again after the week Ive had.

The agent stated that it would be £15 per card per week. Because my husband works he assumed we could afford this without asking me any questions, and me stating I can't afford it!

I shall ring tomorrow and try again, hopefully I'll get someone different this time.

Thank you all so much xx

You refer to "£15 per card", does this mean you owe for both gas and elec? If thats the case there is no way they would expect you to pay £30 per week unless they can prove you can afford it. Its more likely to be set about £3.50 per fuel. Good luck and when you get the meters make sure the OH puts enough on the meters on pay day to last you the week. Dont want to be stuck with no heating with the weather getting colder.