Charged for debt visit, when prepayment meter already agreed upon and arranged.

deepindebtor

I have arranged with Scottish and Southern to pay my debt via prepayment meter as that is the only option they would accept and in the process I have also applied to go on their social tariff, ie my energy costs are more than 10% of my income, this has been arranged at the start and end of the holiday period. In fact I even have an installation date for the meters.

Yet this morning I have received a letter through my door that states at debt collection visit and I should pay up or arrange to have prepayment meters installed, which I have already done and have an installation date.

They also note that they are charging me £25 per utility for this visit. Thats an extra £50 on top of my debt, but I already arranged the installation.

Can they do this, it seems unfair to send someone over when I have already have done what they ask and have installation dates? Seems totally unfair and just a way to get an extra £50 out of me all because I couldnt pay in full over the phone!

sweetstudent

Yup, thats correct, where i work, not S&S but they charge around the same amount!

deepindebtor

So this is a penalty for not being able to pay in full because I am not working at the moment?

Vestra

deepindebtor wrote: »

So this is a penalty for not being able to pay in full because I am not working at the moment?

Just give the number on the phone a call, if you are nice they will sort it out for you, it may be that it has been automatically sent out.

wornoutmumoftwo

I agree with Rian1988 - ring them, it sounds as if you have made the arrangement to install the PPM while that letter was crossing in the post.

Also, I was forced into a prepayment meter but now I absolutely love it, I'm on the social tarif too and have to say that I would NEVER go back to a credit meter. ( I actually top up at home as I have a machine that allows me to pay via my debit card and the credit is loaded onto the machine - it cost me £25ish but is so convenient for me).

And, if it's am 0845 number then find the landline one at saynoto0870.com

Pink_fluff

deepindebtor wrote: »

So this is a penalty for not being able to pay in full because I am not working at the moment?

It's not a penalty - I don't mean this to sound bad to you, last thing you need - but you have not paid them. So it costs them to try and chase up and collect the money, which is why the charges are so high.