Help with a bill?

scog

Hi there, I was just wondering if there is any way I can apply for help with a surprise electricity bill I have received for £800. I have only £90 in my account and am claiming JSA, Housing and Council Tax benefit (none of which have paid any money into my account yet) after losing my job at the start of the month.

scog

debtenforcer1 wrote: »

didn't you ever consider paying it before? did you think it was free?we will be seeing you soon

It was a 'surprise' bill, otherwise of course I would have paid it. I was not expecting to lose my job this month or get charged so much, not everybody on benefits wants to be there you know.

robpw2

please ignore debtenforcer they have been reported

i would suggest you write to the electricity company advising of your current situation and see if they will agree to a paymet plan

speak to cab for more advice if you want they will write for you if you need help with this

epsilondraconis

Have you checked that the electricity bill is accurate and based upon actual meter readings rather than estimates?

KimYeovil

I fail to see why it is a surprise - there is a meter in your home you can read to see how much you are using and the bills come through every month or every quarter.

You will not be eligible for a budgeting loan (it is not a qualifying item and you have not been receiving benefits for six months.)

If you did not put money aside over winter when you were working then you may have to get a prepayment meter installed as that is the only way the repayment will be extended. (Unless the supplier has delayed supplying a bill - if it is a first bill that covers more than a regular quarter then you will be able to pay it over the same length of time as it was accrued. But if it is just a regular catch-up bill from previous underestimates then it is due now.)

robpw2

how many people get a bill for £800 a quarter thats quite exceasive kim
not everyone has the money to save for future bills just in case

i agree a prepayment meter might be better suited
it may be worth seeing if you can cut your energy usuage

savemoney

Quiet a few people fall for this, they rely on low direct debts and then eventually there bills get higher and then get a nice big one

My advice is contact the company and ask for help, you will have to pay it but maybe payments might be more manageable

Send the utility companies regular meter readings to avoid this and try and cut down where possible

OrkneyStar

Speak to CAB and see if you can set up a payment plan. TBH though you will need to pay a decent amount per week/month.
Agree you should check readings (is it an estimate), make sure meter working correctly. Ideally you should be putting something away toward bills and also trying to reduce your consumption (even those of us who work do that!).

krisskross

think a prepayment meter is the way to go.In fact I believe the electricity supplier will insist on one being installed when the bill is defaulted on.

£800 in 1 quarter for electricity though? Have you checked you are not supplying the whole street? How much have previous bills been and do your own meter readings marry up with the reading on the bill?

KimYeovil

robpw2 wrote: »

how many people get a bill for £800 a quarter thats quite exceasive kim
not everyone has the money to save for future bills just in case

Reading your meters and knowing how much you are using (and comparing that with how much you have paid) - that isn't exactly advanced housekeeping, is it? And if you don't have "the money to save" then you surely would be more careful in the first place.

£800 is not excessive or unexpected if you never read your meters. Especially not coming out of a coldest winter for years.

TOBRUK

Hi scog, I'm sure it must be a difficult time for you that you have recently lost your job and on top of that received a bill of £800! I don't think there is anything you can apply for to help with this bill. The best thing you can do is phone your supplier and explain your situation and I'm sure they will sort out a plan for you. One thing you shouldn't do is ignore it.

I must say that £800 is more than I pay annually for electricity and gas combined - I am at home 24/7! I know how difficult it is to budget when you aren't working but it is something I do and I pay monthly direct debits for all my utilities and so I don't receive any surprises.

I do wonder how you have received a bill of £800; is it a quarterly bill?