Can't afford to pay Gas bill lease help!!

Apricot

I don't think a prepayment meter is such a bad idea. I built up a debt with British Gas and they asked if I would prefer a prepayment meter with the debt repayment set at £7 per week - this way I was able to pay it off and it made me much more conscious of the amount of gas I was using - so made it a lot cheaper for me in the long run

Bluebelle72

Thank you all for your much appreciated advice. The indian call centre just rang me again, I told him I was due to call scottish power myself later today when my baby is asleep as I couldn't give the matter my full attention whilst little one was awake, he was quite persistant and said he could hold the line whilst i sort baby out!! Are they on commission or something?!! He was reluctant for me to end the conversation, and quite snottily said the follow up calls would continue! nice! xx

Jesthar

Bluebelle72 wrote: »

Thank you all for your much appreciated advice. The indian call centre just rang me again, I told him I was due to call scottish power myself later today when my baby is asleep as I couldn't give the matter my full attention whilst little one was awake, he was quite persistant and said he could hold the line whilst i sort baby out!! Are they on commission or something?!! He was reluctant for me to end the conversation, and quite snottily said the follow up calls would continue! nice! xx

Yes, they probably will be on commission. And they with DEFINITELY be reading from a script!

If they are getting annoying, you could try saying 'OK, I'll be back when he's asleep', then putting the phone down and seeing if he's still holding the line if/when the little one has their nap time... That should dent their monthly stats a bit...

A slightly less cheeky tactic (and normally absolutely truthful) is to just keep saying you can't understand everything they are saying. Or, if you have or are good at accents, play them at their own game - 'drunk Glaswegian/Scouser' should do the trick...

On a more serious note (thought you needed a smile ), have you managed to talk to your supplier yet? If this call centre lot are genuinely working for them, then you may be able to demand to be corresponded with in writing only...

Also, any luck with doing an SOA? We might be able to help you find a little extra money in your budget, you never know...

~Jes

Bluebelle72

Thank you Jesthar! And you did make me smile thank you, I haven't called them yet little one goes down about 1.30pm ish so it won't be til then. The call centre called me on my mobile so i wouldn't be able to do as you suggested, I have a land line but it's always unplugged and only used in emergencies. Not sure whether I mentioned before but I did receive a letter about the money owed from scottish power dated 13th august giving me 7 days to pay which (correct me if i'm wrong) is up tomorrow, so why all thecalls before then? They drive me nuts!! I know its my debt and I've got to pay it, but it's pretty upsetting when you get calls such as this. thank you again for your reply. I am so very grateful xx

Marthasdad

Now then Bluebelle72 - I may be able to help - I used (quite a few years ago) to work in collections for British Gas, so I know something about how these things work.

The first bit of advice I can give you is not to ignore them.

The second bit of advice I can give you is to insist on speaking to a representative in a UK call centre.

The good news is that I doubt your debt has got to a very serious stage yet - utilities do not tend to use overseas call centres for complex cases, where things need to be agreed that might be "of script" etc. So, I expect that your account is currently with their "first line" collections team, thus the calls from India.

All the Utilities have to act with social responsibility and sensitivity (this is governed by their regulator) and, as you have a young child, limited income and not a massive outstanding amount, I'm sure you can sort something out with them.

My best advice would be to contact them again and ensure you are talking to a credit management representative in a UK call centre - have your meter reading handy (if you are going to get an agreement with them, it's best to know exactly where you're up to now). You need to explain your situation in detail and they are obliged to come up with a suitable plan for you. The chances are you will be able to avoid a prepayment meter if you agree to a realistic payment plan and stick to it, but if a PP meter is the best option, then don't be frightened of it - it will enable you to pay off the debt at an amount you can really afford while at the same time making sure your debt doesn't get any bigger.

Someone before mentioned that this is a priority debt and they are right - I don't want to scare you but, if you igmore this one, they can and will take the matter to a court and they can get a warrant to enter your home and either disconnect the supply, or (more likely) fit a card meter whether you want one or not.

I'm sure it won't come to this and, as I said before, it sounds like to are only at the early stage of the collections process, so I'm sure you can sort something out with them, but please do treat this one as a priority - you'll feel so much better when it's sorted.

I hope this helps a bit.....

Bluebelle72

Marthasdad wrote: »

Now then Bluebelle72 - I may be able to help - I used (quite a few years ago) to work in collections for British Gas, so I know something about how these things work.

The first bit of advice I can give you is not to ignore them.

The second bit of advice I can give you is to insist on speaking to a representative in a UK call centre.

The good news is that I doubt your debt has got to a very serious stage yet - utilities do not tend to use overseas call centres for complex cases, where things need to be agreed that might be "of script" etc. So, I expect that your account is currently with their "first line" collections team, thus the calls from India.

All the Utilities have to act with social responsibility and sensitivity (this is governed by their regulator) and, as you have a young child, limited income and not a massive outstanding amount, I'm sure you can sort something out with them.

My best advice would be to contact them again and ensure you are talking to a credit management representative in a UK call centre - have your meter reading handy (if you are going to get an agreement with them, it's best to know exactly where you're up to now). You need to explain your situation in detail and they are obliged to come up with a suitable plan for you. The chances are you will be able to avoid a prepayment meter if you agree to a realistic payment plan and stick to it, but if a PP meter is the best option, then don't be frightened of it - it will enable you to pay off the debt at an amount you can really afford while at the same time making sure your debt doesn't get any bigger.

Someone before mentioned that this is a priority debt and they are right - I don't want to scare you but, if you igmore this one, they can and will take the matter to a court and they can get a warrant to enter your home and either disconnect the supply, or (more likely) fit a card meter whether you want one or not.

I'm sure it won't come to this and, as I said before, it sounds like to are only at the early stage of the collections process, so I'm sure you can sort something out with them, but please do treat this one as a priority - you'll feel so much better when it's sorted.

I hope this helps a bit.....

Thank you Marthasdad, it really does help me and your right, I'll take a meter reading just before i call them, hopefully they will be sympathetic and allow me to continue paying with my budget card. If it comes to it that I will have to have a pre ayment meter, well I don't like the idea but if it will help me then so be it, I was just a bit worried about scare stories i've heard about pre payment meters costing more than the norm. thanks again for your reply hun xx

Could I perhaps mention to them that my OH is pursuing Bankruptcy? would this help me at all? x

Marthasdad

Bluebelle72 wrote: »

Thank you Marthasdad, it really does help me and your right, I'll take a meter reading just before i call them, hopefully they will be sympathetic and allow me to continue paying with my budget card. If it comes to it that I will have to have a pre ayment meter, well I don't like the idea but if it will help me then so be it, I was just a bit worried about scare stories i've heard about pre payment meters costing more than the norm. thanks again for your reply hun xx

No worries at all - you really aren't in as deep as you might fear - just make sure you insist you are talking to one of their credit management team in the UK - these people are trained to help you whilst ensuring they get their money in reasonable time - they will help and I guarantee you WILL feel better!!:T

lmclean100

Hi

Can't offer much on this as I think other posters have given good advise.

But thought I'd put my penny's worth in about Scottish Power, this happened about three years ago before the big increase in fuel prices. I used to be with them and was persued by the Indian call centre too, even although I didn't have any debt with them and was in credit - I paid a fixed amount every month.

The wee man in the call centre wanted to increase my gas payments to £60 from £30 and the electricty to £50 from £20. When I asked "why would I want to increase my monthly payments when I'm already in credit on my gas account by £150 and on my electricity account by £120", the wee man pretended not to understand me (he'd had no problem until then although I had problems understanding him and didn't really get the odd comment about Eastenders). I finally realised that I was going to really lose it with him and asked if my account was paying for their Christmas party. Didn't get a response to that one.

Finally, I just hung up and didn't answer any more of their calls. I did phone Scottish Power and got a wee wuman in Glasgow. She was great sorted everything out, she couldn't understand why the call centre in India want to increase my monthly payments. But in the end when I was hounded by the Indian call centre again about three months later decided to go back to Scottish Gas who have been brilliant.

Bluebelle72

To update you all, I just called scottish power and spoke to a young lady, who gave me two options, I could either continue on a payment plan on the condition that I pay at least 25% of the balance outstanding up front which would be £87.04, or I could have a pre payment meter which I would have to pay £15 per week for the debt, after about a month of paying this, it could be lowered to £10 per week if need be. She assured me that it is a cheaper option (by about 1p) anyway.
I will continue to pay weekly for my electric by payment card, but interestingly she also told me that they would be phasing out weekly payment schemes in favour of monthly cash payments! Not sure I like that idea so, i'll either go pre payment for electric too at that point or I'll change my supplier when the debt for the gas is paid off. Thanks for all your advice guys xx

Bluebelle72

Oh I forgot to say, I chose the pre payment meter, which will be fitted on 3rd September and I don't have to pay anything on the gas til then! (A good thing?) x