Can't afford outgoings now out of work...

mandi

Write to the Debit company and offer them £1.00 a month as explained already , dont ask them if you can pay , tell them. Dont take any of the " we can only accept a minimum payment of X " Stick to your guns .

I know that payments for gas/elec can be taken directly from benefit ( a payment for the arrears & a small amount for current use ) , not sure if JSA will do the same , but Im sure someone will advise you .

wontfallforit

MrsTine wrote: »

I am guessing it's £100 a month due to the account being in serious arrears...

Possibly. But this debt can be transferred to a prepaid meter (if the bill isn't settled, forced conversion to a prepaid meter might be on the cards), whereby the OP buys gas/lec tokens and uses them in the normal way, yet gets a little less energy in return for his payments, thanks to the deduction of some of his debt each time he tops up.

Might be worth checking whether or not any interest would be applied to this debt, though. Paying a debt applied to prepaid meters can be shady business, but at least the OP would still have his gas/lec switched on, and would be making some headway in regards to clearing his arrears.