Pre-payment Gas Meter Problem

Fire_Fox

fedup100pc wrote: »

I’ve been round the house today and turned off all but two of the radiators to save gas, and, without fail, I now wear my coat in the house all day and every day. I close blinds and use thick curtains. It is also impossible for me to pay the debt off as I can only afford £1 per-week and I owe about £1200, so I’m stuck with my unsympathetic supplier.

One other thing that is really worrying me, though, is that I already suffer from mental health problems and I have noticed in the last few days that being freezing cold all the time is making me very irritable, even angry. I’m not sure I could survive the winter at this rate. I feel as if I’m close to having a mental breakdown.

Like another member has just pointed out, something has fundamentally changed in recent weeks with the amount of money the meter is taking off.

Do you live on your own? If so could you move to a smaller flat where you will get the benefit of neighbouring flats heating? Could you take in a lodger for an extra tax-free income stream? I don't think you are being fair to the Eon reps - part of this current situation is their company, part the post office and part you! If you can only afford £1 per week off the debt, then even if the debt was wiped you wouldn't be able to keep up with your need for warmth.

Whilst it isn't exactly warm at present it really isn't that cold - a coat isn't the best way to keep warm as they are more designed to keep wind out than heat in. As I have suggested, try two layers of fleece sweaters or a fleece plus a thin bodywarmer. Spare duvet on the sofa and electric underblanket on the bed: sit in bed with the blanket on and watch TV or read if it's icy out ... lovely!

If you are struggling with your mental health then you need to see your family doctor ASAP. It may be you are getting seasonal affective disorder with the nights drawing in (I have been diagnosed with this). Humans have survived thousands of years without central heating - in many parts of the world they still are. One of the best things you can do for almost all types of mental health problem is physical activity, so get out of the house every day and go for a brisk walk or even a jog. :j

fedup100pc

Hi there Fire Fox
The only reason I am paying £1-per-week of the debt is because it is costing me a fortune per week for the gas I am using. As I have already explained, if the meter wasn’t taking so much money off I would be able to increase the debt repayment. I was paying £5-per week of the debt (this was mentioned in an earlier post) prior to something fundamentally changing a couple of weeks ago when my meter wasn’t taking so much money off.

I appreciate it isn’t really cold yet which is all the more reason why I would like the problem sorted out before it gets to sub zero conditions. If I can’t afford to have the heating on much at the moment then it doesn’t bear thinking about what will happen when the really hard frosts come along with the white stuff.

Oh, by the way, Malc better pull his finger out and get something sorted pretty quickly. I’m in the process of seeing about having the fireplace reopened up and having a solid fuel fire installed to keep me warm and cook my meals on (I can just picture them sizzling lamb chops). No more gas then. ‘Tis bye bye eon for good.

Premier_2

fedup100pc wrote: »

...Oh, by the way, Malc better pull his finger out and get something sorted pretty quickly....

Now there's gratitude ! :eek:

C_Mababejive

fedup100pc wrote: »

Yes, I still have the receipts (I think). I suspect the money is up in the ether. The post office claim the money was sent via the then powergen card and eon claimed not to have received it. It’s vanished into thin air.

If you have all the receipts and your company claim not to have received the payments then maybe you need to issue a small claim to have the money returned?

fedup100pc

Surely I shouldn’t need to take my energy supplier to the cleaners if common sense prevailed.

C_Mababejive

fedup100pc wrote: »

Surely I shouldn’t need to take my energy supplier to the cleaners if common sense prevailed.

Unfortunately a lot of it is inertia and lack of ownership by hard driven call centre staff. Sometimes you need to do something to make them take notice. Write to them and put then on notice of impending civil action.

stewie_griffin

C_Mababejive wrote: »

If you have all the receipts and your company claim not to have received the payments then maybe you need to issue a small claim to have the money returned?

Or send them to e.on (or at least photocopies) so that they can locate the payments as Malc has suggested.

fedup100pc wrote: »

We all know it is much more expensive for the customer to obtain the gas through a prepayment meter.

This used to be the case but with most suppliers it isn't the case any more. E.on's gas prices are exactly the same regardless of whether you have a credit meter or prepayment meter. The only difference is that with credit meters there are normally more tariffs available and you can get (small) discounts by paying by Direct Debit.

fedup100pc

stewie_griffin wrote: »

Or send them to e.on (or at least photocopies) so that they can locate the payments as Malc has suggested.

In theory it sounds like a good idea. I don’t know if it’s just me but I always seem to hit a brick wall with eon. I sent correspondence in informing them of my changes in circumstances in order to have the debt reduced and they claimed they had no correspondence at their end (another call centre blunder).
So now you see why I just feel like giving up?

stewie_griffin

fedup100pc wrote: »

In theory it sounds like a good idea. I don’t know if it’s just me but I always seem to hit a brick wall with eon. I sent correspondence in informing them of my changes in circumstances in order to have the debt reduced and they claimed they had no correspondence at their end (another call centre blunder).
So now you see why I just feel like giving up?

Try sending it by recorded delivery to the head office/directors address and then you'll know if they've received it or not

markharding557

fedup100pc if you realy don't owe what they claim then you need to get on their butts asap.
your problem looks to me like it's eons tarriff,high rate for so many units and then if i understand correctly deferring this if you don't put credit in.
terrible tarriff,makes me glad i'm on ebico.