massive bill massive direct debit

akashahelen

I am sure there are other threads like this but cant find them so sorry to ask again.
I moved into this house a year ago.
The direct debit was set for £58 i had moved from a terraced cottage so thought nothing of the amount. I thought it was reasonable.
6 months later i got a bill for £750.
They told me i had not been paying enough. I was really upset but had to pay it so upped the direct debit.
My income is low but i have been struggling to pay it. I then lost my job.
I managed to get another but there was a 2 weeks with no money then i started with agency where i get paid weekly.
I phoned Eon and told them that i was canceling the direct debit and i would pay £100 then then the extra £50 before the next direct debit was due.
They told me this was fine as long as i reset up the direct debit. I told them this was my intention.
I phoned them yesterday and they told me they were going to reset it and it would now be £225 per month.
They said the meter readings i gave showed consumption of high amount and now i had to pay £75 on top of what was arranged before.
I don't know what i am going to do. Its an old property no loft lagging.
I cant afford to pay that amount i don't earn enough.
They said pre payment meter but the land lord stipulates in contract that is not to happen in this house as it is rented.
Eon told me to sign up to a tarrif on line that would make the bills cheaper and bring them down to £208 but i would be locked in that and couldn't move if i signed up for it.

Can anyone help or advice me ?

Premier_2

Start cutting down on consumption now!!!

You've been paying less than £700p.a. yet you've been using in excess of £2000p.a., probably much more as that was based on the summer period only.

Start taking readings of actual usage and monitor what you are actually consuming and take steps to reduce it now.

A site such as imeasure may help you with this

Regarding moving to the cheaper tariff, you won't be allowed to switch supplier whilst you have an outstanding debt anyway, and if they are suggesting a monthly DD payment of £208 and you continue to use £183 per month as you have been, it'll take 30 months to pay off the existing debt (perhaps a bit less as you will be on a cheaper tariff). Any lock in will be a lot shorter than this, so take their advice.

Fire_Fox

Either organise to get the house properly insulated OR move to a better insulated property OR get used to the fact that you cannot afford to use the heating OR any combination. If you are on a low income check that you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to, and look at all of your outgoings to see where can be cut back in order to pay this debt off. Putt an electric blanket on your bed, spare duvet on the sofa, wrap up warm, turn the shower off while you are shampooing, laundry at 30C, stop using the tumble dryer.

savemoney

Try and cut down where possible as others have said. Can you stay around at mates/relatives house on some evenings so as to cut down

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hi akashahelen,

I completely agree with Premier, you do need to reduce the amount of energy that you are using, contact the energy efficiency department and have a look at the interactive house on the E.ON website.

You will need to pay for your usage and pay off the debt over a number of months, it sounds like E.ON have already offered to spread this for you.

I also think changing the tariff is a good idea, as you have been advised it does make you a saving.

Just to clarify one of the points that you made, that your land lord does not want pre-payment meters. A customer (tenant) can have pre-payment meters, as the account is in their name and they are responsible for paying the bills.

E.ON can also fit pre-payment if necessary, even if the property is rented.

Helena

Mynewt

PPM will be a good method to manage your debit balance depending on circumstances they cna in theory take as little as £3.00 per week per fuel for the arrears although this obviously willtkae quite some time to clear so any payment higher than this if affordable would be recommended.

Before the installation of PPM, have you considered swapping to E.on's online plan if memory serves they have a varietry of online offerings like other providers and these would undoubtedly be far cheaper than any of their "offline" plans. I think their fix online will give discounts of at least 19% (i've had a quick check on some comparrion sites and have seen discounts as high as 24% but it varies by region). It also appears the prices are fixed so you would have some price stability as well as the discounted energy.

I would assume that e.on would also have some form of consumption tracking facility if so you would be able to see the reduction in your consumption.

Premier_2

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena wrote: »

...Just to clarify one of the points that you made, that your land lord does not want pre-payment meters. A customer (tenant) can have pre-payment meters, as the account is in their name and they are responsible for paying the bills.

E.ON can also fit pre-payment if necessary, even if the property is rented.

Helena

They can, but a couple of points to also remember.

1. If the landlord clearly would be unhappy having a PPM fitted in his property, a tenant may find themselves issued with a notice to quit, if not under Section 8, Ground 12 (breach of tenancy agreement), then under Section 21, if they were to go ahead and do so without his permission.

2. The landlord has a right to expect his property to be returned to him at the end of the tenancy in the same condition as which it was let (fair wear & tear excepted).
I understand Eon charge £50 or so to change the meter to a credit type, perhaps a charge the OP doesn't wish to incur in order to comply with this requirement.

Mynewt

Doesn't apply unfortuantely Premier - the meter is not the property of the landlord so the tenant and supplier can do whatever they wanted with the meter, so long as the remainder of the property remains without alteration, the landlord's property will be in the same condition that it was let in. As the landlord does not own the meter, he has no responsibility regarding its maintenace and equally no responsibility or consideration regarding its exchange.

If a landlord were to attempt to break your tenancy on these grounds you would have very strong grounds for litigation under the breach of contract terms. (I have seen a very few cases where this has occured and the tenant has won in all cases, admittedly however i've not had sufficient time or authority to review every single note and comment on cosnumer accounts where this has taken place so there may and quite likely was alot more to it than just this).

Katie-Kat-Kins

I'd suggest talking to your landlord about the level of your bills and ask whether he would consider lagging the loft and installing any other energy saving measures such as double glazing, cavity wall insulation etc.

These would make the property more desireable when he comes to rent it again and you may even be able to get grants.

Also you don't say what sort of heating you have but make sure you are using it correctly, it is properly maintained and in good working order and that you are on the correct sort of tarriff.

helenakasha

Thank you all for your responses. I must admit i feel like i have been slapped on the wrist by energy company and some of you too.
I am going to have a word with my partners dad to see if he can help me lag the loft and Emerson heater. I work but am also disabled so doing it my self i is not an option.
my consumption has gone up because of increases and obviously losing heat though the loft.
It is an old Emerson heater with no jacket on. The water goes cold with in half an hour of heating it up.
I have switched tariffs. The man at Eon to be honest was very helpful. £225 per month on tax credits and low wage is virtually impossible to manage as i am on a low wage.
I have no debts apart from this as i try to manage my money.
The heating has been switched off and i have piled the woollies on.
I must admit i am blooming freezing.
Thanks for your responses though. They have been helpful. It was nice of you to take the time to reply.