Problems with Atlantic Gas & Electric

CocoPopsLover

Due to personal reasons, I am unable to pay my gas and electric from next month, last month I had to call up to reduce the payment and after a lengthy disucssion they allowed me to do so

Last year, my bill was based on an estimated reading as me and my OH had to work away from home nearly all the time and never had a chance to submit meter reading so we are paying the arrears as well

If the gas company cut us off, which would be a worst case scenario what happens then? Do we live with no heating or do we approach another company to provide us with gas and electric? Im worried another company will say no because of arrears

Again this is worst case scenario but things seem to be heading that way!

Thanks in advance for responses

x

Morgan2010

First I'd take meter readings and submit them online to find out how much you owe. I'd phone Atlantic Energy and explain your situation. If there is a reason you can't pay explain. It's much cheaper for them to arrange some compromise with you than to end up taking you to court. Depending on how much you owe and how much you offer to pay they may ask you to fill in a income and expenditure form

Atlantic actually seem quite understanding and helpful (in comparison to British Gas who I'm dealing with for a friend)

I had a bill from Atlantic saying I owed them about £250 for the difference between my consumption and usage for the year ending in July. They increased my DD's for the following year to cover both my expected future use and the money owed. I phoned them and explained my situation (about to be made redundant) and agreed to pay future DD's based on last years use but not what I owed from last year and to repay the amount owned from last year when I received my redundancy payment.

Mid September 2009 I was made redundant and I expected my next quarterly bill to be produced so I just provided a meter reading (without being asked)and waited for a bill but didn't hear anything. I phoned them the start of this month and explained the situation again. The lady told me I'd been moved to six monthly billing and that my next bill would be in December and I could just wait until then and pay what I owned on that bill.

CocoPopsLover

I have spoken to them and they have said that they can offer me a £50 rebate for the year once my tax credits has come through but cannot do anything for me until then. I have been waiting 10 weeks for tax credits who keep saying they have lost my forms and I need to fill out another one.

I too owe about £250 on gas and £100 on electric and they reduced this months payments but have said next months payments have to go up. But as tax credits have asked me to fill out another form, I have to wait 10 working todays to receive that form then i have been told to wait a further 2 weeks for them to put the form on the system it if they receive it and three weeks for a referral if it is not found so im pretty upset about it all right now.

Iv never been in this situation before in my life so even though its not as bad as others, its got me pretty worked up

Morgan2010

I'd have another chat with them explain the continuing situation and ask them not to put the payment back up yet. If that doesn't help I'd speak to CAB, Consumer Direct (who refered me to Consumer Focus when I phoned about British Gas wanting to cut my friends gas off) or Debtline for advice. Good luck getting it sorted.

markharding557

it is likley atlantic will put you on a pp meter if you can't sort this out soon just thought you should be aware.

CocoPopsLover

markharding557 wrote: »

it is likley atlantic will put you on a pp meter if you can't sort this out soon just thought you should be aware.

I honestly dont mind doing that for a while even though it might be slightly more expensive right now but how do I pay them back?

Do they deduct money from the top ups I make or will they give me an installment plan?

markharding557

yes they would set the pp meter to deduct a set amount each week,this is usually negotiable.
about four years ago i had some arears and this was repaid at £5 pw(debt was £230)

CocoPopsLover

Oh okay! I think I could do that!

Thank you!

macman

If you let them disconnect you then no other company will sign you up while a debt remains, and of course you will have to pay a heavy charge for eventual reconnection. Not a very wise route to go down.

markharding557

CocoPopsLover wrote: »

Oh okay! I think I could do that!

Thank you!

if you wish you could request them to put pp meters in.
be aware they may be a bit more expensive over all,but you can change supplier after your debt is paid