HELP/Ideas please!

Oneleggedmum_2

Hi I am a single mum who is severely disabled. Up to last year I was also extremely unwell and needed the heating and gas fire on full blast 24/7 even in summer when it was really hot.

As a consequence I have run up a debt of over £1250. I have tried to reason with Eon but they have refused to allow me to pay over a long time at a rate that I can afford.

I managed to get hold of one person who said that I would be able to pay it off over a couple of years but she has been over-ruled and I am now being referred to a debt agency and they are also threatening to switch my electric and gas off within days - even though I had agreed to set up a direct debit.

I have been unemployed am unable to afford to pay this amount all at once. I rely upon technology such as my wheelchair, hoists and through-floor lifts, all of which take up massive amounts of electricity.

If anyone has any ideas of how I can either get Eon to listen or get some money to pay it off please let me know. I need help quickly!

dogshome

Hi oneleggedmum - Eon will have an unpublicised Social Tariff for low income households and the best way to access these is thro' the Citizens Advice Bureau, who will also assist in dealing with Eon over the accumulated debt
All the best

specialsparky

Hi you need to register with Eon as vulnerable, this should mean that they will not disconnect your supply.
As you are severly disabled and a single mum you will be receivng benefit. You will be able to pay for your debt and future consumption through something called Fuel Direct, this is organided by the DWP and Utility companies and allows for payment to be deducted from your benefits before you receive them. Don't worry there is a limit.
Do this and your worries go away and your debt is taken care off. Tell Eon this is what you want to do. If you don't do this then you may well end up with PP meters installed.

Malc (Eon Representative) why has your company not offered this means of payment to this lady?

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi Oneleggedmum,

Specialsparky is right we need to be made aware of all the vulnerabilities in this case to help us manage the situation correctly and in a suitable manner, I’m very sorry if this hasn’t happened yet. Do we already have a detailed record of your individual situation?

Fuel Direct maybe a good way to repay the balance at a manageable amount, this is usually £3 per week per fuel, on top you would need to pay the on going consumption for energy used.

Fuel Direct has to be requested via the benefits agency and they must agree to the arrangement. This is their decision and not the suppliers.

The most important thing is to contact our vulnerable customer team as soon as possible, this team is specially placed in dealing with cases like this and have a much wider knowledge regarding the ways we can help.

If you would like to email me on the address in my profile, I’ll provide you with any assistance I can and the contact details for the vulnerable team.

Brian

specialsparky

Not exactly accurate Malc(Eon) your team can deal with Fuel Direct and request that a customer goes on to Fuel Direct, saves the customer having to do all the hard work.

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi specialsparky,

The process we have to follow is, the customer must first approach the Benefits Office to see if they will be eligible. E.ON can not do this on the customers behalf.

If and when the Benefits Office agree that a customer is eligible for Fuel Direct, the Benefits Office send a confirmation letter to the supplier. Only at this stage can the supplier get involved.

Brian

specialsparky

Hi Malc, just trying to help our friend here. I am sorry but you can approach the DWP for her and as long as you have tried all other means to collect this debt. It is possible for you to force Fuel Direct on a customer so I know this is correct. The local DWP will ask all the questions about whta you have done but at the end of the day this is all that can be done to help this customer.......go for it Malc, find someone to sort it.

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi specialsparky,

I agree, just trying to help as well.

I’ve re-checked this scenario and you’re right, in high risk cases, i.e. when the customer can not either get out to the Benefits Office or can not contact the Benefits Office successfully, we can write to the Benefits Office with the customers request on their behalf.

P.S. it’s Brian by the way, Malc’s responding to a different thread at the minute.