Can Scottish Power do this?

legofsalmon

Hi, I've just been on to S.P. because they wanted to raise my DD from £51 to £87. I managed to get them down to £67.50. The initial payment was low because I'd originally got into a bit of debt with them due to losing my job, and they accepted that I'd only be able to pay them a small amount because they were not the centre of the universe when it comes to paying bills.
I asked about how long I'd been with them, because I knew I was in a 12 month contract and I have every intention of leaving, as they've been absolutely awful and lied to me from the beginning (which I only discovered after contracts were signed etc.).
They said my fixed price will end soon and it will cost me £30 to leave them! They also said they needed the full balance repaying within 3 months. At £315 I obviously can't afford that, and with them taking over 1/4 of my income I can't afford to stay with them either.
Can anyone offer any advice please?
Before anyone suggests I get a job, I've been trying desperately to, but employers aren't too keen on pregnant ladies.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Emma

Andy_WSM

legofsalmon wrote: »

I'd only be able to pay them a small amount because they were not the centre of the universe when it comes to paying bills.

You wouldn't be saying that if they cut you off for not keeping up with your bills. Soon miss the utilities when they aren't there!

legofsalmon

Thanks for the helpful post, do you suggest that instead I get my gas cut off, water cut off or lose my home because I can't pay the mortgage? Presumably you're an expert on the matter.

wuckfit

Might be worth posting a Statement of Affairs over on the Debt Free Wannabee board, and letting the experts in there see if they can find a way to help you lower your outgoings/increase your income and allow you to start getting on an even keel.

Also you could find ways of reducing your electricity usage, I think there are some quite novel ways to do this, such as if you have a thermos flask, when you make a cuppa, fill the flask as well and use this for subsequent cups.
If you have the oven on to cook, when you put the oven off, pop a couple of pyrex dishes of cold water in there to heat up the water for your washing up.
Get into the habit of switching off lights when you leave a room, switch the TV off at the switch instead of onto standby, things like that.

Before you do, take a note of your meter readings one day, and then again 24hrs later. that will give you an indication of your useage.
then try it again once you start making a concerted effort to lower your usage.

the_bandit

When your 12months with ScotPower has completed it isn't normal for them to be able to make a charge for you to leave so not sure where they get that from. What is the name of your existing tariff?

You won't be able to leave SP until you have paid your debt, they will just block any attempt to move when contacted by your prospective new supplier to cease supply.

Regarding paying £315 within 3 months I believe they can do this. At the end of the day it is something you have used that they want paying for so fair's fair. The next step by them will be to pass onto debt collectors.

legofsalmon

I realise I need to pay back what I've used, I have no argument with that at all, my problem was with the extra charge (fix n flex tarrif), and the time limit on paying it back when I'd had the £51 agreement in place which started in May. I thought that, like the other companies I'm dealing with, they were being sensible and helping me to get out of debt with them by paying them off a little more slowly, rather than giving me demands that they surely realise are unachievable. I never thought I'd sing N-Power's praises but they have been brilliant with the gas payments, thank goodness they wouldn't let me switch gas supply.