Posting on behalf of very worried friend

macman

The first thing to do is read the meter, compare it to the 2/09 reading and work out what is actually owed! About 10 minutes work required. The CAB can't advise on a theoretical debt that may not even exist.
Assuming she has been paying something each month since then, it's highly unlikely that she has used £1,500 of gas that she has not paid for. That would be about about £83pm consumption unpaid for over 18m-highly dubious that any utility co. could get the consumption level that badly wrong.
They won't cut her off, they will set up an agreed repayment scheme for her over the period that the debt has accumulated.

davidgmmafan

Regards to prepayment meters they can't be fitted if the meter is above a certain height (not sure what this is, would guess at six foot). Also they cannot be fitted if the pipies are owned by and IGT. This is usually only the case in relatively new properties.

I'd do some manual calculations or just give the reading to the gas company. They won't disconnect if they can avoid it as that's not a good way to get the money paid.

Wildfire

emily_jackson wrote: »

She just wanted to know if legally they could cut her off and leave her and the baby with no gas or hot water

Gas is not considered an essential necessity like electricity is, therefore in situations where a prepayment meter cannot be fitted for safety reasons, there is no vulnerability at the property, and the customer cannot afford to meet the repayments, the energy supplier can legally disconnect the gas supply.

The energy company will only do this as a last resort, and if your friend is able to come to any sort of reasonable payment arrangement, be it a prepayment meter or a payment plan, they will not disconnect.

davidgmmafan

Wildfire is right, although they sometimes have schemes where they won't cut off in Winter, clearly that's of no help now. For now your friend needs to bite the bullet and await the bill to see if there is a problem. To be honest I'm astounded they can work out the bill. I being serious here I used to stare at it blankly and never be able to make head nor tail of it.

If there's a problem post again and people will try to help.

undaunted

molerat wrote: »

They cannot simply cut her off but they can insist on a pre payment meter which, if the debt is as large as she thinks, will be a good idea. How long has it taken to build up to this figure ? Has she got some meter readings available and are the correct cu m or 100's cu ft figures being used. When was the last time the meter was read ?

Who says "they can insist on a pre payment meter"? They can certainly offer one but as far as I'm aware there is nothing whatsoever in law that entitles them to insist (in fact I believe their license obligation is supposedly to offer all payment options).

If she is on benefits Fuel Direct may offer her a better alternative (no need to worry about the energy going off, having to rely on emergency credit etc - see the recent related thread on the problems faced by those on pre payment meter or http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/news/1-4-million-people-living-in-homes-that-cut-off-their-energy-supply-warns-consumer-focus) It also doesn't cost you to come off Fuel Direct again in the future whilst some energy companies will charge to remove a pre payment meter even if they were happy to fit it for free and/or it was a past occupier who acquired it.

Depending who her supplier is there may also be a social tarrif available which could help your friend - see examples here
http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/energy-help-and-advice/your-energy-questions


Either way disconnection is supposed to be a last resort in any situation & with a young child in the house, winter looming and a reasonable offer on the table it should be far less likely in this case. They would also have to give notice of any intention to disconnect and, if the meter is inside the property, she does not actually have to let them into her home without a court order (which you would also receive advance notice of hearing for & an opportunity to put your case) so she will have plenty of time & opportunity to work something out before things reach that stage.

Have a look here & if things get to the stage of being threatened with disconnection she can contact Consumer Fcous for free help & advice

http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/energy-help-and-advice/your-energy-questions

SwanJon

undaunted wrote: »

Who says "they can insist on a pre payment meter"? They can certainly offer one but as far as I'm aware there is nothing whatsoever in law that entitles them to insist (in fact I believe their license obligation is supposedly to offer all payment options).

Yup, offer them, and if the customer doesn't accept any of them "they can insist on a pre payment meter"

undaunted wrote: »

If she is on benefits Fuel Direct may offer her a better alternative. It also doesn't cost you to come off Fuel Direct again in the future whilst some energy companies will charge to remove a pre payment meter even if they were happy to fit it for free and/or it was a past occupier who acquired it.

One thing to be aware of with Fuel Direct (or at least was last time I worked with it) is that if your benefit changes, they tend to stop your FD payments, but not tell you or the supplier. The first you hear is a bill.

undaunted wrote: »

Depending who her supplier is there may also be a social tarrif available which could help your friend - see examples here
http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/energy-help-and-advice/your-energy-questions

Absolutely - for future consumption. This won't apply to any outstanding balances.
You may, however, be able to get help from a utility funded charity. Energy & water suppliers have them, and you can ask for help with any bill - even if it is not from the associated supplier.

undaunted wrote: »

Either way disconnection is supposed to be a last resort in any situation & with a young child in the house, winter looming and a reasonable offer on the table it should be far less likely in this case.

I think we are all getting ahead of ourselves. So far there is no bill, no outstanding balance, no offers on the table, no threats of disconnection.
First thing would be to phone the supplier with a reading, and ask to go on a payment plan (any payment plan - DD, FD or a weekly card) to spread future costs (and maybe any balance).

molerat

The op has not posted any meter readings, confirmed if the friend has actually read the meter since Feb 09 or stated how much has been paid towards energy useage.

undaunted

SwanJon wrote: »

Yup, offer them, and if the customer doesn't accept any of them "they can insist on a pre payment meter"

Again, this is a serious question, who says so?

As I understand it even if a warrant is applied for that warrant gives a right of entry to either fit a pre payment meter or disconnect supply.

If the customer chooses to stand their ground however & says okay either we can agree a payment plan or you can enter and you can disconnect the supply but you may not fit a pre payment meter on what basis would you suggest the supplier can insist upon that meter going in?

SwanJon

Okay, I accept that, on a technicality, you are right.
Maybe we should reword that - "they can insist on removing the credit meter"

undaunted wrote: »

If the customer chooses to stand their ground & says you can disconnect the supply but you may not fit a pre payment meter.

Can't imaging many people will take that option - the balance remains payable and they'd be without energy.
But hey, they stood their ground to prove undaunted right.