Gas Prepayment Meter Fuel Poverty Help?

darkside_2

I have a gas prepayment meter, i am with npower and they are saying i owe them £1,300 i live in an average 4 bedroom house, every time i buy credit it's taking half or more off me for debt, because of this im left days on end sometimes with no gas and no gas means no hot water, i have two kids in house and having no heating or no hot water is not very nice especially now as the weather is getting worse, i don't know what im going to do in the heart of winter! I am going to phone them but dont know what to say really and don't want fobbed off by them, basically im in fuel poverty im a single parent and on benefits. When i phone npower does anyone know what i should say? looking for any advise please? Also i cant switch companies as im in debt.

Thanks

Premier_2

Contacting the supplier is the correct thing to do.

If you are struggling with the repayment rate, explain this to them. The supplier has a duty to set a repayment rate at an amount you can afford. Perhaps after you explain, they will agree to a lower repayment rate (albeit over a longer period)

undaunted

I'd suggest you consider contacting Consumer Focus if you have any problems with being fobbed off & ask if they can help you negotiate (suggesting this lady contacts Npower is in my opinion unlikely to succeeed as they are simply not a reasonable or easy to deal with company!)

With children in the house, being on benefits and winter looming there are probably better options than the pre payment meter seems to be offering (though they may charge to remove it even if they will now agree to do so) such as Fuel Direct & Social tarrifs. They supposedly have a License obligation to consider affordability that should prevent them leaving you in these circumstances (in my opinion it is not unusual for Npower to simply ignore it though)

Before you ring them have a look at Npowers schemes (First Step, Spreading Warmth etc) on their website (I doubt the call centre will flag them up for you)

http://www.npower.com/spreading_warmth/Content/Firststep/index.htm

and then Consumer Focus http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/news/1-4-million-people-living-in-homes-that-cut-off-their-energy-supply-warns-consumer-focus

Good luck

SwanJon

Undaunted makes some good points about social tariffs, but I think that going straight to Consumer Focus is more hassle than it's worth. There's nothing they can do until you have tried yourself with nPower.
As above, phone/write/email nPower asking for the weekly payment to be reduced. Tell them the benefits you are on, and ask about their social tariff.
Getting the meter removed is just not going to happen, so there is not point getting your hopes up. Part of the issue is that you are now paying for today's gas, and the gas you have used previously.

One option you might have is to look to a charity to see if they'll pay it off for you. You need to be a customer of the associated utility, but not neccesarily for the debt.
You could try nPower's First Step Fund (above), or if your electricity is with another supplier, try them.
www.edfenergytrust.org.uk/
www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/
www.energypeopletrust.com/
Quick google search - anyone know of one for Eon or SSE? (Or any other supplier?)
Can't find anything for Scottish Water, but for our other readers water companies offer something similar

davidgmmafan

I'm not 100% on what qualifies but if you are in reciept of certain benefits the supplier is supposed to set the meter to take some minimal amount per week (£3 rings a bell). Ask about the social tariff, if you have young children its worth asking them to remove the meter. If they say no you've lost nothing. You CAN still have the social tariff and be on prepayment.

The supplier DOES have a licence condition to consider or take into account a customers ability to pay, but I believe the Ombudsman's position is that ultimately it is a commercial decision so they cannot force a supplier to accept an offer.

I'm not clear from your original post but I imagine that balance was built up prior to you having the prepayment meter and is the reason it was installed?

C_Mababejive

The price of fuel is frightening these days isnt it?

I work full time,often anti social hours and last year during the big freeze, i wore thermal vests and similar in order to keep warm and try not to use the heating too much.

There was no chance of social tariffs for the likes of me.

davidgmmafan

In that case your best bet is an online tariff paying by DD. Not ideal but usually saves £2-£300 for the average user.

darkside_2

Thanks everyone for all your replies.

I plan on phoning npower first thing in Morning, If i phone and ask about the first step scheme is there anything specific i need to know to say to them? ( again dont want fobbed off)

Also is the social tariff in conjunction with the first step scheme or if i have say the first step scheme can i not have the social tariff?

Thanks again

specialsparky

Hi darkside, yes phone your supplier but les get some info sorted first.If you owe them £1300 then did they fit the meter to collect the debt? If so then you must explain that you cannot afford the current repayment plan, explain you have 2 children and a single parent. If you want to have the meter removed suggest that you pay through your benefits, you will get some as you have 2 children. Ask to pay through Fuel Direct which will pay off your debt and take account for your usage, all money will come directly from your benefits.
My main question to you is if you are single parent and have 2 children, why are you living in a 4 bed roomed house?
Good luck, but please remember if you have used power and have built up a debt then you will have to pay for it.

seafarers_wife

1st thing is to get the information from the meter and the internal meter settings

2nd thing is to call npower and ask how much you are paying back a week, then ask them to lower the drr to £3 if its not already at that level.

3rd thing is to ask for spreading warmth then lastly ask for a 1st step referal. you will be sent an application pack for the 1st step programme and it needs filling in and returning before a decision is made about going on that plan.

if first step accept your application, they will take over the general admin of your account and those on the call centre floor wont have anything to do with how your account is run, and if you do call through to them they will xfer you to the first step department.

darkside_2

seafarers_wife wrote: »

1st thing is to get the information from the meter and the internal meter settings

2nd thing is to call npower and ask how much you are paying back a week, then ask them to lower the drr to £3 if its not already at that level.

3rd thing is to ask for spreading warmth then lastly ask for a 1st step referal. you will be sent an application pack for the 1st step programme and it needs filling in and returning before a decision is made about going on that plan.

if first step accept your application, they will take over the general admin of your account and those on the call centre floor wont have anything to do with how your account is run, and if you do call through to them they will xfer you to the first step department.

Thanks for the step by step guide seafarers_wife it's much appreciated, now i know what to say and do makes a huge difference.