what do i do very large electricity bill?????

niki176

hi really need some help and need to know where we stand, i have an electricity bill of 2500 its been building up over a couple of years,not paying enough and now they want the money within 6 months, i really want to pay but the amounts they are looking for are ridiculous they want the amount cleared within 12 months at the latest, our usage is 165 a month a larege house with electric storage heaters,plus all the usual stuff a family has,no gas though,we are on a debt management scheme and are stuggling as it is i spoke to someboby at sothern electric and they want around 350/400 a month ideally which there is no way i can pay cpuold just about manage the 165 usage but what about the debt???we are looking to move in the near future as we cannot afford to stay they mentioned about a prepay meter but dont want to go down that route as will probably cost more a month and as i am on a tight budget am worrid my electicity will run out and there is a couple of days till i can get some money to out in please some advive needed,i wanted to change supplier but cant because of debt.

Premier_2

Those are your only options I'm afraid. Either negotiate a repayment plan, request a PPM (as the repayments are usually limited, but obviously spread over a longer period) or they will eventually install a PPM whether you want one or not.

Visit the Debt Free Wannabe board and see if they can help cut down on your total outgoings so making something available to repay your debts.

energy99

Depending on your supplier and income you may be eligible for a grant.

If your supplied by either EDF of B Gas give these guys a call, Energy Trust 01733 421060 and request an application. You may be supprised.

Other than that i could only suggest a prepayment meter. Now most of the suppliers charge the same for a credit meter as they do for a prepayment meter.

Hope this helps.

Keepgoing_2

Definitely go for a prepayment meter! It is nothing to be worried about. I found it really helpful. Certainly with EDF, and I imagine other companies too, it costs EXACTLY THE SAME per unit as other methods of paying.

I too had a huge debt. They only take £5 per week off for the huge debt! And the rest goes on my actual power. Honestly, it is by far the best solution in your situation.

There is always 'emergency credit' on the meter, so if you do find yourself totally stuck, you'll still be able to have power.

When they installed mine, it was a huge weight off my mind. No more phone calls chasing the money etc.

spiro

I dont see how they have let it biuld up to £2500. Were you getting estimated bills and have now received a catch up bill (actual reading)?

Your post says they want it cleared in 6 months and 12 months, which is it?

With a ppm they can only receover debt at an agreed rate that you can afford and as there is no interest its a very cheap 'loan'.

The other problem is, if you move and choose another supplier you existing supplier is likely to want all the money within a few months of moving because obviously you will then no longer have an ongoing supplier/customer relationship.

dogshome

Hi niki176 - I take it from your phrase " Not paying enough", that you were paying a fixed amount by monthly Direct Debit, in which case:
1) Was this a case where you were just not getting bills until recently?
If you were not getting Bills, your supplier under the 'Back Billing Agreement' should not be billing you for anything prior to 12 months before the date of the first bill you recieved.

2) Was this a case where you were getting Bills which showed an ever increasing Debt figure, but your supplier never asked for higher monthly D/D payments?
In this instance whilst you are at fault for not picking up on the rising debt, your supplier is also culpable because they are supposed to take D/D's at a level that will pay for your annual consumption, which they would have known at the end of year one, but failed to act upon.
In these cases, the usual policy is to give the customer the same amount of time to pay off the debt, as it took to build up - Which in your case is 2 years, not 9 months

If either of the above fits your circumstances.
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME on the phone - WRITE to your supplier

mattcanary

Is this £2500 based upn a real meter reading and has the meter been changed during the period this debt built up. If so, the bills amy not be correct.

£2500 is an awful large amount of arrears when you have been paying by DD, even if it hasn't been enough. Makes me think there might be something wrong somewhere.