NPower - About to apply for a Warrant;

SimIsOnTheUp

Hiya,

Having sorted out my Rent Arrears / Housing Benefit, I now need to sort out my next Priority debt; my Electric arrears owing to NPower.

I owe them £906.

The stage I'm at now is that one of their engineers is due to come out tomorrow, and replace my standard 'credit' meter with a 'prepayment' meter.

They were going to take £10.00 per week, to repay the debt.

However, I'm waiting on the DWP to get back to me regarding my recent ESA claim (they've told me it'll take another 2 - 3 weeks).

Once I have written proof of the ESA, NPower have said that they will then reduce the deductions down to £3.05 per week.

I called NPower today, and asked them if we could rearrange for their engineer to come out in two weeks time, and to fit the prepay meter then. That would then give me time for the ESA paperwork to get to me, and give me some breathing space.

They wouldn't budge.

If the guy can't get in tomorrow, they told me that NPower will do one of two things; Either they'll rearrange for the engineer to come out at a later date or they'll be going for a 'Warrant of Entry'.

Apparently, it's more likely at this stage that they'll go for the Warrant, which she said will take about 4 - 6 weeks by which time they'll fit the prepay meter and add a further £205 in costs. They also apparently have to turn up with the Police, which I'd really rather avoid

I told her that if I could pay it, I would.

The only money I have though is just short of £20 until the ESA goes through (and goodness knows how long that'll take).

I'm also in the process of getting my paperwork together for the CCCS, as I'm going for a Debt Relief Order. Just can't afford the £90 fee

At least I've had confirmation from the Council, that my Rent is going to be paid (and they're considering backdating it for the last month, when I send in my Doctor's note tomorrow).

Really don't know what to do about this NPower debt, but it looks like the 'best' (for want of a better word) thing I can do is to not let the engineer in tomorrow (I can't even afford to top the meter up), let the 'Warrant' go through in 4 - 6 weeks, and hopefully by then go for the DRO.

Any suggestions of an alternative course of action would be most appreciated.

Cheers,

Sim.

PS - At least I've been sober for 2 weeks and 2 days

SimIsOnTheUp

Any ideas?!

fatbelly

It's no great problem having a prepayment meter if the arrears are dealt with through a DRO

There is an npower trust fund but in your case I'd stick to the DRO plan I think.

SimIsOnTheUp

Thanks shocksoc and fatbelly.

Shocksoc -

Do you think that I should stop the guy from getting in and changing the meter this morning then?

So stressed out about this. Haven't slept.

SimIsOnTheUp

Have decided that I just can't afford to let this guy in.

I have £17 until my ESA claim goes through - next week / the week after next according to the JCP.

Really don't want to, but I'm going to have to let the Warrant go ahead.

Shocksoc335 -

I didn't think I was allowed to change suppliers, while owing so much money to NPower. Is it possible for me to change?

Saying that, I don't think there's much point as I'm going for the DRO asap.

Fuel Direct sounds like a good plan.

Just worried NPower won't want to know, as I've left it too late especially now this guy is due to come out today and change the meter.

Feel so down about this.

SimIsOnTheUp

Going to call CCCS for some advice, as I cant think straight.

Have had about 2 hours kip :-/

Thanks guys.

PNPSUKNET

Npower wont stop action against you, it would take them a few weeks to add the debt to the meter anyway as its all done via flows. If you dont let them in, it will jsut look like you wont keep to anything. If on a DRO soon, normaly it is a companys policy to refuse you a credit meter and fit a pre-payment meter. Fuel direct will be a no go as they fax the benefits agency the same dame.

SimIsOnTheUp

Thanks for your reply PNPSUKNET.

It is good to know that it takes a few weeks for the debt to be added to the meter. At least that gives me some breathing space.

What do you think is the best way to resolve this? (Bearing in mind that I only have £17 until my ESA goes through in 2+ weeks time).

dancingfairy

Gosh Sim, I don't know to be honest. It's a tough one and doesn't help if you have had so little sleep. Congratulations on staying sober and dealing with things - you are doing so well and you can get through this blip as well.
Have you managed to get through to CCCS yet?
Also if you didn't let the engineer in would the additional fees take you over the total for a DRO as that is what you need to consider.
Have you applied for a crisis loan from the job centre?
Have you been over to the bankruptcy board? I now there are some charities which provide fees to help people go bankrupt so maybe one of the charities will help with the fees for a DRO?
Hope you get things sorted.
df

SimIsOnTheUp

dancingfairy wrote: »

Gosh Sim, I don't know to be honest. It's a tough one and doesn't help if you have had so little sleep. Congratulations on staying sober and dealing with things - you are doing so well and you can get through this blip as well.
Have you managed to get through to CCCS yet?
Also if you didn't let the engineer in would the additional fees take you over the total for a DRO as that is what you need to consider.
Have you applied for a crisis loan from the job centre?
Have you been over to the bankruptcy board? I now there are some charities which provide fees to help people go bankrupt so maybe one of the charities will help with the fees for a DRO?
Hope you get things sorted.
df

Thanks df.

Hope you're well.

Yes, I got through to CCCS. The lady there has rather unnerved me, saying that if I don't let the NPower guy in, then they'll cut me off once they get the Warrant.

I told her that this contradicts what the NPower lady told me yesterday - ie - once they have the 'Warrant of Entry' in 4 - 6 weeks time, they'll fit a prepayment meter. She said "I give you my word that you will not be disconnected. It would go against your basic human rights, and we would always try and fit a prepayment meter first."

I am going to call NPower back now.

You make a good point regarding whether or not the extra costs from NPower would take me over the DRO £15K limit. I have to work this all out this afternoon. At the moment, I think I'm hovering around the £14,000 - £14,500 mark.

Re the Crisis Loan, no I haven't yet. Have put this off tomorrow. Really don't want to do this but I have no choice.

Thanks for the info re the Bankruptcy board / charities who help with the fees. As I can't even afford the £90 DRO fee, this is my first port of call now.

Am stressed to hell.

So annoyed that due to my alcoholism and depression, I'm in this mess. So annoyed that I defaulted on the £11 a week arrangement with NPower at the end of last year. What was I thinking?

The NPower guy has been and gone. He didn't come in.

I realise that this is not the ideal approach to dealing with this, but today it is my *only* option if I am to keep my electric for the next few weeks (and eat), while I work out what to do next.

Today it's a case of either eating or the electric. How grim? :-/

Cheers df,

Sim x

SimIsOnTheUp

Forgot to say, that when I spoke to the NPower rep yesterday, she said that if the engineer doesn't get in today then NPower will do one of two things -

Either -

1 / They'll give me 'one last chance' and rebook one last time, for an engineer to come out and fit the prepay meter asap.

OR -

2/ They'll apply to the Court for a 'Warrant of Entry' when they'll then fit the prepayment meter.

She said 2 is more likely at this stage.

She also said that it'll be an engineer, a locksmith and the Police, and that this will be in about 4 - 6 weeks time :-/

I'd really rather avoid this if at all possible.

Am having to force myself to just deal with one debt at a time, as this has been making me ill again.

At least the Rent is sorted. Should hear back from the Council by next week regarding the 'backdated Housing Benefit', now I've sent in my Doctor's note.

Cheers,

Sim.