Can eon force me to change to a pre payment meter

Raistling

Hi I'm currently with eon for both gas and electricity we fell behind with our bills because my wife had to take some time off work, we are behind by about £600. Three days ago my wife called them and explained the situation she told them we would be able to pay half the bill at the end of the month and was told that if we paid half at the end of the month they would set up a payment scheme to pay the rest off, so everything was fine until we just had a phone call from eon telling us that if we didn't make a payment today for at least half the bill we would be cut off our only other option was to have a pre payment meter fitted, we explained what the other person said and was told that they wouldn't of said that. Our landlord is saying we can't have a pre payment meter and eon is saying they will get a warrant to fit it, our land lord is also saying that fitting it would be a breach of our tenancy and he will chuck us out, so my question is... (1) can they get a warrant to fit the meter? (2) can they demand half the payment today? and (3) why would they demand all this when we already agreed to pay half at the end of the month?
Any help or advise would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Dave.

TIMMY85

Notes from your call should be there on their system but a collections agents job is to take payment and they get targeted on cash collection. Eon can get a warrant to change the meter but it would not get processed that quickly and you get notified of the date that they will gain entry. Any formal arrangement will stop the warrant even when it has been granted by the court. Write or send an email to their complaints team keeping a record of the content and ensure that any payment agreement which is set up is adhered to - they may not set up another!
Landlords can include meter changes in the tenancy agreement but would only be able to stop the change if you moved out before entry. Eon want their money and would probably not get involved in a 3rd party dispute.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hi Raistling,

It sounds like the first person you spoke to didn't set up any sort of payment arrangement with you and this is the reason that the debt collection follow up in continuing.

We would normally agree to payment arrangements before going down the warrant stage, but it does depend on the individual account and if arrangements have not been kept to in the past and also how long it has been since we last received payments.

I think the first thing is to do is make sure the account is billed accurately up to date.

Then ask if you can negotiate a payment plan that you can stick to.

As you know the alternative is to have the pre-payment meters fitted and pay the debt through the meter.

As the account is set up in your name, you are responsible for the account so we can install the meters if we needed to, without the LL's permission.

Let me know if you need any further info.

Helena

Raistling

Thanks for your reply, if I understand you correctly, your saying that eon can get me thrown out of my house even though we are more than happy to pay half the bill at the end of the month i.e 13 days? and the rest on a payment plan, this seems overly harsh.

Cardew

Raistling wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, if I understand you correctly, your saying that eon can get me thrown out of my house even though we are more than happy to pay half the bill at the end of the month i.e 13 days? and the rest on a payment plan, this seems overly harsh.

That is not what was said.

You must understand that some people will promise that they will stick to payment plans simply to buy time.

Any electricity company can apply for a warrant to fit a PPM when they deem it necessary. They certainly don't want to fit these meters.

Your landlord cannot prevent the fitting of such a meter - unless he wants to pay off your arrears.

If you think it harsh, then go to Court and challenge the issue of a warrant. If you have no history of defaulting on payment plans, it won't even get to court before the end of the month - let alone a warrant issued. The court(and EON) will bend over backwards to help in genuine cases.

TIMMY85

Raistling wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, if I understand you correctly, your saying that eon can get me thrown out of my house even though we are more than happy to pay half the bill at the end of the month i.e 13 days? and the rest on a payment plan, this seems overly harsh.

What you need to get set up is an agreed payment plan - simply saying that you will pay half at the end of the month and then set up a payment plan for the rest is not a payment plan. Half at the end of the month then x number of weekly/fortnightly/monthly payments where eon send you a card/payment book is what is needed.
While it sounds harsh, your housing situation is not their concern and as cardew says they will bend over backwards to help you repay the arrears and future usage (this is their concern) and this will help you remain in your home!

chanz4

If you are at the begining of the warrant process eon do whats called a pre-disconnection visit, did you respond to the request? Has any plans been set and not kept to?

Inregards to the landlord, he cant dictate how you pay or are supplied. The equipment belongs to your supplier and can be changed.

maddipops

The meter is eons property they can change it to a ppm if they think you're not paying them. Landlord can do nothing to stop this. Eon want access to their meter to change their meter. End of.

E.ON_Company_Rep_Amy

Hi Raistling,

Helena is not around at the moment I hope you don't mind me answering your questions.

I agree with the other posters, you do need to call us and get a payment arrangement set up, to stop any follow up.

We wouldn't get involved in a 3rd party dispute between you and your landlord.

Thanks Amy:)