Need advice - British Gas

Claremac08

Hello

I was hoping someone here could offer me some advice on what to do, ill explain my situation...

Im a single mother to a 5 year old, i live in a small town and im unemployed and most likely will be for a while considering the lack of jobs here. My bill has slowly gotten higher and higher over the course of a year... It is roughly about £950 now! :S
As im on benefits its hard for me to pay large chunks of money to this bill and i have to pay bits here n there.
I have tried to called british gas to sort this out, they keep saying my min payment each month is 150! Which i genuingly just cant afford. so i made an appointment to get a meter fitted, the guy came and then refused to fit it due to the location of it. My box is at the side of my house down a narrow shared footpath and its also 5 foot up or more. I have to get a chair to reach it!
The bg man said if he fit it and i fell he would be sued etc etc then he said bg wont move it as it costs too much etc etc... A ton of excuses

Claremac08

So the next day i called british gas and they had no other alternative but for me to pay which i cant!
Everytime i call they tell me if u dnt pay we'll force fit a meter!!!! Which i then scream down the saying i WANT A METER lol sigh!
This morning i recieved my first letter from them in months saying i have till 14th feb to pay 700 pounds or they are applying to court for access to my house to fit a meter or to switch me off!
Can they switch me off if i have a child???? And is there anything i can do to sort this out.

O i dont own my house either its a rented accomodation!

chanz4

You need to ask them for fuel direct, its the same rate as pre-pay. What he has said about the meter is correct, we have the claim society to blame for it.

Inregards to cutting off, they can do in a short while. Inregards to it been rented, this does not have an effect.

macman

When you say that your bill is £950, do you mean your current debt?
If so, what is your ongoing monthly usage (as that will be added to the monthly debt repayment in order to come up with the monthly figure of £150). So, for example. if they want to recover £100 a month, your monthly consumption is £50.
What is your annual kWh consumption? Are you on the cheapest possible tariff with BG (since you can't switch)?
You need to prioritise your energy payments and stick to a regular monthly repayment, if you don't do that they will not give you long-term credit. Having a child does not prevent your gas from being cut off, as you still have the (unfavourable) option of electric heating.
The CAB website has some good info that may help you.

TIMMY85

I would suggest that you try the BG Energy Trust. They may be able to help with a non-repayable grant towards the arrears. They may be able to also help with any arrears on water/council tax etc...
You will need an up to date bill to accurate meter readings so call BG with a reading if the most recent bill is estimated. Once the application is received a block is put on the account with BG to stop any court action/debt collection agencies etc...
Put as much information as possible on the application as there is only a fixed amount available each year to help customers...
http://www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/

TIMMY85

chanz4 wrote: »

You need to ask them for fuel direct, its the same rate as pre-pay.

Fuel direct needs to be arranged through the DWP - as per my post above you will need an up to date accurate bill and a hold will be placed on the account while DWP process the application.

chanz4

Yes TIMMY im aware of that, but BG would put the application through to DWP

TIMMY85

chanz4 wrote: »

Yes TIMMY im aware of that, but BG would put the application through to DWP

This is not correct, the application has to be made to DWP...
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ManagingDebt/DebtsAndArrears/DG_10025592

Claremac08

Iv been emailing bg again and she said my monthly usage over 12 months is 100 pound and the mount for the debt they want is 79pounds. I just emailed her my monthly income and outgoings showing i had 110 free to pay and now im awaiting there responce. I dont have anymore money

Joyful

If you go through Fueldirect they will take your usage and add on £3.50 per week for the debt. I would suggest you take this then try hard to reduce your consumption. Alternatively if you have a PP meter that self regulates your consumption and again can be set at £3.50 pw as you are on benefits.

macman

But what is the total debt? If it's £950, then at £10pm you will be paying it off for the next 8 years-obviously BG will not accept that. Even on Fuel Direct at £3.50pw it would take nearly 6 years to recover that debt.
I don't understand why they have allowed such a huge arrears to accrue?
Your consumption does seem very high-are you on the cheapest BG tariff?