Owing debt to British Gas

daz69kay

[FONT=&quot]I am a single parent who owes arrears to British Gas. Over £1,000.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I tried to come to an agreement for arrears and they said theyre is a form we can send you to fill in who can assist in writing your debt off?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As I await for this form they have sent me a letter advising they have a warrant to exchange this meter to a prepayment meter.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]How do I stop them from doing this. I have tried to negotiate a plan with them and they are even advising not to pay future payments until this form has been sent / returned so again I'm getting deeper in debt for not paying for gas at the moment.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I am only a part time single parent, what can I do?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thanks[/FONT]

chanz4

They may go ahead to prevent further debt, have you been making any payments at all?

bengalknights

Unfortunatly they have a right to move payments from credit to prepayment if in arrears its in the T&Cs

daz69kay

I said how much do i pay monthly , not for arrears just in general they said dont pay for now wait until you have received your grant form ?

macman

Since you have a substantial debt (about a year's' total supply cost for most people), what is your objection to a PPM? It may well be the best solution to try and start clearing the debt, if you are unable to manage your usage and the arrears are mounting.
A voluntary PPM wil save you the costs of a court order and forced entry.
Over what period did the debt arise?

daz69kay

Hi there ,
i have been advised that for example if i put £10.00 on then about £6.00 is swallowed up to pay debt and i could be paying about £120.00 month just for gas ?>

macman

But if you can't maintain a realistic repayment plan (which would normally mean paying off the debt in a year or so), then they will eventually fit a PPM anyway. In the meantime the arrears will increase.

SwanJon

daz69kay wrote: »

Hi there ,
i have been advised that for example if i put £10.00 on then about £6.00 is swallowed up to pay debt and i could be paying about £120.00 month just for gas ?>

They'll agree a weekyl recovery payment with you - if this is £6 as you suggest above you'll only pay that once a week - so £24 a month.
If you are using £100/month you need to loko at what you can do to cut down.
I assume the grant is from the British Gas Energy Trust (see www.charisgrants.com/) This will help you clear your feet, but as above you need to find a way to pay for what you are using.
A PPM may be the way forward, or another form of regular payment (DD, magnetic card).

You can register on the energy trust yourself, you don't need to wait to be proposed by the supplier.

macman

I rather doubt thet Eon would agree a repayment schedule of nearly 4 years, but that remains to be seen.