Can they cut you off or is it illegal?

E.L.James

Ive been advised thats its illegal for them to cut your utilities off no matter how much you owe?

Is this correct,can anyone direct me to relevent legistation?

Beckyy

For who to cut you off? The utility company? A landlord?

Cardew

Are you thinking of water?

For gas/electricity, as a last resort they will get a Court Order with baliffs forcing an entry and pre-pay meters fitted.

Any debt will be put on the meters and paid back at a fixed rate. If you don't 'feed' the meters it cuts off supply..

E.L.James

Cardew wrote: »

Are you thinking of water?

For gas/electricity, as a last resort they will get a Court Order with baliffs forcing an entry and pre-pay meters fitted.

Any debt will be put on the meters and paid back at a fixed rate. If you don't 'feed' the meters it cuts off supply..

What about if I can get a debt relief order? If I get the debt relieved they can not make me pay back in prepay meters?

undaunted

If you mean can they then come and cut you off over the unpaid debt if you get a DRO then no they shouldn't be doing that but they are however likely to want to fit a pre payment meter to ensure you pay for any future consumption

macman

No one is likely to give you a credit meter account if you have a DRO.
They can cut your gas off on the basis that you still can heat and light by means of electricity. But they'd far rather attempt to to retrieve the debt by means of a PPM.
What is your objection to a PPM?

E.L.James

I am applying for a DRO. My total debts are less than £15000 and its mostly made up of credit card and overdrafts defaults. I am also behind with council tax since the council tax benefit has been scrapped. They are now demanding the entire rest of the year.

Can I include all the rest of the years council tax bills?

What about utilities bills, they are threatening to cut me off and fit prepay meters then add on the debt to the meters. If I can get the DRO through ASAP, can I avoid getting cut off? Would I be best to switch to another provider then when I have the debt relived?

Cardew

E.L.James wrote: »

What about if I can get a debt relief order? If I get the debt relieved they can not make me pay back in prepay meters?

No idea if that is the case or not.

I suggest you could post on the 'debt free wannabe' forum as there are posters who know all the ways to avoid paying debts - however valid those debts.

Even if measures were taken to prevent loading the debt on the pre-pay meters, these meters would effectively cut-off your supply.

E.L.James

Cardew wrote: »

No idea if that is the case or not.

I suggest you could post on the 'debt free wannabe' forum as there are posters who know all the ways to avoid paying debts - however valid those debts.

Even if measures were taken to prevent loading the debt on the pre-pay meters, these meters would effectively cut-off your supply.

I am trying to buy some time to get the DRO through ASAP. As long as the utilities are included then they are wiped out. I do not want prepay meters.

bob_bank_spanker

Surely a PPM is better anyway? It allows you to only pay for what you use, stopping you getting into the debt trap you've already fallen in to, and takes a small amount of your arrears off each week.

People with "normal" meters are receiving a line of credit from the company (use now pay later), I doubt there is any way you can keep your current meter in your circumstances.

undaunted

Cardew wrote: »

Even if measures were taken to prevent loading the debt on the pre-pay meters, these meters would effectively cut-off your supply.

? Such meters would only cut off supply if he / she didn't top them up in future in order to cover ongoing consumption. Old debts can't be recovered without the Courts permission & utilities, council tax etc can be included in a DRO yes.

For info. try

https://www.gov.uk/options-for-paying-off-your-debts/debt-relief-orders

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/debt_w/debt_help_with_debt_e/debt_relief_orders.htm#what_type_of_debts_can_be_included_in_a_debt_relief_order

It is not illegal for them to cut you off before you get to a DRO so you could possibly end up with no supply - at least until you get a DRO - when they would almost certainly want either PPM or deposit before re connecting you.

Even if not disconnected as said above you have very little chance of having it both ways - either you pay up or you expect a ppm after obtaining a DRO. Would you give credit to someone you thought wouldn't pay you?