Can they cut you off or is it illegal?

E.L.James

undaunted wrote: »

In this area the Council wrote to claimants warning them they would have to pay 25% in future a couple of months before the changes came in. Whether that really helped is arguable of course but they were at least aware of what was coming.

Obviously I do not know in detail your personal circumstances - though they would have to be dire to qualify for a DRO - but I do appreciate the general problem that such cuts have caused for those who were already struggling.

It's the Govts attempt to drive the out of work into work - fine if it were entirely true that all unemployed are choosing not to work - though of course that isn't true at all & they appear to have done little to boost the economy / create more jobs.

Unfortunately, in terms of applying for something like an energy trust grant it isn't going to help you however as you are unlikely to be any better of in the future and able to maintain payments if they did give a grant to clear the debt.

Similarly, in terms of applying for a DRO and then wanting a future supply on a credit account basis. Again, would you lend anyone money if you thought they couldn't pay it back?

I am trying to get the DRo through quick, then pay from the day after the DRO. so there is no need to fit PPM.

tiger_eyes

Can we focus on what's important here? Is the OP actually EL James?

Somerset

E.L.James wrote: »

I am trying to get the DRo through quick, then pay from the day after the DRO. so there is no need to fit PPM.

Your supplier will disagree and will take steps to change to a PPM.

lstar337

E.L.James wrote: »

I am trying to get the DRo through quick, then pay from the day after the DRO. so there is no need to fit PPM.

A DRO is not magic. It will not make the supplier (or a new one) forget your past credit issues.

They will still insist you have a PPM. There is nothing wrong with a PPM, it will help you save money in the long run.

ALIBOBSY

E.L.James wrote: »

I am trying to get the DRo through quick, then pay from the day after the DRO. so there is no need to fit PPM.

Unless you pay the outstanding the company (or any other you tried to switch to), will insist on installing a PPM.

Have you tried contacting the council regarding the arrears of council tax? You may be able to negotiate a weekly payment with them enabling you to use the money for the outstanding fuel bills.

Or try to negotiate with both the council and the utility company to make arrangement to clear the arrears and avoid the DRO?

I would also post over on the debt forums as you may find help to reduce your outgoings and budget for the extra bill.

Good Luck
Ali x

E.L.James

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Unless you pay the outstanding the company (or any other you tried to switch to), will insist on installing a PPM.

Have you tried contacting the council regarding the arrears of council tax? You may be able to negotiate a weekly payment with them enabling you to use the money for the outstanding fuel bills.

Or try to negotiate with both the council and the utility company to make arrangement to clear the arrears and avoid the DRO?

I would also post over on the debt forums as you may find help to reduce your outgoings and budget for the extra bill.

Good Luck
Ali x

I dont want to avoid the DRO. I want to get it through as quickly as possible.

macman

OP, you need to get your head out of the sand and understand what a DRO really is. It's not a magic cure-all that restores your mangled credit record.
You clearly cannot manage your utility usage, and will not be able to get credit (on any accounts, let alone utilities).
Therefore a PPM is going to happen anyway, and if you oppose it, it'll just end up costing more to enforce, and adding to your debts. Paying slightly more for Standard tariff is the least of your worries.
Just because your debt is 'less than £15K and mostly cc and overdraft defaults' doesn't make your credit rating with the utility suppliers any better. No one is obliged to supply you.
PS: the changes in CT benefit have been flagged up for many months now.

Richie-from-the-Boro

E.L.James,

If I understand you correctly, you want a DRO as quickly as possible, don't want a PPM, but you don't want to pay until the day after the DRO is issued and 'live'. Is that correct ?

Assuming you have all the required evidence, statements and documents at the ready, verified and everything is in perfect order it takes two or three days at the earliest to get an order.

Of course if all the required evidence, statements and documents are not at the ready, lost, accidentally delayed, take months to get ...........

Vadoma won't help my friend, just bite the bullet and make the best of your bad mess, it won't go away - the sooner the PPM is in, the sooner by the minute the energy debt stops inexorably climbing. Best of luck.

sheffield_lad

Loads of tenants & CAB's I see are so anti pp meters yet they offer folk like the op the best method of controlling their debt.

What the OP is really suggesting is "I might run out of credit with a pp meter but with a credit meter I can always run up debt"

It is also amazing how energy efficient the householders become when pp meters are fitted

E.L.James

macman wrote: »

OP, you need to get your head out of the sand and understand what a DRO really is. It's not a magic cure-all that restores your mangled credit record.
You clearly cannot manage your utility usage, and will not be able to get credit (on any accounts, let alone utilities).
Therefore a PPM is going to happen anyway, and if you oppose it, it'll just end up costing more to enforce, and adding to your debts. Paying slightly more for Standard tariff is the least of your worries.
Just because your debt is 'less than £15K and mostly cc and overdraft defaults' doesn't make your credit rating with the utility suppliers any better. No one is obliged to supply you.
PS: the changes in CT benefit have been flagged up for many months now.

I have got a bad credit report for the next 6 years anyway. Nothing can change that now, only thing is to wait 6 years no other option.