Suggestions for a bill I can't pay.

RoseUK

I'm on ESA and I've had serious ongoing problems with NPower refusing to set-up Fuel Direct. So I got a Charis grant in order to clear my debt in order to allow me to switch to another electricity supplier.

I've been making regular BACS payments and I thought it'd be enough to cover the bill, only I must have miscalculated...I thought it'd be £150 as usual, but instead the new bill has come out at £400 - it's due by 7th February. I'm already really struggling this month trying to get back on top of bills as a result of a wrongful sanction of my benefits at the end of last year, and trying to make regular payments with my new electricity supplier.

Obviously I can't afford to pay and NPower aren't going to be any help, so what do I do from here?

Nada666

Is the bill correct and based on a reading that corresponds with your current meter reading? If so:

Did you not read your meter? If you had arrived at a point where you asked someone else to pay your bill surely you would have taken on their advice to read your meter as you go along and ensure you put money aside or paid credits to cover your actual usage. What has caused the problem? When you say you expected the bill to be £50 per month did that include heating? Were your bills in summer £50 or were they really only £50 last winter?

If the shock of applying for charity did not help then you should ask for a prepayment meter to be fitted. That will allow you to pay the new debt off at £3.60-odd per week.

Alternatively you can pay the present credit off by the next quarterly bill (not by Feb). But this will commit you to payments of around £200 for three months. (£133 plus ongoing usage of well over £50).

(Just re-read your mentioning of "new" electricity supplier - it is not clear your situation. Are you dual fuel or electricity only? If you have gas for heating then that explains you not double-checking your usage for electricity.)

molerat

OP has a history of billing and underpayment problems, which were cleared by an Energy Trust grant but is now back in a similar position, and has said it is not possible to fit a prepayment meter, which would probably be their best option, due to location.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63716761#Comment_63716761
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=62986309&postcount=39
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/62975384#Comment_62975384
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=62955060&postcount=7
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/62283649#Comment_62283649

Contacting CAB would be your best option as your problems are not going to go away.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

I can only imagine a PPM is appropriate in this situation.

kabunker44

Last year we had problems with paying bills for one reason or another.
We spoke to the company who supplys us (we're on dual fuel) as soon as we realised we were having problems and explained our situation.
They were more than happy to help us out, and we still contact when we are having problems.
Once our bills are all payed off, we will move to a different supplier if they can't give us a better offer.

Talk to the supplier, ask to talk to a manager if the custmer service person is not helping or being helpful.

I'd say move over to a pre-pay meter, that way you pay for the energy you use, and if you havent got the money you can't spend it.

molerat

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

I can only imagine a PPM is appropriate in this situation.

molerat wrote: »

.............. and has said it is not possible to fit a prepayment meter, which would probably be their best option, due to location.

Catch 22 it seems

molerat

kabunker44 wrote: »

........................
They were more than happy to help us out, and we still contact when we are having problems.
Once our bills are all payed off, we will move to a different supplier if they can't give us a better offer.

Talk to the supplier, ask to talk to a manager if the custmer service person is not helping or being helpful.

I'd say move over to a pre-pay meter, that way you pay for the energy you use, and if you havent got the money you can't spend it.

molerat wrote: »

OP has a history of billing and underpayment problems, which were cleared by an Energy Trust grant but is now back in a similar position, and has said it is not possible to fit a prepayment meter, which would probably be their best option, due to location.

RoseUK wrote: »

.......... ongoing problems with NPower refusing to set-up Fuel Direct. So I got a Charis grant in order to clear my debt ..............

Obviously I can't afford to pay and NPower aren't going to be any help, so what do I do from here?

OP has been here once before and already had a grant to pay off the previous debt and cannot have a pre pay fitted for technical reasons so it is not really surprising that NPower are not wishing to play ball (again). I think CAB is the only route now as they can liaise with NPower to hopefully find a solution.

kabunker44

CAB possibly could help.
Can the OP not set up a payment plan with NPower, say a sertain amount each month (for ex. £25 a month), it's what I did with southern electric, who were more than happy to work with me to help out when I said I was on ESA, and a little short of cash.
I found through experience that keeping the companies informed of your situations, wether it being your finances have changed, you can or can't pay, etc, etc, they are more than willing to work with you in moments of financial struggle in the future.

If they are not prepared to do a minimum price plan, then CAB will be the only way to go.

RoseUK

Can we please not imply I'm irresponsible when it comes to payments, I pay what I can and if they're unwilling to set-up payment plans there's only so much I can do. I had no problems paying NPower, upon losing my job I just wanted a payment plan rather than having to pay quarterly but they've refused to set-up payment plans for the past 6 years or so - not just refusing to set-up Fuel Direct when the situation got desperate - which is what got me into this situation.

NPower have never 'played ball', they're discriminatory because they won't set-up payment plans unless I telephone them but they know fine well that I can't telephone them. When I email them they take up to two months to reply or send me letters saying 'we've tried to call you but couldn't get in touch so we're closing your complaint'. Between their refusing to set-up payments, and their not responding to me or talking to CAB who called on my behalf, this is why I had to apply for the grant as there was no other way out of the situation.

I'm in the same situation after the grant as bills are quarterly so this bill is was what was being amounted since before the grant, money I was paying towards the bill was coming out of the debt not the upcoming bill. The grant cleared the debt but not the future bill - all together I've paid around £400 this quarter, but only £80 since the grant which is all that's come off the bill. I estimated my bill would be around £150 based on past bills, as I have no access to my meter.

I can't have a pre-payment meter or read my meter as I don't have any access to my meter - it's in a locked box in a shared entryway with meters from other residents, apparently it's illegal for me to even open the door to the meter.

I'm reluctant to go to CAB because;
A. NPower have refused to talk to CAB in the past.
B. It costs £8 to get to CAB, which I can't afford.

Nada666

What difference would it make? A payment plan is not based on actual future meter readings. You were free to make payments as and when you like based on that same prediction.

It is illegal for you to not have access to your meter. Your complaint is with your landlord, not with your energy supplier. That is the primary concern that you should be addressing.

molerat

It is not illegal to prevent unlimited access to your electric meter.
It is illegal to prevent access to your gas shut off valve and meter, the consumer must have a key.