MSE News: 140,000 prepayment customers couldn't afford to heat their homes

Former_MSE_Megan_F

One hundred and forty thousand households have been left without gas or electricity because they didn't have enough money to top up their prepayment meter, Citizens Advice is warning...

Read the full story:
'140,000 prepayment customers couldn't afford to heat their homes'

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Michaelw

Made worse by standing charges backing up in arrears.Most energy suppliers offer a priority scheme.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/you-cant-afford-to-top-up-your-prepayment-meter/

Terresa

I can't top up my meter - what can I do?

If you're on a prepayment meter and are struggling to heat your home contact your supplier or Citizens Advice to see what help is available. You can also try:

Switching to a credit meter ...

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Had to double check the date today, but I fear your article is 19 days late :eek:

Perhaps Martin should lobby parliament to make unlimited credit meters a basic human right for all ... particularly for those that cannot afford to pay? :cool:

House_Martin

I ve been visiting households on prepayment meters for 20 years and informing them constantly to save £300 a year going on a fixed tariff credit meter.
Very few are at interested and funnily enough its mainly the "old school " elderly who are the worst who distrust direct debits and tell me they re happy on their top price prepayment meters.
Personally I think its wrong that people on prepay meters, already subsidised down to standard variable rates have received another subsidy and are now a little lower than credit meters.
When smart prepayment meters get widely accepted and trusted by suppliers I can see no reason why they cannot be able to go on a fixed yearly tariff. smart prepay will end the outdated and often faulty old dumb meters with their extra running costs and a middleman cut.

Michaelw

House_Martin wrote: »

But they can afford a £40 a month mobile phone contract plus Netflix and regular takeaways, cigarettes and of course alcohol

That is certainly not the case in every situation.That talk causes resentment reinforces negative sterotyping and can lead to much worse behaviour in turn to disadvantaged groups.In many cases people in these situations have far less choice in available credit at a competitive rate.Credit meters often show up on credit reports and can lead to more problems when high bills arive and associated direct debits failing because of low incomes.

House_Martin wrote: »

I ve been visiting households on prepayment meters for 20 years and informing them constantly to save £300 a year going on a fixed tariff credit meter.

People have in many cases have to face a credit check and are then taken out of the safguarding tariffs.Experience told me that swapping to credit mode on a British Gas smart meter the bills rose by around 30p a day.

House_Martin wrote: »

Very few are at interested and funnily enough its mainly the "old school " elderly who are the worst who distrust direct debits and tell me to shut up they re happy on their top price prepayment meters.

Many people of pensionable age have to struggle.with credit meters the cost can mount very quickly for some prepayment offers a solution to huge out of control bills.As many on here will no doubt know its very easy to get into debt but can be impossible to get out of.

House_Martin wrote: »

Personally I think its wrong that people on prepay meters, already subsidised down to standard variable rates have received another subsidy and are now a little lower than credit meters

The argument is that todays smart meters are already prepayment meters.We have been reading of meters failing due to battery faults exe much as in card meters,supplies going off when people have been paying direct debits in credit mode.Having to wait days for repairs in some cases.Who's paying for the DCC network much the same as the Quantum system in prepayment?

PennineAcute

That was very uncalled for. Having a go at the majority for the actions of the minority.

With the work that I do for people on my estate, there are loads who eat or heat. Most are with Utilita, who they did not get the WHD. The cap for prepay is terrible and the sooner legislation is put into place, the better.

We are in the 21st Century, and gas and electricity is not a luxury, it is an essential. Obviously, some people on here disagree,