Energy supplier wants to see my bank statement

nnb

I recently lost my job so I'm trying to get temporary assistance from my energy supplier where I pay a little less for a few months (the amount being the actual amount rather than the increased payments I've been making due to a c*ck-up their end at Xmas which I stupidly didn't notice at the time - so not an unreasonable request in my opinion). I said I would make the difference back up once working again - I am playing fair here.

They want me to fill in a form declaring my earnings/bills etc but I also have to provide my recent bank statement IN FULL - no blanking out ANY incoming/outgoing - so they can see I am definitely on benefits and have no other money coming in at all, plus to see whether I am spending reasonably and whether I can cut out other spends to be able to pay them instead.

Are they allowed to ask to see such info???? I feel like this is a major invasion of privacy? Surely just proving I am on benefits would be reasonable? 

Any ideas on how I handle this situation? I don't think I can switch until I've paid these guys off but I can't pay them off due to my situation.

Thank you for any advice!

Gerry1

How much are you in arrears?  Are you on their cheapest tariff?  What are the costs per kWh and the standing charges?

mac.d

If you are asking them to pay less than what you are using, then they can ask to see whatever info they want. They do need information about your income, and personal circumstances and its up to you to decide whether you give them it or not. If you don't give them it, they're not likely to agree to you underpaying.

If you are struggling with your bills, they can put you on a payment plan to pay back a debt, or if you can't pay them, they can install a pre-payment meter. Rather than that, make sure as Gerry1 says you are on their cheapest tariff, and also try to look at how you can reduce your usage if possible.

Citizen's Advice: What to do if you're struggling to pay your bills

binao

 Who is your energy supplier. Name and shame.

A copy of your award letter should be sufficient.
The government has said we are all fighting this deadly virus together.

People are dying and any energy company that fails to step up to the plate should be named and shamed.

Send the benefit letter copy., disconnections are banned by covid regs.

Good luck.

MWT

Not sure that there are any good answers here.

If the OP is already on a payment plan because of previous debt and is now asking to revise that plan downwards they are not only going to ask for proof that the OP is on benefits, but also that whatever money is coming in is being spent appropriately.

Can certainly refuse to give it, but then I'd expect the next step would be to fit a pre-payment meter which would go along with a more expensive tariff...

nnb

mac.d said:

If you are asking them to pay less than what you are using, then they can ask to see whatever info they want. They do need information about your income, and personal circumstances and its up to you to decide whether you give them it or not. If you don't give them it, they're not likely to agree to you underpaying.

If you are struggling with your bills, they can put you on a payment plan to pay back a debt, or if you can't pay them, they can install a pre-payment meter. Rather than that, make sure as Gerry1 says you are on their cheapest tariff, and also try to look at how you can reduce your usage if possible.

Citizen's Advice: What to do if you're struggling to pay your bills

Hi thank you. I am not asking to pay less than I am using - I am asking to pay my actual usage amount. I am currently overpaying each month to compensate for THEIR error where they didn't take a couple of payments. (I admit I should have noticed but I had stuff going on but I just accepted it as I could afford to play catch up at first). I am just asking to not be overpaying to account for their prior mess up until I can afford to do that.

I did ask about some kind of payment plan but they will not consider anything and actually now want me to pay MORE than my already current overpayment now they know I'm unemployed which sounds ridiculous, and the only way they will reduce it (although NOT to the ACTUAL amount per month) is for me to show them every single transaction in my bank statement. Even the benefit office hasn't asked for that!

Gerry1

nnb said:

I am not asking to pay less than I am using - I am asking to pay my actual usage amount. I am currently overpaying each month to compensate for THEIR error where they didn't take a couple of payments. (I admit I should have noticed but I had stuff going on but I just accepted it as I could afford to play catch up at first). I am just asking to not be overpaying to account for their prior mess up until I can afford to do that.
I did ask about some kind of payment plan but they will not consider anything and actually now want me to pay MORE than my already current overpayment

Being devil's advocate for a moment, you're not overpaying, you're just paying back some of your arrears which have built up.  Now you're proposing not to pay off any of the arrears for a few months.

Given that the warmer weather and lighter evenings will mean substantially lower bills, can you not propose making a small but consistent repayment each month towards clearing the debt, say £5?  They're probably concerned that you're refusing to make any such payment.

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/03/help-with-energy-bills-announced-by-uk-government/

You haven't mentioned Direct Debits at all: are you paying on receipt of bill?  If so, that will be much more expensive.

Try offering to pay by DD (preferably variable DD if they offer it, plus that £5) and see whether they will agree.  If not, escalate it to a senior manager.

If you don't reach agreement they may install a pre-payment meter (which as well as being on a pricier tariff will also be programmed to reclaim part of the debt each month) so it would be worth making an effort to show willing by agreeing a small payment in addition to your metered consumption.

matelodave

As Gerry suggests, try and meet them half way because if you do end up on a prepayment meter you'll not have a lot of option whether to pay the arrears and if then you'll only get energy when you put money into the meter. In the end you do owe them money and seem to want to defer paying it back so it's not unreasonable that they want some info to help them make a decision.

It's also probably not ever such a good idea to have debts and stuff on your credit history, especially if you default on the payments. It can affect your financial situation for an awfully long time even when you do get back onto an even keel so try prioritising what is really important to get it all sorted out.

nnb

Gerry1 said:

nnb said:

I am not asking to pay less than I am using - I am asking to pay my actual usage amount. I am currently overpaying each month to compensate for THEIR error where they didn't take a couple of payments. (I admit I should have noticed but I had stuff going on but I just accepted it as I could afford to play catch up at first). I am just asking to not be overpaying to account for their prior mess up until I can afford to do that.
I did ask about some kind of payment plan but they will not consider anything and actually now want me to pay MORE than my already current overpayment

Being devil's advocate for a moment, you're not overpaying, you're just paying back some of your arrears which have built up.  Now you're proposing not to pay off any of the arrears for a few months.

Given that the warmer weather and lighter evenings will mean substantially lower bills, can you not propose making a small but consistent repayment each month towards clearing the debt, say £5?  They're probably concerned that you're refusing to make any such payment.

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/03/help-with-energy-bills-announced-by-uk-government/

You haven't mentioned Direct Debits at all: are you paying on receipt of bill?  If so, that will be much more expensive.

Try offering to pay by DD (preferably variable DD if they offer it, plus that £5) and see whether they will agree.  If not, escalate it to a senior manager.

If you don't reach agreement they may install a pre-payment meter (which will be programmed to reclaim part of the debt each month) so it would be worth making an effort to show willing by agreeing a small payment in addition to your metered consumption.

Hiya! I know I'm not officially overpaying - I meant overpaying in comparison to the actual usage (I am struggling to word it but you know what I'm trying to say, I hope!) Basically I just want to pay my actual usage for the next couple months and then pay off the arrears later on which I fully intend to do and had already been happy to do as I could afford it. Given that it was their error that started this "overpayment", I'd hoped they would be a bit more understanding. I made my good intentions very clear - including in writing - so there is absolutely no confusion at all about me wanting to pay off the amount. I even told them if I could pay everything right now I would so I could leave them - which I fully intend to do once this is sorted.

I am actually now looking into borrowing money from family just to be shot of them.

Thanks for your help! Will be looking properly through that link today