Massive Utility Debt and utility usage out of control.

Robin9

Well OP - what next ?
1) Put a storage rad or two back and put timers on the oil-filled.  Even then expect a monthly bill of £100  - that £55 was never going to be enough
2) Go to SP and find the best E7 they have - they will not allow you to swop with such a big debt
3) Agree a repayment plan with SP

SP should have nipped this one in the bud 7 years ago and put pepay in

Hasbeen

brightondave said:

molerat said:

What type of heating system is hard installed in the property ?

E7 is not typically designed to run on demand heating outside of the off peak times.  I suspect she is currently using loads of on peak expensive electricity and a minimal amount of off peak cheap electricity.

As above please give actual meter reads / unit use of both peak and off peak. Which energy company is she with and what are the first 2 letters of her post code ? (will not identify her but will enable someone to give a more tailored answer to the problem)

When she moved in the flat had an old block type storage heater in the lounge and really old panel heaters in the bedrooms both of which we didn't really want her to use. 

Op:  Why/how did you reach that conclusion?

Storage heaters are expensive to run but using oil filled radiators is drastic!

They should only be used for a small amount of background heat if required.

Put the storage heaters back on and get the best E7 deal with SP.

Get her on a payment plan to pay what she owes.

molerat

Do you have any of her bills ?

Do you have the name of the actual tariff she is on and the exact prices per unit & standing charge excluding VAT ?

Can you work out how many kWh she uses over a year ?

One problem is that currently SV is about the cheapest available tariff from SP but actual usage figures could make a difference with energy prices currently heading in only one direction.

brightondave

Hasbeen said:

brightondave said:

molerat said:

What type of heating system is hard installed in the property ?

E7 is not typically designed to run on demand heating outside of the off peak times.  I suspect she is currently using loads of on peak expensive electricity and a minimal amount of off peak cheap electricity.

As above please give actual meter reads / unit use of both peak and off peak. Which energy company is she with and what are the first 2 letters of her post code ? (will not identify her but will enable someone to give a more tailored answer to the problem)

When she moved in the flat had an old block type storage heater in the lounge and really old panel heaters in the bedrooms both of which we didn't really want her to use. 

Op:  Why/how did you reach that conclusion?

Storage heaters are expensive to run but using oil filled radiators is drastic!

They should only be used for a small amount of background heat if required.

Put the storage heaters back on and get the best E7 deal with SP.

Get her on a payment plan to pay what she owes.

Only at the time the storage heater was quite old and dated as with the panel heaters in the two bedrooms and hallway.
The only hope is for an upgrade to new storage heaters for which she apparently can get most paid for by a gov grant or something.
But the problem is she owes over £7000 (I know), cannot afford what would be with the existing heaters the £240 per month, the monthly payment only vastly reducing with updated equipment and then there's the problem of the amount owing, which is not going to be afforded as she is on Universal Credit and can only afford about £65 per month.
If a collection company visited she has no assets herself or savings so its like getting blood out of a stone, would back billing apply? Or any of it be written off with the help of Cit Adv or Stepchange or anybody? Not too sure who would serve best?
Thankyou for your advice.

brightondave

molerat said:

Do you have any of her bills ?

Do you have the name of the actual tariff she is on and the exact prices per unit & standing charge excluding VAT ?

Can you work out how many kWh she uses over a year ?

One problem is that currently SV is about the cheapest available tariff from SP but actual usage figures could make a difference with energy prices currently heading in only one direction.

She hasnt really seen any as they put her on an online account, no written bills, no visits about non payment, this has been going on 7 years with no resolve from SP
The only stat I know of is the day unit is 22p and night unit 9p per unit + standing charge + vat?
What do you think her next move should be? IVA or anything like that? Thankyou for your input.
Thankyou for your input

Robin9

Could you get access to her online account and also, with her permission, speak directly to SP. ?
As you say debt collectors have not been involved - thy don't just turn up, there is a procedure.

Is electricity her only debt problem?

brightondave

Probably could, she is on their vulnerable list because of health, all other payments CT TVL W etc are all up to date. If debt collectors turned up she has nothing but the basics, any items like tv washing machine fridge is on paperwork in my name as we bought them for her, so would debt repayment as she has no spare money to live on be really minimal?  Can any be written off?
So many questions.

t0rt0ise

There are some grant schemes. See https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/ 

brightondave

t0rt0ise said:

There are some grant schemes. See https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/ 

Thankyou for your input
Apparently she is eligible for free replacement of her aged storage heater and panel heaters?
When you Google it there are a plethora of installers, first port of call?

bagand96

It seems from the usage that the oil radiators are spending most of the day (and night) plugged in and on. 

Now staying warm is obviously important, and especially with a child, but in the immediate future can you have a chat with your daughter to try and cut the use. Explain to her just how much they are costing etc. Even turning a couple off for a few hours a day will help the rate at which debt is being accrued.