Massive Utility Debt and utility usage out of control.

Gerry1

Why are you so concerned about the age of the NSHs and panel heaters?  Just because they aren't brand new doesn't automatically make them unsafe.  Even if they look a bit tatty, cosmetic imperfections won't make them any less efficient.  There's not much to go wrong with an NSH, and any problems such as failed thermostats and heating elements are usually relatively inexpensive and straightforward to fix.  Are the NSHs still in situ?  If so, start using them again, having them safety checked first if you have any doubts.

Sadly, nobody emerges from this tale with much credit.

• The OP gave very bad advice to switch away from NSHs, made even worse by remaining on an E7 tariff that was then no longer appropriate.
• The daughter was unable or unwilling to monitor her usage and billing online, and let massive debts accrue.
• The OP appears not to have overseen the situation for a very long time. and probably never switched her to a cheaper supplier.
• SSE should never have allowed such a massive debt to accrue, especially with a customer presumably on its Priority Services Register.  Help and advice should have been offered at an early stage, e.g. moving the customer to their cheapest tariff, checking whether single rate was more suitable, and installing a pre-payment meter if all else failed.
  

This isn't having a go at the OP or his daughter, but the mistakes need to be understood to minimise the ongoing problems, and it may help others who are following the thread.

MWT

brightondave said:

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?

First port of call is her landlord, she can't arrange to replace anything owed by the landlord without their permission.

brightondave

MWT said:

brightondave said:

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?

First port of call is her landlord, she can't arrange to replace anything owed by the landlord without their permission.

Understood, as its private she'll probably be quite pleased on having them updated at no expense to her (landlady)

brightondave

Gerry1 said:

Why are you so concerned about the age of the NSHs and panel heaters?  Just because they aren't brand new doesn't automatically make them unsafe.  Even if they look a bit tatty, cosmetic imperfections won't make them any less efficient.  There's not much to go wrong with an NSH, and any problems such as failed thermostats and heating elements are usually relatively inexpensive and straightforward to fix.  Are the NSHs still in situ?  If so, start using them again, having them safety checked first if you have any doubts.

Sadly, nobody emerges from this tale with much credit.

• The OP gave very bad advice to switch away from NSHs, made even worse by remaining on an E7 tariff that was then no longer appropriate.
• The daughter was unable or unwilling to monitor her usage and billing online, and let massive debts accrue.
• The OP appears not to have overseen the situation for a very long time. and probably never switched her to a cheaper supplier.
• SSE should never have allowed such a massive debt to accrue, especially with a customer presumably on its Priority Services Register.  Help and advice should have been offered at an early stage, e.g. moving the customer to their cheapest tariff, checking whether single rate was more suitable, and installing a pre-payment meter if all else failed.
  

This isn't having a go at the OP or his daughter, but the mistakes need to be understood to minimise the ongoing problems, and it may help others who are following the thread.

Thankyou for your input Gerry

Robin9

Does your daughter qualify for Warm Homes Discount  £140?  It may be too late for this year.

brightondave

Possibly?
On Univ Credit, Income Support, child benefit etc?

welshmoneylover

I would imagine your daughter has been burying her head in the sand for a long time and has refused previous offers of direct deductions or a PPm to be installed.
being vulnerable doesn’t exclude her from paying her bills so an affordable payment plan needs to be set up ASAP.
i am not sure why you think back billing would apply or why she would even have some of the debt wiped off.
sounds as if she would just run the debt up again this is why a payment plan needs setting up to cover usage plus the debt.

brightondave

She has never been approached for direct payments and a Ppm
If she has no spare money or savings how would they get somebody like her to make extra payments if it would put her in extreme hardship. I know they lost her on the system for a few years unbeknown to her, they admit that but everything I've spoken to somebody there about sorting something out they've always said "we'll get somebody in a certain department to call her" but they never do.
I'm with EDF and I know if my payments weren't collected for a few months (never mind years) they'd be down on me with demands and final demands straight away.