Physically don't have the money

PM22

29.48 p/kWh 41.66 p/day 

This is how much I am being charged 

SusieT

PM22 said:

29.48 p/kWh 41.66 p/day 

This is how much I am being charged 

But we need the meter reading at today to make sense of it. The November and February ones (assuming they were actual and not estimated) would have covered the winter months, but to get a better idea of how to help you, we need to know what the reading is today.

PM22

I can't read my meter as it's just been changed to a smart meter and it's not working

SusieT

PM22 said:

I can't read my meter as it's just been changed to a smart meter and it's not working

Not good, things really are not helping you are they So, get onto the supplier monday and tell them to come out and repair it. Make sure you have put on your brave pants and tell them you want the DD set at a maximum of £100 (assuming you can afford that) or you will pay by standing order at £100 a month. Ask for an up to date invoice/statement so that you can see where you are with regards to any credit you have built up as that may help you to get through the winter.  Until then all you can do is turn off or turn down anything possible, boil as little water as possible, if you have an immersion heater turn it down a fraction and have it on for a bit less time, charge the phones at work, the gym, swimming pool - anywhere but at home! 

foxgloves

As I think I said on one of your other threads, @PM22, knowing the status of your energy accounts in terms of whether they are in credit or arrears really is key. As with all things, information is power. 
F

enthusiasticsaver

Ring them and tell them you cannot afford that. That is a ridiculous hike unless you have come off a fix and you say you have not or you have been underpaying. We are in credit on ours and they wanted to put the direct debit up. I refused. As sourcrates says we should not be made to overpay on the assumption usage will rise as winter comes. I am not paying for energy costs upfront and you should not be made to either. 

NeverendingDMP

I think once your meter is fixed finding out if the d debit is to cover debt or estimated spends is the first step. Then you have a starting figure. I think being unable to pay ultimately leads them to fit a prepayment Meter with any debt incorporated into it and knocked off in stages each time you top up. 
First things first hound them till the meter is fixed, then try and get a decision on where you are at now. Are you actually in arrears or have they plucked a figure out of thin air. Tell them you will only pay less, stress that you cannot afford it and ask what grants or funds they have. They ask on the energy board to see what help is elsewhere. Do the people you are with have an online app that you can submit readings. For example I'm with octopus. I can submit readings daily if I want to (they don't want me to to do it more than once a month) but my point being I could put my readings in every 3 days at first in April when price cap changed to see the damage. I've just recently moved to once a fortnight then will go to once a month. Each time I get an up to date reading of what I have in credit or debit and I can see what it's cost me for each week. Or if your smart meter gets up and running you might be able to see your daily bill on the gadget they give you. Challenge the amount, see where you stand and keep posting so we can help. Best of luck with it all

Robin9

PM22 said:

I can't read my meter as it's just been changed to a smart meter and it's not working

PM22 said:

I can't read my meter as it's just been changed to a smart meter and it's not working

I think you are talking about the In House Display that sits in the kitchen. The  meter itself - in an outdoor box or garage - will have a sticker on it  giving the reading of the old meter and a date. That meter may well be working but you may have to press a button to get the reading - if it has a small keypad press 9.

PM22

Thank you for replying. The House display only works right next to the meter and the meter its self is in the hall and doesn't have any buttons bar two. One which shows 0015 and one with £6.31 on it? The House display only shows a few pence?

NeverendingDMP

I've not got a smart meter gadget in my house but I was recommended the Hugo app from my supplier. I entered my details and it seemed straight forward and free to sign up to but I'm not on the smart network or something so I couldn't use it. I can't vouch for it but the app did look as though it would display usage, projected use, what's been spent so far during the day. Ideally the gadget that does your house display will do this for you but it might be worth giving your supplier a ring and asking them to talk you through giving a reading today and requesting an up to date statement.