Eon threatening to cut off electric soon if money isn't paid

mrsg1990

my husband's uncle and is 80 years old. He doesn't have the internet so cannot create or access an online account.  

Uncle has received a letter saying he has to pay £249 ish a month or his electricity will be cut off soon. I don't know the location of his meter, or if he's been sending regular meter readings.

Uncle has said he tried to phone eon earlier today and was told that if he could be disconnected if he doesn't pay. I don't know if the £250 is debt or his monthly payment.

We're not sure if this is genuine or a scam, but he's just phoned my husband and is very worried. Uncle seems to think he is only with eon for his electricity, and only has a tv and a fridge that uses electric. Heating, cooking and bathing all come from the gas boiler.

I've contacted eon via email and I am waiting for a reply, uncle lives 90 miles away, so I haven't been able to see the letter. Is this genuine or could it be a scam?

Mobtr

Electricity doesn’t get cut off these days. If a debt is owed & not paid they will install a prepayment meter. Does he not have a neighbour or cared who could help him? 

mrsg1990

No, no neighbours to help. Last year I contacted adult social care but he declined their support.

He definitely said in the letter he was going to get cut off if ye didn't pay. I'll ask him to send me the letter 

macman

Eon will not tell you anything about his account without his prior authority, due to data protection rules. Your best bet is to set up online access to the account yourself, with his approval.
Disconnection is only done in instances of meter tampering and theft these days, if a debt is built up and no agreement made to pay off the arrears, then a warrant can eventually be obtained to fit a PPM., or a smart meter switched from credit mode to PPM remotely.
I suspect he has misunderstood the contents of the letter: scams are rarely done by means of a letter these days.
How does he pay his energy bills?

Spoonie_Turtle

One quick way to determine whether there's any potential for this to be legit is ask him what the phone number was in the letter.  Then you can look it up online, see if it's a number Eon have on their website.

SAC2334

macman said:

Eon will not tell you anything about his account without his prior authority, due to data protection rules. Your best bet is to set up online access to the account yourself, with his approval.
Disconnection is only done in instances of meter tampering and theft these days, if a debt is built up and no agreement made to pay off the arrears, then a warrant can eventually be obtained to fit a PPM., or a smart meter switched from credit mode to PPM remotely.
I suspect he has misunderstood the contents of the letter: scams are rarely done by means of a letter these days.
How does he pay his energy bills?

I have only known one time when a persistent energy thief not only got cut off but all cabling to the house were dug up to prevent the drug addict occupant any more illegal connections. Other than that it's extremely rare to cut off electric and not allowed if someone classed as vulnerable lives in the property or there are children in the house. I find it hard to believe that Eon actually threatened a disconnection when the usual method is to force fit prepayment meters .

Robin9

mrsg1990 said:

my husband's uncle and is 80 years old. He doesn't have the internet so cannot create or access an online account.  

Uncle has received a letter saying he has to pay £249 ish a month or his electricity will be cut off soon. I don't know the location of his meter, or if he's been sending regular meter readings.

Uncle has said he tried to phone eon earlier today and was told that if he could be disconnected if he doesn't pay. I don't know if the £250 is debt or his monthly payment.

We're not sure if this is genuine or a scam, but he's just phoned my husband and is very worried. Uncle seems to think he is only with eon for his electricity, and only has a tv and a fridge that uses electric. Heating, cooking and bathing all come from the gas boiler.

I've contacted eon via email and I am waiting for a reply, uncle lives 90 miles away, so I haven't been able to see the letter. Is this genuine or could it be a scam?

There is nothing to stop your husband setting up an online account in his uncles name.

ariarnia

Robin9 said:

mrsg1990 said:

my husband's uncle and is 80 years old. He doesn't have the internet so cannot create or access an online account.  

Uncle has received a letter saying he has to pay £249 ish a month or his electricity will be cut off soon. I don't know the location of his meter, or if he's been sending regular meter readings.

Uncle has said he tried to phone eon earlier today and was told that if he could be disconnected if he doesn't pay. I don't know if the £250 is debt or his monthly payment.

We're not sure if this is genuine or a scam, but he's just phoned my husband and is very worried. Uncle seems to think he is only with eon for his electricity, and only has a tv and a fridge that uses electric. Heating, cooking and bathing all come from the gas boiler.

I've contacted eon via email and I am waiting for a reply, uncle lives 90 miles away, so I haven't been able to see the letter. Is this genuine or could it be a scam?

There is nothing to stop your husband setting up an online account in his uncles name.

only snag is i think eon require you to provide an email address when you set up an account and email you an activation code as part of the account creation. so someone might have to phone cs to give an email address to recieve the code. 

mrsg1990

Thank you all for your help

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

perhaps THIS would be helpful.

Robin9

It looks like a visit to see your uncle is due. It may be time to gently see how you can help - other bills, benefits - perhaps time to get LOA's in place - will?

It is very difficult to do anything without his authority - my MIL's doctor wanted a letter 



Please do come back to us -