Can you get CCJ from utilities?

Yellowsub2000

I like many are falling behind on utilities bills. Can they put a CCJ on my file eventually?

MattMattMattUK

Yellowsub2000 said:

I like many are falling behind on utilities bills. Can they put a CCJ on my file eventually?

Yes, they can and will, it just might take a bit of time. However they will already have placed missed payments and defaults on your credit report before then which will severely limit your borrowing ability. 

Alter_ego

CCJ = County Court Judgment .

Only the court can award these judgements

fatbelly

Most Utility accounts (Water, Electricity and Gas) do not report to the Credit Reference Agencies. British Gas is an exception

Water authorities are just about the most litigious organisations; electricity/gas less so traditionally as they have the option of a prepayment meter.

As prepayment meters have been getting a bad press you may see more court claims from them.

DullGreyGuy

Yellowsub2000 said:

I like many are falling behind on utilities bills. Can they put a CCJ on my file eventually?

In the loose terms yes. 

In accurate terms, a CCJ only goes on your file if you lose a county court or high court case and then fail to make the full payment in 1 month of the judgement.

Grumpelstiltskin

Yellowsub2000 said:

I like many are falling behind on utilities bills. Can they put a CCJ on my file eventually?

Utilities are more important than many other consumer debts.

If you are having problems go across to the Debt Free Wannabe board for help.

Debt-free wannabe — MoneySavingExpert Forum

Yellowsub2000

fatbelly said:

Most Utility accounts (Water, Electricity and Gas) do not report to the Credit Reference Agencies. British Gas is an exception

Water authorities are just about the most litigious organisations; electricity/gas less so traditionally as they have the option of a prepayment meter.

As prepayment meters have been getting a bad press you may see more court claims from them.

When you say they don’t report to them, my account with octopus does show on my credit file but as shows as a green tick every month. This is not true I’ve been falling behind since the pandemic.

Yes they keep threatening to fit prepay but the way I understood it is they can only do it if you consent. If you say no you can’t come in to fit them then they can’t force their way in anymore. 

As you say fatbelly there has been a lot of bad press from forcing people into prepay and this seems to have come to an end now, only with consent can they fit them. I will never give consent.

TadleyBaggie

Yellowsub2000 said:

As you say fatbelly there has been a lot of bad press from forcing people into prepay and this seems to have come to an end now, only with consent can they fit them. I will never give consent.

They are only banned from doing this for the over-85's. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65305959

MalMonroe

Yellowsub2000 said:

I like many are falling behind on utilities bills. Can they put a CCJ on my file eventually?

Can't you get in touch with your energy supplier? Many of them - maybe even most of them - ask you to get in touch if you are having trouble paying your bills. Mine - Octopus - certainly does.

They may offer you a payment solution and, hopefully - if the weather warms up as it should do, you will be able to catch up with your payments as you probably won't be using as much energy.

That's what I'd do, I'd contact them and let them know that you are struggling. It's much better than waiting for the hammer to fall.

sourcrates

All of the main energy companies have grants available if you are struggling to make your payments.

You can apply for them from the help section on your energy providers website, you do not have to be on benefits to apply, anyone with arrears or who is unable to afford their bills can do so.

There is also Government money available through your local council, again you apply via your council website.

If neither of those options bear fruit, energy providers will gladly make arrangements to pay what you can afford, all you have to do is contact them and tell them you are struggling, don`t suffer in silence, if you don`t tell them, they won`t know will they !!!!

powerful_Rogue

Yellowsub2000 said:

fatbelly said:

Most Utility accounts (Water, Electricity and Gas) do not report to the Credit Reference Agencies. British Gas is an exception

Water authorities are just about the most litigious organisations; electricity/gas less so traditionally as they have the option of a prepayment meter.

As prepayment meters have been getting a bad press you may see more court claims from them.

When you say they don’t report to them, my account with octopus does show on my credit file but as shows as a green tick every month. This is not true I’ve been falling behind since the pandemic.

Yes they keep threatening to fit prepay but the way I understood it is they can only do it if you consent. If you say no you can’t come in to fit them then they can’t force their way in anymore. 

As you say fatbelly there has been a lot of bad press from forcing people into prepay and this seems to have come to an end now, only with consent can they fit them. I will never give consent.

Don't rely on that, they can still apply to the courts for a warrant to force entry to fit a prepayment meter.

Most importantly, what have Octopus said when you phoned them up to say you are struggling with payments?