paying off gas and elec bill

charleypink

hi everyone,
i was hoping that someone might be able to help me!
i have recieved a very high bill from my old gas and elec provider, and i phoned to ask if i could pay them £50.00 a month. My oh is now out of work and i am a student nurse so with 3 kids, so money is a little tight.
They said that all they could do, was let me make a payment now of £50.00, then i would have to pay the rest in 2 months. i was wondering if there was any way i could get a longer period to pay over? as i still have to pay for my current supply, which as you all know ain't cheep!
kind regards, charley:p

Cardew

If it is your old gas and electricity supplier; you have very little leverage or rights on the matter. Most companies will not let you switch if you have a large outstanding debt.

Their position is you have a debt and must pay; it is really little different to a debt with any company.

You could always switch back to them, and they might spread the arrears over a year.

Mike_by_the_Sea

You could try looking for their "help with paying bills dept / number" and see if you get better support there. It sounds like you have already changed suppliers, therefore it should be in their best interests to get the money back by negotiation rather than by pushing you to payment terms that you will have problems achieving.

If that doesn't work try energywatch.org.uk and ask them for help with negotiating with your old provider.

Good luck

Mike

hpsaucey

if you google either EDF energy trust or BRITISH GAS/SCOTTISH GAS energy trust they give grants for people who are struggling to pay large utility bills and other expenses. there is an online application for and you can download and send in post. it car'nt hurt to look into it

stockylad

I am convinced that the gas and electirc suppliers allow their customers to get into so much debt that it makes it is far easier staying with the current supplier to pay off the debt than switch to a new provider.

Whilst it is always true that you have to pay for what you have used if you dont receive your first bill for 6 months by this time you could have already built up debt.

Cardew

stockylad wrote: »

I am convinced that the gas and electirc suppliers allow their customers to get into so much debt that it makes it is far easier staying with the current supplier to pay off the debt than switch to a new provider.

Whilst there may well be some truth in that statement, surely the solution still lies with the customer.

It never ceases to surprise me how so many people simply absolve themselves of any responsibility for their utility accounts.

They pay their direct debit, use gas and electricity and never even bother to look at their meter readings or check their quarterly bills, and then express amazement, dismay and anger that they have run up a big debit balance.

Those few who find they have run up a large credit balance, often express anger at the utility company for setting their DD too high.

Utility bills are one of the largest outgoings for most households and if people cannot keep an eye on these accounts, they have only themselves to blame.