Anyone not able to pay your gas/elec

[Mydogatemypurse]

Exactly that. I literally dont have the funds to pay what they are asking. Ive tightened my belt, used food banks yet im racking up arrears by the day. They are saying they are going to fit pre payment meters that the money will go off the debt. But i don't know how as its already over £1000. Surely im not the only one in this postion. What will the companies do if so many like me end up like this. Im getting proper anxiety over the next increase.

British Gas has opened their trust fund times help people clear their energy debts. You don't need to be their customer to access the fund.

I would apply to the trust fund and see if you are successful

Really. Thank you so much. Ill look into it now x

Just came on to say about British Gas and not needing to be a customer. Lots about it in the news recently.

How/Why have the let it get to over £1000?

how big is your house/how many people?

my friend rang BG yesterday to try to switch from the standard variable rate to a fixed rate, but they're (apparently) not offering any at the moment. Second hand the conversation was very confusing, but she thinks his will go up 52% in October, but said there's a lot of help being offered for those that can't pay.

the £400 that everyone is getting will knock a chunk off your debt/give you a pre pay buffer, whatever they do. Hope you're 'allowed' it in fuel rather than paying off the debt!!

check to see if you qualify for any of the rest of the already stated grants!

join all the winter preparation threads!!

I was always under the impression pre pay was a lot more expensive, but on another thread many who are on pre pay said it's really not, so hopefully you'll be able to afford to use what you need x

Because they increased my dd to £256 and its bounced numerous times in last 6 months and what i have been able to pay hasnt covered the cost.

Im paying the fuel allowance straight off it when i get it.

Moneysaving Expert is a good place to find what help's available.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/budgeting-debt-help/

Has anything changed with your finances such as a reduction in income, if so, have you done a benefit check?

Also do you have other debts, if so have you been keeping up with those at the expense of paying your energy bills? If that's the case, you need to review your whole finances, see if you can reduce your other bills like broadband or TV packages, seek what benefit help is available, but if you've been paying unsecured debts, you probably need a formal solution as you shouldn't be missing essential bills to pay loans or credit cards.

It’s summer
surely your bill, whilst the cost per unit is higher, is much much lower than a 3 months ago at end of winter?

OP, how many of you are in the house and do you use things like a tumble dryer/hair dryer on a regular basis? If there's only 2-3 of you and you don't use those items, £256 seems a high monthly amount. Do you they have up to date meter readings as they might show you've used less than they're anticipating.

We have a prepayment electric meter (the previous owner had it installed as she had dodgy tenants)

I am finding it really good to see and measure how much were using per day. We have a 2 bed house and it rarely goes over £2 a day on a variable rate. Including washing, mowing and cooking. WFH and Xbox too. There’s 4 of us

I quite like it at the moment. No silly direct debits or anything like that

God £2 a day sounds unreal. I have given meter readings. Ive had a gas plumber come to check for leaks because I myself thought it was too high.

There are 3 of us, 2 kids. Mid terrace. Ive always been very frugal with energy. I work from home but I won't put the heating on when its just me. I haven't got an oven just a hob. And we have showers not baths. No dishwasher. No tumble dryer. One TV.

I was insisting its too high but its what they are saying I owe.. Its a smart meter btw.

It seems really high for the type of usage you are describing. Can you see on the smart meter what you are using and when?

@Mismatchingpeglady

i also have a pre pay electric and gas always have done
large 3 bed houses 2 bathrooms
don’t use the dryer much washing machine maybe every other day 3 adults

but I also have a huge hot tub 😂😂

without the tub my electric use is around £3 a day
before the rise it was about 2 a day

with the tub on 24/7 and filtering for 12 hours every day and keeping the temp to around 36 degrees it goes up by about £3 a day to £6 a day

I can afford this and will be able to afford it even when the prices go up otherwise I wouldn’t have bought it
but I save money as I don’t go to the gym anymore and don’t go out to pubs and I don’t smoke so that money goes towards my electricity for my tub

I don’t get where people are getting these huge DD from

Your bill is more than my pre pay electric and that with my hot tub on as well
your electric dosent seem right

totally get you! No idea why such huge DD’s!

We used to have a hot tub and still our daily cost never went over £2 (before the previous price hike though!!)

I know that prepayment meters have a bad rep but I love mine. I just stick £45 a month on it via the app and it’s done.
No keys, no trips to the shop, nothing!

😍

Sorry I mean £55 - as we rarely spend over that per month.

some days we’re both out at work and we end the day on 90p!

How is your water being heated?

If I were you, one thing I would do is unplug everything after the children have gone to bed (luckily summer and a full moon!) so you should get away without any lighting. Also, don't use any heating/hot water. At that point record your meter readings. In the ideal world, they will be the same when you wake up. You've ruled out a gas problem, so if the there's any movement there - could be a faulty meter. Also, if there's any movement on the electric, is there any chance someone else could be connected to your supply? Of not, again a faulty meter.

£256 a month doesn’t sound right, ask them to bill you the actual instead. We pay on receipt of the invoice based on the smart meter reading, it’s about £90 a month for gas and electric on a variable rate. We live in a four bed house, two adults and a child. I work from home so there are increased costs because of that!

British Gas Energy Trust link for whoever needs it: britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available/

That sounds way too high. We are two adults in a fairly large 3 bed semi and last month our combined gas and electric bill was £72. The highest it has ever been was in winter when it hit £140. I refuse to have a direct debit as it gives the fuel companies too much power, we submit meter reading every month and just pay what we owe.

Ive sent them meter readings today. Im going to take the advice to record the reading before bed and switch everything off.
My water is heated by a combi boiler set to the lowest setting.
Listening to everyone it does sound really really high. Ill let you know how i get on.
I honestly cant imagine my neighbours using my electricty id be 😪

I'm in a 4 bed and my DD is 89 a month for both gas and electric variable rate.

Yours seems excessive to me!

Is that how much your direct debit is? How much are you actually using? If you have a smart meter, does it actually tell you on there what you are using? If not, use meter readings abd/or your bill to look at how much you are using, Vs how much they're trying to get you to bank/ pay off your debt.

Although that is your DD how much are you actually using each month? Were with Octpus and i give meter readings every month and am billed according, however my DD is set at £161 in order to build credit up for the full year. Last month our combined bill was £80. Your £256 is that to cover previous debt or is that what theyve estimated your useage on, it does sound high