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Original poster

In debt with electric and don't want to pay

30 replies

OnwardsandOver · 31/12/2023 19:42

Was living in a 3 bed flat with 2 children and paying £77 for electric per month (flat was electric only). Was sent letters regularly and was in credit. Payment went up about 12 months ago to £216 and then to £397 by the following month.

I cancelled my direct debit as this was unaffordable, I was sent letters and then they came round to take a meter reading, eventually they stated I owe £5000, I've set up monthly payments

I've recently moved house, as its a new build its with a different utility company, do I have to change back to the old company as I'm in debt with them or can I just stay with the new company??

OP posts:
CanImakethisbetter · 31/12/2023 19:45

You don’t have to move company. Though they make an attempt to take over your supply since the debt is so much.

The old company will, more probably, just chase you separately. Which means letters, debt collection agency and so on

dementedpixie · 31/12/2023 19:48

You will still owe money to the original company regardless of who your new supplier is

LIZS · 31/12/2023 19:53

And if you gave not given them the new address you may well get a ccj awarded against you in your absence.

DanaBarrett · 31/12/2023 19:58

If you can’t afford your electricity debt, there is a grant available to cover it. You do need to meet certain criteria, but it helped us when we were stuck in a cycle of debt. You can find more details here: https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/grants-funding-for-energy-bills.aspx

Grants And Funding To Pay For Energy Bills. StepChange

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/grants-funding-for-energy-bills.aspx

puddypud · 31/12/2023 21:01

You still have to pay your debts even if you don't want to pay them. None of us want to pay for these things but unfortunately we have to. You don't get electricity for free. You'll get letters from debt collection agencies offering a repayment plan (which you can submit a reasonable offer that's likely to be accepted) and then a CCJ if you still can't be arsed to deal with it.

WhatsInStoreFor2024 · 31/12/2023 21:05

You don't want to pay??

Makes me think you are trying to dodge them? They will catch up with you eventually

SnowsFalling · 31/12/2023 21:16

I don't believe you need to change companies but you do need to look into setting up a payment plan with the supplier of your old property.

Whoever your suppliers are, it's worth contacting the British Gas fund
https://www.britishgas.co.uk/british-gas-energy-support-fund.html

And if you are on Facebook, Energy Support and advice uk is worth joining.

British Gas Energy Support Fund

We’ve announced the UK’s biggest ever energy support package worth £25 million. Find out how we can help you this winter.

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/british-gas-energy-support-fund.html

Whattodo112222 · 31/12/2023 21:17

If you don't pay you could end up with a ccj. Is it really worth it??

SnowsFalling · 31/12/2023 21:17

Oh, and take andcsubmit monthly readings in the new house so you know if the costs are getting too much.

Enjoy your new house.

TheIsleOfTheLost · 31/12/2023 21:22

So you decided to not pay for a year and think you shouldn't have to now? That's not really how obtaining services works. £5k is a hell of a lot to run up in one year, were you giving regular meter readings before?

FuckinghellthatsUnbelievable · 31/12/2023 21:25

You have to pay but they have to be reasonable about a plan. I’d do a budget and see what is affordable. I suspect if you offer them £100- 200 a month they’d accept it and you can slowly whittle it down.

Original poster
OnwardsandOver · 31/12/2023 21:31

TheIsleOfTheLost · 31/12/2023 21:22

So you decided to not pay for a year and think you shouldn't have to now? That's not really how obtaining services works. £5k is a hell of a lot to run up in one year, were you giving regular meter readings before?

This is what I'm wondering. £5000 seems a lot

OP posts:
SutWytTi · 31/12/2023 21:31

£5000 is very high, is it correct?

If it is not correct you can challenge it, but you have to pay what you owe.

Original poster
OnwardsandOver · 31/12/2023 21:34

How can I argue if its correct? never really used the heating as was middle flat so no need to. Only really used for lights, TV, cooker, washer and heating water.

OP posts:
Christmastree455555 · 31/12/2023 21:36

Did you take a final meter reading when you moved out? Was the bill the actual reading or an estimate?
you should have challenged it at the time, really hard to say there is a fault now you’ve moved out?
its a lot of elec - context 4 bed detached we use 100 elec a month x

LIZS · 31/12/2023 21:45

Utility companies are obliged to take meter readings periodically. In the meantime they use estimates or customer readings for bills. Did you supply opening and closing readings when you moved? Or could the new person have misread it when they did?

MintJulia · 31/12/2023 21:49

Did you not take meter readings every month and when you left? The company should be able to come up with a pretty accurate estimate. The energy support scheme should be able to help you.

Make sure you take readings monthly, with the new house. You need to track these things so you can budget properly.

hereistopositiveenergy · 31/12/2023 22:05

Look into backbilling and ask how they have accumulated that £5k figure as my Dad went fro being in credit, paying his bills quarterly to owing almost £2K. Turns out the back billed him which they can’t do so he got that refunded + 8% after we raised a complaint.

ActDottie · 31/12/2023 22:17

puddypud · 31/12/2023 21:01

You still have to pay your debts even if you don't want to pay them. None of us want to pay for these things but unfortunately we have to. You don't get electricity for free. You'll get letters from debt collection agencies offering a repayment plan (which you can submit a reasonable offer that's likely to be accepted) and then a CCJ if you still can't be arsed to deal with it.

This.

Oh how I wish I could just ignore utility bills and not pay them…

You have to pay! Not wanting to us not an excuse.

Mrsttcno1 · 31/12/2023 22:44

OnwardsandOver · 31/12/2023 21:34

How can I argue if its correct? never really used the heating as was middle flat so no need to. Only really used for lights, TV, cooker, washer and heating water.

Really easily- is it based on actual meter readings you provided yourself? How often were you providing readings? What was the reading the day you moved out- was that the reading on the final bill?

whatchagonnado · 01/01/2024 01:00

Bloody hell, you've got yourself into a mess. Contact your supplier and ask to speak to their debt team. They will have support in place for people struggling to pay bills
You can't ignore or not pay it though

Guibhyl · 01/01/2024 05:28

So did you go from paying £200+ a month electric to just paying nothing for a year? what did you think was going to happen, you’d just not have to pay anything and get free electric because you’d cancelled your direct debit? That’s not the way the world works unfortunately.

hanschristmassolo · 01/01/2024 07:44

You're an adult with adult responsibilities - you don't just stop paying because it doesn't suit you. You should have at least challenged it at the time rather than just cancelling payments

TeaKitten · 01/01/2024 10:03

Did you take meter readings? I assume you weren’t paying enough at £77 a month and ran up debt, and then obviously didn’t pay anything for a year so it’s added up to a large amount. No matter what you do you owe that money, there’s no escaping from it. But phone the company to see what payment plans they can afford and look into the grants to see what help you can get. But keep paying it or itl end up with baliffs.

Squiggles23 · 01/01/2024 10:11

I think they’ve got something wrong - have you checked the bills? Mainly the initial meter reading when you moved in (it might be on the inventory) and the meter reading when you left. I think you might be being charged for previous tenants not paying enough or a mistake.

If it were me I would send them an email or letter to make sure they have the meter readings and dates you were in the property. Don’t tell them your new address - I don’t think it will follow you but depends on size of debt really.