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Gas, electricity and phone companies can disconnect you if you haven't paid your
bills, without having to go to court. But they should give you written
notice that they will disconnect you.
Gas and electricity companies must also take notice of customers in
need. They should allow you to repay money you owe over at least a year,
if that is all you can afford, instead of disconnecting you or fitting a
pre-payment meter (which would mean you would have to pay for your gas or
electricity upfront).
If you come up with an amount you can afford to pay, but the company won't
accept your offer you should:
- seek advice, for example, from a
 Citizen's
Advice Bureau (your local CAB
is listed in the phone book)
or;
- get in touch with the gas and electricity consumer body, Energywatch
(tel.
0845 601 3131 electricity, 0845 906 0708 gas) or the phone company watchdog,Ofcom
(tel. 020 7981 3040 or 0845 456 9000).
Responsibility for the bill
The person who has to pay any gas or electricity debt is the person who
asked for the supply. Some energy companies in the past have demanded
payment from anyone living at the house when the gas or electricity was being
used. They were seen as 'beneficial users' of the supply, but now this
does not seem to be legal, and if you are in this situation, you may be able to
stop them insisting that you have to pay. If a company is trying to make
you pay a bill that you don't think you are responsible for, get in touch with
the energy watchdog, Energywatch
for
advice.
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last updated
16/08/07
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