We changed but british gas stopped it til we paid them off which we would anyway as we waited for bill, but they delayed it as we were paying by dd each month and so they just said we couldnt change until we had paid, but only told us this after 28 days so had to wait to change.
It is getting harder and harder to change suppliers even with the slightest debt, british gas actually reduced my direct debit amount as soon as I applied to change supplier and therefore created a debt and refused the transfer. I rang them up to complain and I had to pay it off over the phone and then they put the payment through twice, I think British gas are just dificult though but all suppliers have the right to prevent a transfer of supply if there is a debt. I can't see how putting a utility debt into an IVA would work as the contract is ongoing during the IVA and if the supplier is not getting the full amount owed then they have the right to stop the supply to the property and the only way it can be re-connected is paying that same supplier a re-connection fee. I might be wrong but I think putting utility debt into an IVA may not work out very well practically. Just a thought.
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I'm pretty sure that if is the same company you owe money to, that they will supply a meter.
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Would they be allowed to do that if the debt had been included in an IVA? I wouldn't have thought so.
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The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
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but contracts in an iva are terminated. You cant still use your credit card for example. Its just a thought I am not saying this is what happens but if I was a supplier and the money I was owed went into an IVA then I would cease to supply (disconnect) although I would still be the registered supplier and could refuse to transfer the supply until the debt was paid. I must strees it is only a thought we all know how the banks harass to get thier money perhaps utility suppliers will do thier best as well.
IVA.co.uk The best place for debt advice. Thanks to Melanie Giles, David Mond, David and J (Elv5) Kallis, Dand, Skippy, Andy Davie
I do not think that supplies can be cut just like that- in the case of the OAP the supplier was threatened with an injunction if they attempted it - they backed off. I believe there is a watchdog who deals with threatened cut-offs - it cannot be done if there are children, elderly or the sick and disabled - ie in receipt of higher care DLA and/or those on oxygen therapy
I've stuck with the same utility company since before I started before my IVA.
However, I still think that you could get a prepaid meter even if the previous debt had been effectively written off in an IVA.
I'd probably try a different company though if it were me.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I agree it is a difficult one. It would be nice to hear from anyone who has included debt to utility suppliers into thier IVA and see how they were affected. Perhaps it is a bit like HP on a car if you want to keep the car you pay for it outside of the IVA. I don't know what the case is but I would be concerned if someone put the utility debt into an IVA and then found out it hasn't worked out how they thought it might. I am merely just passing thoughts on and don;t know what the answer really is.
IVA.co.uk The best place for debt advice. Thanks to Melanie Giles, David Mond, David and J (Elv5) Kallis, Dand, Skippy, Andy Davie
Me neither Paul. Hopefully someone can come on and let us know exactly what happens.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
high everyone pre payment meters are a nightmare,and rip off,please try to avoid these at all costs.in the past i was installed a pre payment meter with british gas.when topping up with card a percentge went on the origanal debt a percentage went on charges out of a tenner you got aprox £5 or £6 of gas.plus you paid through the nose for the gas.in the summer its ok in the winter its a nightmare.when my debt was repaid i asked for a normal meter and was asked for a large bond.what a carry on i had trying to get that rip off meter out.even after the fuel increases over recent years i was paying more for my gas with that pre pay meter from british gas than i am now with edf.what a rip off.and i am talking over 6 years ago.
Last edited by MRBLUESKY on Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It does seem crazy that if you pay up front you pay more than someone paying by direct debit in arrears. i suppose the companies would argue that the meters cost money and the Post Office takes a cut but it still seems to me to be penalising those on low incomes or with impaired credit histories.
I'm glad that I'm ok with my current provider (Atlantic) so don't need to use one of those.
I can really sympathise with anyone who has to go down this route.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
