Scottish power.......Help Please

[hillsy]

Does anyone know if you can add an outstanding utility bill to your IVA after it has been running for several months. I explained in a previous post that due to Scottish power cancelling my Direct Debit, they sent me a bill for £226.72. I have been paying them £25.00 per month for the past 5 months now want to increase payments to £84.50 per month to cover usage plus outstanding bill over 12 months. An increase of £59.50, which we really can not afford. If I change my supplier and pay £50.00 per month to them that would be more affordably and have outstanding bill added to IVA. I have contacted my IVA company, but person I need to speak to is out of the office until 1st September. Any Advice please !

[Jan01]

Don't know keeping this to the top of the forum for you for an expert to reply.

Jan

[Viki.W]

Hey Hillsy, is your debt from before your IVA or after? I think if before, it can be added. Please wait for Melanie or Andy on this one. X

[worryhead]

Hi
Scottish power have a trust that you can apply to to get outstanding debt wiped off, i work at a not for profit organisation as a support worker and i have wiped off loads of debts like this, all gas/electricity companies have a grants board, unfortunatly with Scottish Power a not for profit organisation will need to apply on your behalf as they do not award individuals like British Gas and N Power. Do you have Welfare Support services where you live? If not CAB might help you with the application, its worth a try if you can not get it put into your IVA. Hope that helps [:)]

[Julie]

Thats brilliant advice worryhead - would be great if there was a list of not for profit organisations around ?

[worryhead]

I only know a few, not sure if i would be allowed to list them, maybe admin will let me know [:)] my company is a charity and covers hull, grimsby and s****horpe. But there is another one that does a wider area that we send our referrals on too if there out of our area. Hope i am not getting into trouble for posting this, i promise there is no commission involved ( that would be good though hehe) [:D]

[worryhead]

Also Npower have a new payment plan called FirstStep, if you are paying more then 10% of your income on your gas/elecrtric they can reduce your payments for 6 months and wipe off any exsisting balance as long as you stick to the lower payments for 6 months. I know its only 6 months but it gives you a break from the huge bills for now and gets rid of any existing debt [:)] you just need to ask for FirstStep and explain and they start it straight away. Just incase any others out there are struggling. Its just a shame Scottish power do not let you apply yourself [:0] hopefully this will change in the future.

[admin]

Hi worryhead,
Thanks for posting that really useful information, and yes it would certainly be OK to go ahead with those links [:D]
cheers, admin

[kallis3]

I never knew that. It's good information to store away.

[worryhead]

Hi thanks for that, well there is the one in my area who i am with which is www.humbercare.org.uk and the one that has support workers everywhere, or they will know someone in your area is www.bostonmayflower.org.uk/ we are all funded by supporting people so it costs you nothing for help and advice. Thanks for allowing me to pass this on, i hope this helps people [:D]

[Adam Davies]

Hi
Back to the original question
It is difficult to include a utility bill if you are still using their services.
The best that you can do is to try and negotiate a lower repayment of the outstanding debt.Have you tried a pre payment meter ?
Regards