Utility bills after bankruptcy

[pm.e]

Hi,

Woke up this morning to a £600 water bill and £319.15 electricity bill.

Electric will be cut off on or after the 8th October 2007.

I petitioned for BR this morning (more details under separate post).

What can I do about these bills, and to make sure my electricity is not cut off.

I didnt put these creditors on my BR forms.

I thought this would all be over, nightmare!

Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks,

[R1chard]

i owe a big electricity bill aswell (330), i have since had a key meter installed and they take 5 pound per week of the meter to start reducing the debt, i can either wait till its cleared this way or at any time pay it off in full.

not sure about water - but im sure by law they cant cut you off? maybe inm wrong

[bagpuss]

We had been paying £50 per month to BG for our electricity for ages...then one quarter i got a bill that showed i was about £100 in debt as my direct debits wasnt covering the bills...odd i thought as there had never been a problem before. I rang BG and upped the direct debit to £70 per month, the lady i spoke to said was i sure as this was too much...i said yes i would rarther be in credit than debit.

Now to be honest i didnt really look at my bills too much after that as i was sure and told that i was paying far to much...so just thought a nice little credit amount would build up.

Shock horror .... about a year later i fot a letter saying they wanted to up my monthly payments to £174 per month cos i was £900 in debt !!

How could are bills have increased so much...same house, same rooms etc..i dug out all my bills and my bills had gone from £100 a quarter to over £300 !!

I got no joy from BG...i had to investigate myself via the internet.

I found that i was on economy 7....now if you work shifts or have a emersion (sp) heater then great...I dont do or have either.

So i rang BG and asked that what tarif i was on..they then confirmed it was economy 7... i requested they remove me from that and put me onto the single rate tarif.

They have backdated the bills to when i first joined with them 4 years ago...and got a credit of £500 put onto the account...and have just had my first electrick bill after sorting it all out and guess what ...£111 .... back to it should be.

If your bills give day and night readings then you are on economy 7...if you dont work shifts or dont have a emersion heater then get off economy 7 and onto the single rate tarif.

Thousands have been stung like this cos they dont realise that economy 7 night rates are low but there day rate is alot higher than the standard single rate.

Please check what tarif you are on..xx

[MelanieGiles]

You will be able to include these debts in your bankruptcy, just provide the details to the Official Receiver.

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[MelanieGiles]

You will be able to include these debts in your bankruptcy, just provide the details to the Official Receiver.

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[Adam Davies]

Hi
Do as Melanie has stated and you will probably be put on a prepayment meter of some sort.At least you will know where you are.
Regards

Andy Davie
IVA.co.uk Spokesperson

About me:
http://www.iva.co.uk/andy_davie_profile.asp

IVA Helpline: 0800 197 4838
http://www.iva.co.uk/iva_helpline.asp

[Adam Davies]

Hi
Do as Melanie has stated and you will probably be put on a prepayment meter of some sort.At least you will know where you are.
Regards

Andy Davie
IVA.co.uk Spokesperson

About me:
http://www.iva.co.uk/andy_davie_profile.asp

IVA Helpline: 0800 197 4838
http://www.iva.co.uk/iva_helpline.asp

[pm.e]

Hi thank you all for the posts,

One question, what about them cutting me off electricity?

[R1chard]

they must provide electricity between 9 at night and 9 in the morning in the summer.

8 at night and 8 in the morning in winter.

[bagpuss]

sorry didnt have the answer re IVA but thought it might help with the high bills. x

[pm.e]

Hi,

So they can cut me off then?

What if I tell them Im BR, and change my supplier to another source?

Could they insist on providing a prepayment system or do they have rights to do this if the debt is in BR?

I just wanted to make a fresh start through BR, but this doesnt appear to be the case??

[MelanieGiles]

They will be unlikely to cut you off due to your bankruptcy, and you are better staying with the same supplier than being credit checked and refused by another. A prepayment system might be necessary, or a metered supply, until you restore their confidence in you.

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[pm.e]

Hi Melanie,

Whats a metered supply?

[MelanieGiles]

It is where you have a meter which you keep feeding with coins or tokens.

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[pm.e]

thanks Melanie,