As Britain is faced with the largest cost of living crisis in some 60 years, families and individuals across the United Kingdom are witnessing the reality of not being able to afford to pay their bills.
Energy is one of the hardest hitters at the moment, with regulator Ofgem's price cap expected to increase further to around £3,358 a year in October, before an anticipated increase in January 2023 comes once more.
Google trends data also has displayed a 2,400 per cent increase in the search term 'cant pay my bills' in the last seven days - leading to the Don't Pay UK campaign to encourage Britons to cancel their direct debits outright should the price cap rise come to fruition. More than 100,000 people have signed up to the campaign, despite experts warning that this action could land people in hot water.
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The Express reports that Myles Robinson from Boiler Central, has warned Brits of the dangers that this could cause, bringing more harm than good in the long run. He reiterated that the 'absolute very first thing' that people ought to do is contact their supplier as soon as possible.
He said: “They should discuss with you ways to pay what you owe them and come to an agreement. When coming to an agreement, your supplier should consider what you can afford to pay based on your income, outgoings, and any other debts you have.
"They will also consider how much energy you are likely to use in the future by looking at your past usage.”
Myles then explained that once all of the factors have been taken into account, the customer should then pay fixed instalments over a specified timeframe, which should be reasonable and affordable. To ensure the accuracy of energy bills, Myles also recommends that meter reading for both gas and electricity should be sent to suppliers each month.
This is because direct debits are based on estimated energy usage for the year, which can be reduced if the estimate proves to be higher than actual consumption. According to Ofgem's code of practice, energy providers 'must' and 'are required' to offer payment plans for those whose bills may be out of reach.
Customers can also request 'emergency credit' should they use a prepayment meter and not be able to top it up. However, support cannot be claimed from an energy company should their circumstances not be informed directly.
If customers stop paying their bills completely, or fail to adhere to the payment plan which has been agreed, their energy supplier may choose to install a prepayment meter.
Myles, added: “Failure to reach an agreement with your supplier may also result in them applying for a court warrant so they can visit your home and disconnect your energy supply but this is the last resort and your supplier must first offer you the chance to pay off any debt through a repayment plan.”
The same approach is thought to be taken on those who have compiled debts with their suppliers.
People in receipt of certain benefits are also entitled to request to have their bill paid directly from the benefits they receive. To do this, they should contact their Jobcentre.
If the claimant goes into debt with their supplier, they may also be able to pay the debt off through their benefits by using the Fuel Direct Scheme. This is available to those who are claiming Income Support, Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, and Pension Credit.
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