Investigations CorrespondentEnergy firms insist that stopping them from forcibly installing prepayment meters would cause a “significant” build up in bad debt that may have to be recouped from all customers’ bills by raising the price cap.Business Secretary Grant Shapps said he was ordering the UK’s biggest gas and electricity firms to stop forcing families onto prepayment,
Mr Shapps pledged to crack down on “trigger happy” firms “mistreating” vulnerable customers” following an month’s long investigation byEnergy firms are fiercely at odds with the Government, arguing that they have already drastically increased the support they provide to customers this winter through millions of pounds of direct financial assistance, as well as offering payment holidays, restructured payment plans and emergency credit.
She said: “Suppliers also have a duty to manage debt and to try and prevent customers falling further into arrears. If the option to install a prepayment meter – after exhausting other options – is removed, then it needs to be acknowledged that this will lead to a significant increase in bad debt, which has already been rising steeply in recent months, and is ultimately recouped from customer bills.
Suppliers say they have already been discussing energy suppliers’ “growing concerns” about customers’ debts with Government ministers, Ofgem and consumer groups.
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Government orders ban on energy firms forcing struggling families onto prepayment meters🔴 Breaking: Government orders UK’s biggest energy companies to stop forcing struggling families onto prepayment meters, pledging to crack down on “trigger happy” firms “mistreating” vulnerable customers ⬇️ It follows deankirby_'s investigation: deankirby_ Govt not Ofgem Ofgem is like the reverse alternative of the three wise monkeys, see nothing, hear nothing & do nothing – until pushed
Source: i newspaper - 🏆 8. / 89 Read more »
Energy firms charged just £22 for court warrants to force families onto prepayment metersThe costs for the energy firms to force families onto prepayment meters are set at £22 per warrant – with courts granting up to 1,000 at a time in hearings lasting only 20 minutes 🔴 deankirby_ investigates deankirby_ UK Energy Safety Net: deankirby_ Where is the HSE in this scandal?
Source: i newspaper - 🏆 8. / 89 Read more »
Grant Shapps launches crackdown on energy firms forcing financially stretched households to switch to prepayment metersEnergy suppliers have been told they must stop the practice of forced fitting prepayment meters as the solution to families struggling to pay bills, and make greater efforts to offer additional credit, debt forgiveness or tools such as debt advice. Well if Shapps can do that, he can launch a crackdown on the rip off bills, but oh, he cant do that.... Prepayment meters must be a last resort and must not be more expensive than normal meters and smart meters. Finally
Source: SkyNews - 🏆 35. / 67 Read more »
Crackdown on energy firms over rise in prepayment metersSuppliers not doing enough for vulnerable customers will be named and shamed, the government says. a woman with one of those cards in her hand stopped me on the street the other day & asked me for £12 (!) pounds so she could top up her gas meter. I couldn't afford that especially as I don't turn on my own heating AT ALL & use battery op fairy lights mostly
Source: BBCLondonNews - 🏆 115. / 51 Read more »
Crackdown on energy firms over rise in prepayment metersSuppliers not doing enough for vulnerable customers will be named and shamed, the government says. Just a plot to get everyone on a digital meter.. 10.64p per KwH for gas ? How old is that stock image How thick do you have to be to believe this? Stuff like this is 100% organised between govt and their Tory donors. They might be telling them to stop now, but it's all been hand in hand so far, it's not a con the govt have suddenly noticed.
Source: BBCNews - 🏆 3. / 97 Read more »
Labour pledge to 'extend' windfall tax to protect families from soaring energy billsRachel Reeves and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer were at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, where the party called for a 'clean power alliance' of countries to help bring down energy prices. Unlikely to happen though. Starmer’s got form for breaking his pledges. Sky *YET AGAIN* acting as Labour's mouthpiece. It is honestly ridiculous at this point. Every time the Conservatives propose something we IMMEDIATELY get a headline saying 'Tory plans criticised by _____'. The bias is insane. The establishment want weak old Starmer in. Another incredibly smart Labour policy. Tax energy companies further, already at 65%. Targeting the suppliers in the UK, where most of the smaller suppliers are struggling and/or going out of business. And the energy producers, who are not domiciled in the UK so out of scope...
Source: SkyNews - 🏆 35. / 67 Read more »