https://sputniknews.com/20230202/uk-energy-watchdog-opens-urgent-probe-into-forced-installation-of-pre-pay-meters-1106918796.html
UK Vitality Watchdog Opens ‘Pressing’ Probe Into Pressured Set up of Pre-Pay Meters
UK Vitality Watchdog Opens ‘Pressing’ Probe Into Pressured Set up of Pre-Pay Meters
Pre-payment meters oblige homeowners to ‘top-up’ credit score on an digital key or good card at retailers or on-line — which can show tough for the disabled and mentally-ill individuals focused by British Fuel.
2023-02-02T12:20+0000
2023-02-02T12:20+0000
2023-02-02T12:20+0000
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The UK’s vitality watchdog has launched an “pressing” investigation into suppliers sending bailiffs to interrupt into susceptible bill-payers properties to put in pre-pay meters with out permission.Regulator Ofgem introduced the probe into British Fuel on Thursday amid the rising furore over its hiring of German-based debt assortment agency Arvato Monetary Options to pressure their means into properties and exchange current meters.A significant British newspaper revealed that a few of these focused had youngsters, had been severely bodily disabled or had been mentally ailing. They included a middle-aged lady described in a notice to the installer as “extreme psychological well being bipolar,” together with a mom whose “daughter is disabled and has a hoist and electrical wheelchair.”Their current meters had been changed with pay-as-you-go models, which have an digital key or good card which customers should ‘high up’ with credit score at retailers or on-line — a problem for the aged, disabled and people with psychological well being points.Households with pre-payment meters are additionally unable to entry probably the most advantageous tariff offers from suppliers, which means they find yourself paying greater charges than month-to-month bill-payers. “The vitality disaster isn’t any excuse for unacceptable behaviour in direction of any buyer, notably these in susceptible circumstances,” the regulator mentioned.Enterprise Secretary Grant Shapps mentioned he was “horrified” by the revelations within the newspaper report, whereas Labour shadow local weather and web zero secretary Ed Miliband demanded the federal government “ban the pressured set up of prepayment meters this winter.”British Fuel, a subsidiary of transnational vitality big Centrica, carries the title of the previous nationalised gasoline provide utility. It is among the “Massive Six” vitality corporations that invoice clients for each gasoline and electrical energy provided by producers by way of infrastructure firms.
https://sputniknews.com/20220827/lives-will-be-lost-this-winter-due-to-ofgems-energy-price-cap-rise-uk-charity-says-1100050909.html
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uk, britain, british gasoline, ofgem, pre-payment meters, gasoline, electrical energy
uk, britain, british gasoline, ofgem, pre-payment meters, gasoline, electrical energy
Pre-payment meters oblige homeowners to ‘top-up’ credit score on an digital key or good card at retailers or on-line — which can show tough for the disabled and mentally-ill individuals focused by British Fuel and its agency of German debt collectors.
The UK’s vitality watchdog has launched an “pressing” investigation into suppliers sending bailiffs to interrupt into susceptible bill-payers properties to put in pre-pay meters with out permission.
A significant British newspaper revealed that a few of these focused had youngsters, had been severely bodily disabled or had been mentally ailing. They included a middle-aged lady described in a notice to the installer as “extreme psychological well being bipolar,” together with a mom whose “daughter is disabled and has a hoist and electrical wheelchair.”
Their current meters had been changed with pay-as-you-go models, which have an digital key or good card which customers should ‘high up’ with credit score at retailers or on-line — a problem for the aged, disabled and people with psychological well being points.
“We’re launching an pressing investigation into British Fuel and we can’t hesitate to take agency enforcement motion,” mentioned an Ofgem spokesperson. “It’s unacceptable for any provider to impose pressured installations on susceptible clients struggling to pay their payments earlier than all different choices have been exhausted and with out finishing up thorough checks to make sure it’s secure and practicable to take action.”
27 August 2022, 05:45 GMT
Enterprise Secretary Grant Shapps mentioned he was “horrified” by the revelations within the newspaper report, whereas Labour shadow local weather and web zero secretary Ed Miliband demanded the federal government “ban the pressured set up of prepayment meters this winter.”
British Fuel, a subsidiary of transnational vitality big Centrica, carries the title of the previous nationalised gasoline provide utility. It is among the “Massive Six” vitality corporations that invoice clients for each gasoline and electrical energy provided by producers by way of infrastructure firms.
