Utility Payments
Electric
Gas and electric arrears are treated as priority debts as your supply can be disconnected for non-payment.
It is important that you contact the electric and/or gas supplier straight away to make a payment arrangement.
Firstly: Check whose name is on the bill. You are only liable for arrears from the date you moved into the property. Any question about liability should be taken up with the fuel company.
Secondly: If you think that your bills are high, check that they haven't been calculated using estimates. If they have, then ring the company with an accurate reading.
Finally: Make an arrangement. Bills are issued quarterly. If it is easier you can ask for the bills to be paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
If you have a bank account you could arrange to have payments made by direct debit. A discount is usually given when payments are made this way.
Use the Personal Budget Sheet to work out what you can afford to pay. This figure must cover current consumption plus something off the arrears. If the company does not accept the offer, start the payments. Fuel companies have a Code of Practice in which they should accept offers of payment at an affordable rate.
Making Arrangements
Instalments
Arrange to pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly before the next bill arrives.
Budget Schemes
The fuel company calculates how much fuel you use on a yearly basis and you pay a set amount weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Any arrears can then be spread over the year and included in the instalment payment. Only agree to pay off the arrears at a level you can afford.
Direct Debits
Are a cheaper arrangement for paying for your fuel as discounts are given.
Pre-Payment Meter
You pay for fuel that you use, together with an affordable amount off the arrears. This is paid for, by using a card, which is topped up at the Post Office.
With a pre-payment meter the standing charges may be higher and if you cannot afford to top up the card then you will have no fuel.
Direct Payments/Fuel Direct
If you are in receipt of Income Support or Income based Job Seekers Allowance you could ask the Department for Work & Pensions to take weekly deductions from your benefit and pay it direct to the fuel company.
This covers the fuel you currently use together with a set amount towards the arrears.
To arrange direct payments, contact the Department for Work & Pensions and advise the fuel company that you have done so.
If the fuel company says that they no longer do this scheme then still pursue it. The fuel company does not have the power to make this decision, the Department for Work & Pensions does.
Some useful telephone numbers:
Energywatch (gas and electric) 0161 236 3484
United Utilities 01925 461 1100
Gas
Gas and electric arrears are treated as priority debts as your supply can be disconnected for non-payment.
It is important that you contact the electric and/or gas supplier straight away to make a payment arrangement.
Firstly: Check whose name is on the bill. You are only liable for arrears from the date you moved into the property. Any question about liability should be taken up with the fuel company.
Secondly: If you think that your bills are high, check that they haven't been calculated using estimates. If they have, then ring the company with an accurate reading.
Finally: Make an arrangement. Bills are issued quarterly. If it is easier you can ask for the bills to be paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
If you have a bank account you could arrange to have payments made by direct debit. A discount is usually given when payments are made this way.
Use the Personal Budget Sheet to work out what you can afford to pay. This figure must cover current consumption plus something off the arrears. If the company does not accept the offer, start the payments. Fuel companies have a Code of Practice in which they should accept offers of payment at an affordable rate.
Making Arrangements
Instalments
Arrange to pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly before the next bill arrives.
Budget Schemes
The fuel company calculates how much fuel you use on a yearly basis and you pay a set amount weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Any arrears can then be spread over the year and included in the instalment payment. Only agree to pay off the arrears at a level you can afford.
Direct Debits
Are a cheaper arrangement for paying for your fuel as discounts are given.
Pre-Payment Meter
You pay for fuel that you use, together with an affordable amount off the arrears. This is paid for, by using a card, which is topped up at the Post Office.
With a pre-payment meter the standing charges may be higher and if you cannot afford to top up the card then you will have no fuel.
Direct Payments/Fuel Direct
If you are in receipt of Income Support or Income based Job Seekers Allowance you could ask the Department for Work & Pensions to take weekly deductions from your benefit and pay it direct to the fuel company.
This covers the fuel you currently use together with a set amount towards the arrears.
To arrange direct payments, contact the Department for Work & Pensions and advise the fuel company that you have done so.
If the fuel company says that they no longer do this scheme then still pursue it. The fuel company does not have the power to make this decision, the Department for Work & Pensions does.
Some useful telephone numbers:
Energywatch (gas and electric) 0161 236 3484
United Utilities 01925 461 1100
Water
Water companies can no longer disconnect your supply for arrears.
Bills are normally issued half yearly in April and October. You can ask to pay bills weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
Because water is an ongoing bill, current water rates should be entered under outgoings on your Personal Budget Sheet .
Any arrears should be treated as a non-priority debt along with other credit debts. Your Personal Budget Sheet will help you calculate how much you can afford to pay towards any arrears.
Options
Direct Payments
If you are in receipt of Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance you can ask the Department for Work & Pensions to deduct payments from your benefit and pay it direct to the water company. This would cover your current water rates payment and a set amount towards any arrears.
To do this, contact the Department for Work & Pensions and advise the water company that you have done so.
Water Meter
If you don't use much water - i.e. if you are single or out most of the day, it may be cheaper to ask for a water meter to be fitted. This means you are only charged for the water you actually use.
The water company will be able to advise you if this may be a cheaper option.
Payment Assistance Scheme
This scheme offers customers with more than 12 months arrears a chance to make a fresh start by reducing the arrears balance by a pound for every pound the customer pays. A genuine willingness must be shown to pay their current years water charge to United Utilities.
The customer must be experiencing genuine hardship and their personal circumstances must be unlikely to change within the future.
To qualify the customer must fit into one of the following categories:
- State pensioners
- Single parent families
- Customers with long-term disability or ill health
- Customers who are long term unemployed
- Customers on Income support
- Customers in multiple debt situations
Applications can be made only when you have been in contact with advice services.
High Bills on a Water Meter
If you are on a water meter and on a low income you may be able to get your bill capped to a lower amount.
To qualify you must be on a water meter and someone must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income related Job Seekers Allowance
- Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit
- Working Tax Credit
- Desquamation
- Weeping skin disease
- Incontinence
- Abdominal stoma
- Renal failure (requiring dialysis at home)
To apply for this you need to ring United Utilities for an application form on 0845 309 3001.
