Millions on prepayment counters must make an urgent check before the heating extinguished

More than four million people with a preparation counter must make a vital check before deactivating their heating.

Like the weather report Improve many of us who would have decided now is the time to put out our central heating for the hottest months.

Elderly woman using a reimbursement gas counter. — Millions of people must make a preparation check to avoid falling in debtCredit: Alamy

But those with a prepayment counter need to be careful because they could find themselves indebted when they come to light their heating again.

Indeed, you must always pay on daily standing costs, which is costs to be connected to the grid.

You have to pay it even if you are currently using any gas or electricity.

The amount of the standing costs you need to pay depends on where you live, the price you find and the supplier you have.

On average, prepayment counter customers pay a permanent 26p electricity load per kWh and a gas load of 6.78p per kWh.

But if you have no credit on your meter, you will have to reimburse all the standing costs you need when you following Replace.

It could mean that you don’t have enough money On your counter to pay the electricity and the gas you want to use.

For example, if you owe £ 15 in standing charges, but recharge your meter by £ 20, the counter would take what you need and you would be with only £ 5.

This could mean that you are forced to recharge the next day.

Or if you have not put enough money in your account, it is possible that in the last resort, your supply can be disconnected.

Standing charges continue to increase despite the drop in gas and electricity costs – what it means for you and how to soften the blow

Alex Belsham-Harris, chief of Energy Policy in Citizens Advice, said that it was important to keep your counter completed, even in the summer.

He said: “When you are on a prepayment counter, these costs accumulate as a debt if you do not have a credit to pay it.

“We recommend that you keep your early reimbursement counter, even when you do not use your heating, as during the hotter months, as it avoids developing a large load debt, which you may have trouble reimbursing when you then compose your meter.”

How to recharge my preparation counter?

With a preparation counter, you pay for the energy you want to use in advance, which can help you keep above your expenses.

What if you can’t pay your bills

Delay on your energy bills can be extremely stressful.

If you have trouble paying what you need, contact your supplier as soon as possible.

Your supplier should help you find a solution, and you should be able to negotiate an agreement that works for both of you.

An option is to agree on a payment plan where you reimburse your debts in affordable payments.

You may reimburse your debts directly from your advantages via the direct fuel regime.

A fixed amount will be automatically taken to cover what you need more.

To be eligible, you must obtain one of the following advantages:

The income -based job seeker allowance
Income support
Employment and support compensation related to income
Retirement
Universal credit (but only if you don’t work)

If you cannot reach an agreement with your supplier, they can try to force you to install an early reimbursement counter.

In very rare cases, where you refuse to negotiate, your supplier could threaten you cut.

Your counter will tell you how much credit you have on your account.

This balance will fall when you use the energy you have paid for.

Your counter will warn you when your balance is low, which should give you time to complete before its balance falls to zero.

Your supplier should have given you a card or key that can be used to compose your energy meter when installing it.

Take the card or key to a pay area, a point of sale or a post office.

Just give them the key, as well as the money you want to recharge.

The minimum payment is £ 1 and you must completely complete books.

Once the credit is applied to your card or your key, you simply insert it into your meter and add the credit.

What should I do if I find it hard to recharge?

If you have a preparation counter and find it difficult to stay informed of your payments, there is a lot of help.

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert in Uswitch, explains: “To avoid going into debt, try to get used to completing regularly with enough money to cover your average monthly bill.

“If you have trouble paying your energy bill, contact your suppliers as soon as possible, and they should be able to offer you advice and support.”

Several energy companies have grant programs available to customers who find it difficult to cover their tickets.

The criteria vary according to your supplier and the amount you can obtain depends on your financial situation.

What energy bill help is available?

There are different ways to get help to pay your energy bills if you find it difficult to get out of it.

If you are in debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a refund plan before you put on a preparation counter.

This implies reimburse what you need in several payments over a defined period.

If your supplier offers you a refund plan, you don’t think you can afford, talk to them again to see if you can negotiate a better agreement.

Several Energy companies have diagrams Available for customers who have trouble covering their invoices.

But the eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can obtain depends on your financial situation.

For example, British gas Or Scottish gas customers who find it difficult to pay their energy bills can obtain subsidies up to £ 2,000.

British Gas also offers aid via his British Gas Energy family fund and individuals.

You don’t need to be a British gas client to request the second fund.

EDF, E.ON, Octopus energy And the Scottish energy offers all subsidies to customers in difficulty.

Thousands of vulnerable households lack additional help and protections by not registering in the Priority Services Register (PSR).

The service helps to take care of vulnerable householdslike those who are old or sick.

Some of the advantages include a prior warning plumbfree gas Safety checks and additional support if you have trouble.

Contact your energy business to see if you can apply.

For example, British gas Customers find it difficult to pay their energy bills May get subsidies up to £ 1,500.

EDF, E.ON and Octopus energy Also offer grants to customers in difficulty.

If you are with one of these energy companies, talk to its customer service team or consult their websites for more information.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Contact us by sending an email to [email protected].

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