<
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-gas-prepayment-meter-debt-energy-bills-investigation-wrgnzt6xs>
"British Gas routinely sends debt collectors to break into customers’ homes and
force-fit pay-as-you-go meters, even when they are known to have extreme
vulnerabilities, a
Times investigation can reveal.
An undercover reporter worked for Arvato, a company used by British Gas to
pursue debts, amid rocketing energy prices and more customers falling behind
with their bills.
The reporter accompanied debt agents in below-freezing conditions as they
worked with a locksmith to break into the home of a single father of three
young children and switch it to a prepayment meter. If families with these gas
meters cannot afford to top up, their heating is cut off.
On another occasion agents were sent by British Gas with a court warrant to
force-fit a meter at the home of a young mother with a four-week-old baby. Her
bills have risen sevenfold during the cost of living crisis.
According to job notes seen by
The Times, other British Gas customers who
have had prepayment meters fitted by force in recent weeks include a woman in
her fifties described as “severe mental health bipolar”, a woman who “suffers
with mobility problems and is partially sighted” and a mother whose “daughter
is disabled and has a hoist and [an] electric wheelchair”.
After being approached for comment, British Gas suspended the practice of
force-fitting prepayment meters. It began an investigation into the “deeply
concerning” findings, adding: “This is not who we are — it’s not how we do
business.”
Last month Centrica, the owner of British Gas, said it expects to report a more
than sevenfold increase in net profits for last year after benefitting from
volatile energy prices."
Via Farhad A and Christoph S.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
