Warning after energy company tries to massively increase local pensioner's payments.
A Southport councillor has lambasted British Gas for trying to massively increase an elderly resident's monthly direct debit without explanation.
Norwood Councillor Greg Myers is also warning bill payers to currently keep a keen eye out for letters from energy firms as they could have substantial financial implications, he explained:
"Residents, and especially those more elderly, need to be very careful to check anything coming through from energy suppliers recently. The letters may seem innocuous as they are rather brief and can easily be confused with the frequent promotional material that comes through your door - but they are anything but."
"An 88-year-old lady I know had one through that at first appeared very innocent, even actually quite helpful stating 'Let's get you back on track'. It went on to say "we've noticed that you'll need to pay a bit more each month' but that 'bit' was in fact a colossal jump from under £90 to £753.20 a month!"
"Worryingly, the envelope had lain on her sideboard for days seemingly unimportant and it wasn't until I spotted it and we opened it that we became aware of what they were intending to do. It's a staggering increase that caused huge concern as that would be over £9000 year for her - for a two-up-two-down semi."
"Also, just days before that letter she'd also had an estimated bill for nearly £1066 and they'd calculated her annual usage and reckoned it would just be over £3,000, so a total of just over £4k - so why on earth they were trying to get just over £9k a year from her I have no idea?"
"It remains a mystery as I've had to make repeated calls to them and still have not had a proper explanation despite repeatedly asking. As it turned out their estimates were slightly over as well."
"The issue still isn't fully sorted yet but thankfully headway is being made and there will now be a review of the amount but it could have had real financial knock-ons for her if it had just slipped through unchallenged."
"Some folks may think with all the talk of a price cap that the energy issue is resolved - it isn't. Even with the cap, prices have still doubled from earlier in the year so it will still cause real hardship for many."
"There's more than enough uncertainty coming from Government currently so the last thing residents need is energy companies also doing things like this on top."
"Residents need every penny in this cost of living crisis, so I'd strongly urge everyone to keep a sharp eye on what's coming through your letterbox presently and check any letters from energy companies that have already come through recently very carefully."
