Sorry Pelham, Just one comment, BG CAN obtain a Warrant just using "The Occupier" and the address. Even if they have a name for the tenant of the property they will also include "The Occupier" on the Warrant, just in case the previous tenant has moved out.

Your case is a tricky one for E-on. If you lived at the property with your partner you are technically liable, but thankfully out of all the suppliers E-on are being the most reasonable at the moment. If this was the summer they would consider disconnecting as a PPM cannot be fitted. As with the other posts talk to them as a matter of urgency, they will help

Unfortunately this is standard practice for Southern. The only advice I can give you if cant find the half required, is a damage limitation exercise and agree a PPM for the Gas or the Electric, not both. By doing this they may agree to put the joint debt on the PPM and would then set up a D/D for the other. I know it is not much of an option but in my experience it may be your only option as they are in their rights to ask for a PPM to be fitted. As for the Officer, chances are you wont see him again, hes got plenty more people to see !

ATD is correct, the normal procedure is that Opus will try to contact you the day before the Warrant is to be actioned to try to resolve the problem. They should have also sent you a "Human Rights Letter" advising you of the date of the Court hearing. As far as the locks being changed the locksmith should have left a letter with a phone number to contact as the locksmith is required to deliver the keys to you and the Warrant Officer should have left a letter advising you of what has happened and to contact Opus to try to resolve the problem.

Hi Forgottenone, read your posts, try to keep calm. It seems SP s aim is to get you to commit to a PPM which you obviously dont want to do. The problem you have is that, to say the Landlord wouild not want a PPM is not a good enough reason for SP, or any Utility Company for that matter. I would take the initiative and go to your Benefit office and instigate the Fuel Direct route. I would also talk to the CAB to assisit you with this. You certainly fall into the "Fuel Poverty" bracket (no disrespect intended) which means that SP MUST treat your situation as a special case, including putting you on a social tarrif. As far as changing suppliers is concerned I think it highly unlikely they will allow this, so would not even look at this as an option.

Hi Longshot, yet another case of a Utility company getting it wrong. In reality I am not aware of any legal rights you may have as regards to negotiating repayments, but as a rule the Company would look to recoup the overpayment in 12 months, in my experience. If this was not affordable to you I would advise you put in writing to them a payment plan which you can afford, and start making the payments. If you look from Scottish Powers point of view, the only recourse they have is to install a pre-payment meter, which if you refuse, they would require a Magistrates Court Warrant for, which if you object on the grounds you have given, will not be granted by the Magistrates. You also have the right to involve Energywatch who will take up the matter on your behalf and are sometimes quiet effective. Hope this helps.

To be fair to ATD within the "Utility" business, Field Reps (which I assume ATD s role was) in the main have very little latitude. Although they will report to the particular Utility Company on the situation, it is normally a person behind a computer screen who makes the final decision. In many cases these decisions tend not to take into account the actual facts or cicumstances but it is easier to pass the matter onto either an external DCA or to court for a Warrant. As I have previously posted, in Rosies case she, in my opinion is not liable, and I would suggest, would be difficult to enforce in court. However, I have come across cases where, because the customer did not defend the action, (because they felt that they were not liable) judgements have been granted. This is not to say, these have not been stopped once the true situation has been established (normally at the "death".

I tend to agree with "surface" unless the supplier was notified by the Tenant of a joint tenancy or occupancy then Rosie cannot be liable for the bills as she has no actual or implied contract with them.

Fuel Direct is normally an alternative to PPM s if a meter is not an option, for example in Emma s case where there is a disability in the household or a location where you cannot get to a shop easily to get credit or if you live in an area where the supplier is not allowed to fit one due to the "shipper" - (mainly new housing developments). I agree it is a good way of paying off arears.

Hi Mum, pleased it got sorted

Hey Gregg, talk to the supplier immediately, as once they are aware there are kids in the house they should put a PPM in. They do have the right to disconnect Gas supplies until October - during the Winter months they are not allowed to for obvious reasons. Yes, there should have been a Court Hearing to allow you to respond, which you should have been notified about. The rules between Gas and Electric are slightly different, as with Electric if there is an outside meter they will just fit a PPM. With Gas, as the Warrant of Entry only covers accessing the meter, if the meter is outside and no-one is at home they cannot install a PPM without "purging" the supply i.e. checking the appliances are working correctly inside the house - which the Warrant does not cover, hence the decision is normally made to disconnect.

Sorry ATD, but normally Magistrates arent really interested in seeing financial statements. However, they are more than likely to ask why no agreement can be reached. I agree, the rep is likely to withdraw the application before the hearing if they attend, especially if "Poormum" can settle most of the bill. This is not the reps decision though, it has to be put to the supplier before the hearing by the rep. So "Mum" I would go to the court, about 15 minutes before the court time given on the notification, report to the Court Ushers Office, telling them what you are there for, they will advise you of what court to attend. Also request that they notify the rep and the court that you are present. By rights the supplier should be talking to you about the "Social Tarriff" as it sounds from your post that you qualify. This is a reduced rate, which you need to explore with them. Whatever happens the supplier WLL NOT Cut You Off. Most importantly Dont worry. Hope it goes well

The Power 2 Contact Rep takes his instructions from N-Power direct so the decision is N-Power and not P2C. However ozzy is correct, unless you have a Tenancy Agreement in your name then they will insist on a PPM unless you can agree a payment plan. Although I understand your motives, your plan is technically illegal and could be classed as theft. (non payment of utilities is criminal not civil). Unfortunately N-Power are not the most understanding company in the world, but will not cut you off just install a PPM, with or without your agreement. Sorry to be so blunt. So your best bet is to get your partner to contact them.

Hey Nottslad, guess you work at E-on then

Somtimes on new builds there is a problem on registering meters. Normally it stems from the builder registering the plot number of the property which ultimately bears no relevence to the final property number. I would suggest it is the letting agents inital responsiblity to register the opening reads with the supplier (whoever it is). It is correct that National Grid should have a note of the MPRN (Meter Point Registation Number) which will cross reference the meter number and who the supplier is. Any Electric supplier can access and provide this information to you - if they think they can supply you.