Its very complicated but my boiler broke in 2012 and I was unable to replace it due to lack of funds.
I had an online account and because of an estimated bill at that time had paid for more gas than I had used. My account would not let me submit a meter reading less than what I had paid for. I contacted N Power on numerous occasions about this and eventually gave up. I was about £14 in credit and my account at that time had no daily charges.
I received several letters telling me I owed money but because I was not using gas (which they knew and acknowledged the fact in an email) I ignored them.
On 21/9/15 I arrived home to find a prepayment meter fitted but also a warning advice notice saying not to use as leaves over the flue. The meter was locked. I spoke to N Power about it and they told me my gas was capped and no charges would be incurred until I phoned the number on the meter to unlock it.
Again I never did and I had no contact with N Power until Dec 2017. When I had a bill for over £600 for fines, court warrant and fitting the meter. Then a further bill for £180 daily charge for prepayment meter.
I had sold my house in May 2017 so obviously the new owner had tried to activate the meter then. N Power offered £200 towards the debt and the Ombudsman thought this was fair and also required a written apology for bad customer service.
I cannot go back to Ombudsman about charges so that is why I am asking about fitting the meter even though the gas supply was not safe. Debt collection agencies are now involved!