Ofgem, the energy regulator, has launched an urgent investigation into British Gas following allegations the company sent debt collectors who broke into customers’ homes to install prepayment meters.
It comers after an investigation by The Times that alleged a company used by British Gas to pursue debts, Arvato Financial Solutions, had forced their way into homes to fit the devices, despite signs children and disabled people were living there.
“These are extremely serious allegations from The Times. We are launching an urgent investigation into British Gas and we won’t hesitate to take firm enforcement action,” an Ofgem spokesperson said.
The boss of British Gas owner Centrica told the BBC that he is horrified that debt collectors have broken into customers’ homes to fit prepayment energy meters without consent.
“This happened when people were acting on behalf of British Gas. There is nothing that can be said to excuse it,” Chris O’Shea told the BBC.
The firm will stop such installations.
O’Shea told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The contractor that we’ve employed, Arvato, has let us down but I am accountable for this.
“This happened when people were acting on behalf of British Gas. There is nothing that can be said to excuse it.”
Comments (4)
Horrified? Really? I bet he isn’t.
The ownership of your gas or electric meter has ALWAYS remained with the supplier so that they have a very simple legal recourse to if you don’t pay your bills. They can cut you off.
However, as gas, electric, and etcetera are considered a basic human right in the UK, they can’t just cut you off in one go. They have to take it step by step.
Putting in a prepayment meter is the last step before they remove the fuse/ meter altogether.
And what makes me most mad about this is the fact that the people who need to have a pre-payment meter have to pay extra for it and are being gouged.
Why do they need a pre-payment meter? Because the state of their finances requires it. They are not rolling in extra cash.
Why should some of the poorest in society be penalised just for being poor?!!!
This has made me cross for years, ever since I discovered how much extra I had been paying when I was in that situation myself.
You ask why the poorest in society are being penalised. It is because we have weak politicians that lack moral fibre who do not live in the real world. We have big company’s directed and run by CEO’s that equally lack moral fibre and have no social conscience. You know what is really sad these people are voted in blindly by the public and share holders. There is nothing wrong with company’s making profit but the people running them need to have some moral standards. You have the media that use inflamatory language that property is being broken into to change meters to grab headlines but do they mention the unfair extra changes applied to these meters putting the poorest into even greater debt and dispair? This is just the way I personally see the behaviour British Gas in this instance; a bit like London’s Mayor saying pay us £12.50 a day and you can pollute London’s air.
Surely pre-payment meters should have lower tariffs since the company is being paid in advance?
Personally I do not believe the CEO of centrica did not know the actions taken by its recovery agents. Moreover, WHY are customers on payment meters being charged higher rates for their gas and standing charges etc. However, there is very little being said about the increased charges to those who can least afford it. If they were called Landlords the ROGUE POLITICIANS would be all over it like a nasty rash! I wonder if anyone else sees this the way I do?