The move comes as an investigation revealed debt collectors working for British Gas forced their way into the homes of vulnerable customers
After Centrica announced it was suspending all forced installations, EDF said it hadEDF, the UK's second-largest supplier, said it had applied for almost 14,000 warrants in 2022 but not acted on around half after contacting customers and agreeing other means of controlling arrears. The company is understood to have acted out of caution rather than in response to evidence of bad practice.
A Scottish Power spokesperson said:"We would not switch a customer to prepayment without advanced notice and installing a prepayment meter is always a last resort, only after we have exhausted all other options to speak to and work with customers on debt repayment. "We deplore the behaviours reported and have suspended all warrant installations while a thorough investigation takes place.""Every year we pause installs in December and January, and we have extended this moratorium this winter. It's only ever a last resort if a customer doesn't engage with us for at least six months - we will always find a way to help if they do. And even then, if there is any sign of vulnerability we will not install a pre-payment meter.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
British Gas suspends force-fitting prepayment metersIt follows a report that agents broke into the homes of vulnerable people to install the equipment.
Read more »
British Gas suspends force-fitting prepayment meters as 'unacceptable' allegations emergeBusiness Secretary Grant Shapps says he is 'horrified' by the findings and said the energy minister would hold a meeting with British Gas 'in the coming days'.
Read more »
British Gas suspends force-fitting prepayment metersIt follows a report that agents broke into the homes of vulnerable people to install the equipment.
Read more »
British Gas halts use of warrants to force fit prepayment metersBRITISH Gas yesterday halted the use of warrants to force entry into customers’ homes and fit prepayment meters. The climbdown came after an undercover reporter claimed third-party firm Arvato Fina…
Read more »
British Gas to stop using warrants to force prepay meters on vulnerable peopleBritish Gas will temporarily stop using powerful court warrants to ‘break into’ people’s houses to install prepayment meters.
Read more »
Energy firms Shell, Utilita and British Gas stop forced installation of prepayment metersAn investigation by i found courts are rubber-stamping hundreds of warrants allowing firms' debt agents to forcibly enter homes to fit the meters in just minutes, with magistrates warning they have 'no choice' but to grant them
Read more »