Energy supplier criticised for seeking backdated bill payments - 02/02/2009

Major energy supplier E.On has been criticised for reportedly seeking backdated bill payments from homeowners in Nottingham, reports thisisnottingham.co.uk.

Prepayment tariffs on many meters in the region have remained mistakenly unchanged for several years and the energy supplier is reportedly defying Ofgem guidelines by pursuing unpaid bills.

The development has caused particular upset as prepayment meters are often used by lower-income homeowners struggling with the lack of cheap energy on the market.

Graham Allen, MP for Nottingham North, told the paper: "E.On needs to change its policies. It is hurting people, some of the most vulnerable in Nottingham. If the policies are designed to help the most vulnerable people they are failing."

According to the paper, the energy supplier said that it approached billing matters on a case-by-case basis and that it always ensured that it set out to "protect vulnerable people". It added that the situation was always clearly explained to homeowners who were in debt.

Energy suppliers have faced pressure in recent months to drop the premiums attached to prepayment meters in order to give more vulnerable customers better access to cheap energy.

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