Five groups of UK households will be "protected" from forced prepayment meters, according to new energy supplier rules. Previously, suppliers could install prepayment meters without the bill payer's permission, but BBC expert Colletta Smith explained on Morning Live that certain groups are now safeguarded.
Background on Forced Prepayment Meters
Colletta Smith said: "British Gas and companies that they employed to chase up debts were forcing their way into people's houses, unbeknownst to those individuals, and installing prepayment meters in their house. So you've nipped out to the shops, you come back, somebody's effectively broken into your house and there's suddenly a prepay meter in your property that wasn't there before."
Five Protected Groups
Speaking to host Gaby Roslin, Colletta confirmed that protection now exists for these five categories:
- You're aged over 75 with nobody else living in the house
- You have a child under the age of two living with you
- You rely on powered medical equipment
- You have a severe health condition or terminal illness
- You're unable to top up due to a physical or mental incapacity
Colletta added: "If you're worried and you fit into any of those criteria, be reassured that you can never have a prepayment meter installed in your property against your will."
Additional Safeguards
She also highlighted new rules: "Even if they do manage to get a warrant for your property, the rules now say that they have to make 10 attempts to contact you, so giving you a ring, sending you an email, sending you a letter."
Colletta pointed out that some households may not realise they are protected, for example: "Maybe that you've not let your energy supplier know that you've just had a baby - it's not really top on most people's priorities at that time."
These protections represent a significant change from three years ago, when forced installations were more common.
