Out Of Order?

[ToraToraTora]

https://news.sky.com/story/british-gas-suspends-force-fitting-prepayment-meters-as-unacceptable-allegations-emerge-12801126
...surprised no one has posted on this.

[Bazile]

Read it earlier

[piggynose]

bar stewards!

[Old_Geezer]

If someone is finding it difficult to pay a gas bill, presumably they must be on welfare. Instead of breaking in and fitting meters than can turn off a vital resource, why doesn't the system allow for the bill to be paid before pasding on the remainder ? If the individual simply doesn't have enough income to cover basics maybe the welfare payment needs looking at. A civilised society does not let a citizen freeze.

[goodgoalie]

Just been discussed on Jeremy Vine on Radio 2:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64491243

[Bazile]

What's the average price per unit of gas for a prepayment Meter as compared to a credit meter ?

[Peter Pedant]

surprised no one has posted on this.

I'm not: mega-un-mimsy

whining section: my brudda had a tenant, where the meters were in a locked garage. They employed a joined to take off the doors
" I had a key - why didnt they ask me?"

I was repeatedly ( against verbal instruction) toggled to electronic billing. No paper no pay, so they er fined me, even tho it turned out I was not in debt. Mrs Karen McClintock of BG are you reading? This was passed onto my credit card company which I cdnt erase or correct.
Mrs Karen McClintock of BG was able to assure me the mark stood and it was all done in the best possible taste. I was reassured greatly by this

[youngmafbog]

Fitting pre payment meters has been a way of dealing with people who wont, or cant, pay their bills for yonks.

The problem really lies with the price of gas/elec from a pre pay meter not the method of payment. In days of yore it could be justified as someone had to collect the 10p's from the meter regularly, now its done by card at the local Londis it should be cheaper (but clearly dearer than someone paying by DD)

[douglas9401]

Those smily uniformed folk on the doorstep on the TV ads don't look like thuggish vandals, thieves and con-men.

They may be actors paid to promote lies and false impressions.

[youngmafbog]

//Instead of breaking in and fitting meters than can turn off a vital resource, why doesn't the system allow for the bill to be paid before pasding on the remainder ?//

It may be a vital resource but it still has to be paid for, sadly there are many who dont want to pay (and this has gone on for decades). Do you think those that pay should subsidise those that dont?

And there is a system to allow you to pay. Its the red letter they bin (yep seen this in our houses years ago when we took them back). To enter the house they need a warrant, they dont just break in.

[youngmafbog]

A mate of mine was a debt collector and a Court appointed bailiff. Most people are able to pay their debts, most paid immediately he approached them. They are not all thugs Douglas.

The problem is some of the debtors are thugs.

[douglas9401]

I never mentioned debt collectors and I've never met your mate so I wouldn't know.

[Old_Geezer]

Those that pay do subsidise those that can't. That is the whole concept of a welfare safety net and a public kitty.

Those that can & won't are a different matter, but even then the solution is not to turn off a vital resource.

[youngmafbog]

//I never mentioned debt collectors and I've never met your mate so I wouldn't know.//

No but you didnt half imply it!

[youngmafbog]

//Those that can & won't are a different matter, but even then the solution is not to turn off a vital resource.//

Correct, thats why pre payment is installed to make them pay.

[douglas9401]

I can't do your thinking for you, YMB.

The post was about British Gas and their friendly, efficient operatives.