Elderly father unpaid electric bill shock

beghushed1976

We discovered recently that my elderly father has racked up nearly 2000 euro in electricity bills! He’s only living in the living room and kitchen of his house due to mobility issues so it’s hard to believe honestly

He lives alone but does get confused and is not good on the phone. He was originally on pay as you go but was occasionally running out and he’d be sitting in the dark - so at some point it was changed to direct debit setup. We thought this was taking care of the electricity bills as they came in. Obviously at some point the bills exceeded what he has in his account. And presumably snowballed from there. We are now quite stressed out as he’s never going to have enough pension coming in to catch up.

On the phone Electric Ireland suggested putting my name on the bill but we’re a bit worried about doing that as it could go against our credit and we’d be stuck with a massive bill (as if our own aren’t currently enough 😭)

My question is will they cut him off? Some people have said we’re better to just leave it with him and not take on his burden, that as a pensioner he’s protected - What are the repercussions of just leaving it with him?

Thanks in advance for any advice

Gerard93

Try engage with them on his behalf they may arrange a payment plan to cover the arrears and cover future bills by paying a monthly amount.

You have some hope engaging with them otherwise there is a chance of disconnection at some point I don’t know but I doubt they will let the bill increase indefinitely

Could you get a loan and maybe use portion of his pension to pay this to clear the arrears and going forward monitor the bills direct debits etc

Contact MABS they might be able to offer advice

JVince

Putting your name as a person who can manage the bill / calls will not affect any credit. Its purely a name on the account and not an account in your name.

This should have been done a long time ago.

Check if the reading is correct - it might have been over estimated. Then get a discounted rate - even current customers can get 24% with a phone call.

They will also agree a payment plan. They are quite easy to deal with. Also check all the electrical items in the house. Make sure all bulbs are LED (tiny electrical cost), manage use of any electrical heaters and see if things can be insulated better

AndrewJRenko

Look at Code for Vulnerable Customers, could be some assistance

heretothere

'Putting your name on the bill' vrs being a person they are allowed to speak to in relation to the account are different things. Don't put your name on the bill. That sounds like you'd be taking over responsibility. They are obviously talking to you. Can you set it up online so you can easily keep track?

Are you sure the bills are correct? How far back are the arrears? Can you get copies of all the bills?

I don't know if they can cut him off, would the citizens advice be any good I wonder?

beghushed1976

thank you for your replies they are very much appreciated

electric Ireland have said they can create a weekly payment plan of up to 12 weeks. Which is understandable but also way beyond his capacity to pay. Maybe the first payment would go through but he’d never be able to keep up at that pace

Not quite sure what to do but maybe Mabs or citizens advice could help

babyducklings1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122291680#Comment_122291680

That’s a steep amount for a pensioner over 12 weeks. What about contacting MABS or energy regulator and citizens advice is a good idea too.

micks_address

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122291700#Comment_122291700

What about a loan to pay it in off?

whisky_galore

Electric Ireland are a disaster, had a similar problem but once sorted I'm going to switch provider for my mother.

Pinoy adventure

maybe contact st Vicente de Paul and explain the situation.they may be able too help

micks_address

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122291725#Comment_122291725

They are slow to cut people off though compared to other providers or at least were historically

volchitsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122291715#Comment_122291715

If he's living in two rooms, it's hard to see how he's really racked up such a massive bill. Pay as you go is far more expensive, yet clearly it was nothing like that amount or the OP wouldn't be so shocked by it.

Now maybe it's been from the "confusion" that was mentioned, but that sounds like he might be doing something dangerous. Either way, it's not something to be "sorted" by just getting a loan as though the problem were just that he temproarily overspent.

I think CAB or even social services might be a good place to start.

Poor fella. Is he in receipt of living alone allowance? He would definitely be entitled to fuel allowance and I'm sure there's an electricity supplement for oap's too that he should be benefitting from. SVDP might be able to help out in some small part and maybe social welfare can assist with a special needs payment. It does sound like a very high bill with estimates rather than actual bills, even with the governemtn credits over the last two years, living in small accomodation it shouldn't be so excessive.

Maybe time to assess his means and adjust accordingly, what kind of heating/water system does he use and lighting and cooking facitilies could all be upgraded too.

JVince

I'd still check the meter reading. I live in a large rural house and the monthly bill is €100-€150 depending on time of year.

Check the unit rate too.

Considering he would have got the energy credit, this level of arrears is not making sense.

Maybe family members can use credit cards or make a regular contribution to clear the outstanding amount.

If usage was estimated, you will find it is overestimated.

micks_address

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122291752#Comment_122291752

Yeah definitely need to find out what used the electric, perhaps left on immersions maybe electric heaters.. depends on how long the 2k is over. With government credits and fuel allowance? Hard to understand it

antoinolachtnai

It’s important to find out how this actually arose and make sure there is no major problem with the meter and that the large bill is accurately correct. €2000 could be a few years use for an elderly person.

I think you should suggest to them that he repay it over 208 weeks. If they don’t accept that bring it to the regulator. I think they will give you at least 104 weeks.

I would suggest he start paying an extra 10 euros per week right away.

Toranaga

Even at the highest tariff I'd say it would be over a year's bill so very strange. Would look into it first. Unless he's just not paid for a significant time something sounds off.

SteM

OP, how long have the bills gone unpaid? We run a 3 bed house with an electric car and it would take over a year to run a bill of that size up. Considering the government were paying money into people's electricity accounts over the last year, 2k seems very high. Can you get historical bills from EI to review them?

PCeeeee

ESB haven't been read my meter regularly in a long time. How many bills are estimated v read? Might be worth checking the meter regularly from now on.

Purple Mountain

Is he entitled to the Household Benefits Package? His energy allowance can go as credits towards his electricity bill.

standardg60

..

babyducklings1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122291715#Comment_122291715

Would a pensioner be able to take out a loan though wouldn’t have thought so. They could do a longer spread on payments for him you’d think.

endofrainbow

Exceptional needs payment might be a rote to go. I'd also be contacting Electric Ireland for a complete breakdown of charges..are there arrears resulting from non payment? Might also be an idea to contact 'Alone'.

mykrodot

if he is over 70 he is entitled to the Household Benefits Package. It is not means tested and helps with the cost of your electricity or gas bills. https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/extra-social-welfare-benefits/household-benefits-package/

If he goes to MABS they can arrange a payment plan THAT HE CAN AFFORD with Electric Ireland. MABS will take everything into account and act as an advocate for your father.

Electric Ireland are dealing with MABS hundreds of times a week if not a day and this is the route to go. I used to work for MABS and this scenario was common place especially with older people. Also he can be registered as a "vulnerable person" if he has any medical needs and will therefore never be disconnected. https://www.electricireland.ie/docs/roi-residential-footer---customers-with-special-needs/2615_ei_vulnerable_cust_reg_form_a4_cofovc0518_v5.pdf?sfvrsn=9e47be0d_22

beghushed1976

thank you for the advice. It looks like it’s been over the past 16 or so months that it has accumulated. Still seems high (there are bills of over 600 euro even in the summer) so we are going to get a plug that we can check usage of the various things he uses. (Pretty much just one tv, a radio that is always on, and a small electric heater. The electric heater being the most likely, though has oil heating so it’s not like he’s relying on it. Maybe he’s leaving it on overnight or something?)

Mabs arranging a longer for payment plan seems like by the best option, I didn’t realise they would advocate on his behalf. I’ll call them and see what they say

thanks very much

Iscreamkone

If I was you I would take over the utility payments. I would open a new account with a new provider and a new name on the account - as if I was a new tenant.

The previous provider will still come after the father for arrears but this can be repaid at tuppence a week. No chance of any disconnection happening.

phormium

I would go through those bills with a fine tooth comb plus check the items he is using to see how much they cost. Look at immersion, any storage heating? Old freezers can be heavy on electricity if there is one, old radios surprisingly so too! But it's still high usage.

I say this as helped a couple last year with an overcharge of nearly 900e with EI, turns out it was some error with meter, EI eventually refunded the money but it took some battle!

Akrasia

If he has a 2000 watt electric heater on 24/7 then thats could be costing 15 euros day in electricity.

900 in a 2 month bill just for that heater in a worst case scenario.

He probably turns it off going to bed, but it could still be on for 10 to 15 hours a day

mondeoman72

I disagree. You can become an authorised contact who they can speak to. No more of the gdpr issues.

I have done this with an elderly lady who is not good at negotiation . It is not about debt, but I do the switcher deals and negotiate deals for her. She's in her 80's

mondeoman72

Thats an option but I think it's silly. The op needs to engage with them (with permission) and come to an arrangement.

If it's electric Ireland, they are a ripoff. I just moved an 80 year old away from them who was payin 32 plus vat per unit. I challenged them on the phone and they offered 29c plut 50 quid cashback. I scoffed. I just moved her to flogas certa electric deal as featured in boards bargain alerts, 23 per unit inclusive. Her bill has dropped 33%

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122293516#Comment_122293516

I doubt it was a 33% drop in same use. Flogas have a higher standing charge.

A few clicks on bonkers and you would get 24% off electric Ireland rates and benefit from standard rate reductions that will happen.

But the certa/flogas deal is not too bad.

Frankly the excessive standard rates charged to enable large discounts should be banned.

Still the op here has not confirmed if the bill was estimated. €600 in the summer months is ridiculous.

mondeoman72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122294275#Comment_122294275

Wanna bet? I was shocked when I saw her bill I nearly choked. She has no gas, lives isolated and sits on an electric fire all day.

Electric Ireland ripping off an 80 odd year old who doesnt think to shop around. You can see the calculations of discounts they offered when I intervened. Both standing charges 79c

Flogas certa deal courtesy of boards. EI are robbing fecks.

tohaltuwi

MABS definitely the way to go, also make contact with Citizens Advice to make sure he’s getting every benefit he’s entitled to. Maybe talk to his doctor about the mild confusion aspect as in some cases adjustments can be made in medication or investigating cause etc. Also contact Alone so that he might get visits where family aren’t always in a practical position to keep a very regular eye on things. And SVDP, some of their volunteers have expertise in specialised areas and might be able to lend that to setting up a more practical & economical way from your Dad to live.

RuasMum

Because he's a pensioner, he's classed as vulnerable.

Call EI and ask if there's anything they can do, assuming their reputation they probably won't.

However there is a thing "write off, energy support fund" where energy companies can literally write the debt off and you don't need to pay.

EI should over this to you or you can reach out to mabs or alone and see if they can request it on your behalf.

Make sure your tariff legit because that sounds so suspicious.

Best of luck

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122294420#Comment_122294420

You got 30% lower unit rate, but standing charge is the same. So overall about 24% lower.

A couple of clicks on bonkers.ie and you'd get 23.67c rate in electric Ireland (existing customers) AND get the advantage of probable price drops over the coming months.

So the saving off the best available rate available to you is about 6%>

And certa / flogas won't exactly let you know when your discount deal ends ( none of them will)

Anyone not in contract should check what discounts are there and take notes of the annual date to get a new discount

advisemerite

I'm sorry to hear this. They will definitely not cut him off. I'd guess his bills are estimated which are always over charged in Electric Irelands favour. Submit a metre reading to them and it should be adjusted. Also contact the Vincent de Paul they will help him pay it. In Electric Irelands defence they will accept a payment plan ask to speak to a manager. Failing all that make a complaint to CRU they will basically order them to accept a payment plan. Good luck to you and your Dad.

Get in touch with mabs. They can negotiate a payment plan. Then contact your local community welfare officer. They may be able to help with part payment of the bill. Engaging in good faith with the provider and mabs goes a long way in the decision making.

Provide 3 months bank statements, the bills and a payment plan from mabs with your application