I don't know about you guys, but it's definitely unusual to be awakened by the sound of someone hammering on a door and yelling "Warrant Officer - Scottish Power. Open up!" repeatedly. No, not our front door, thank goodness. It was the flat downstairs, but because it has been so muggy at night we have kept windows open in the hope that some stray breeze will find it's way in.
Rather, I should say that we have kept the windows on the vent opening because I am afraid of giant eight-legged beasties finding their way in during the night and eating me alive. Since my husband is not keen on moths, I have tried to say that keeping the windows like that is for his benefit. He pointed out that, unlike me, he tends to hit his fear with a newspaper, which makes them go away - it also makes them flat, but that's besides the point (apparently). I scream and make him catch my fears in a glass; unless that particular fear happens to be a crane fly - a daddy long-legs - in which case, please flatten and dispose as appropriate. Just don't bring it by me. Yes, yes, of course I believe that you are all a) braver than me and b) kinder to things that scare the shit out of you...
Anyway, just at the point the warrant officer appeared to be considering making his own way into the flat, our neighbour finally opened up, or rather his adult son did. As our neighbour works around 60 hours a week at an American Diner he tells me he co-owns in Bilston, he had left home around 6 a.m. leaving his son to deal with the visitors. Once a warrant has been issued - in this case for non-payment of fuel bill - then the officer assigned by the fuel companies has a right to enter the premises, under British legislation.
Because of the circumstances the engineers who had attended detached/removed the existing metres while the warrant officer looked on. A lot of questions were asked by our neighbour, quite sensibly, and prior to leaving the premises a new pre-paid metre was fitted. I must admit I did think that there was a small flaw in this system as my neighbour was told that he will need to phone a specific number to request a pre-payment card, which will be posted out. Once it arrives he then needs to insert it into the metre in order to 'marry' the two up. He can then start putting money on the card.
My first thought was that they were not going to have any light downstairs. My second thought was that the flat owner was not going to be happy at the pre-payment metre being installed, as the neighbours downstairs are tenants. I did then hear it explained that the metre had £20 already on it to tide them over until the card arrives.
Hearing all this downstairs did get me thinking; in order to reach this stage, the power company will have tried numerous contacts both via post and telephone. There will have also been a court hearing, that you will have been notified of and have a right to attend. The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has current information on what to do if you find yourself in circumstances where you cannot pay your bill. The reality is that power supply companies do not want to cut off their customers. They would much rather an agreement was worked out for you to pay what you owe in affordable monthly amounts. One part of this could be that the power company insists that you have a pre-payment metre installed in order to prevent any future build up of debt. While this does mean that you will be able to keep on top of payments, as you probably know from various television reports, fees for power delivered through a pre-payment metre can be higher.
If you do find yourself in this situation and are struggling to deal with the power company yourself, please seek advice from the CAB or a similar service.
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