Debt with a UT Company threatening Electric and Gas Meter change

Hi
I just joined the forum.. and did so as I have recently ran into some difficulties and was aware of a previous "Get out of debt" ( GOODF) website from a few years ago.. in which I had saved some links.but when I tried them they took me to another URL website... that I think is just a further updated different approach the material from a few years ago.

I had previously watch some videos / articles on parking balliffs that I think were created by someone called Mark Ceylon.  I am just trying to check if this is a forum related to him.

This posts could be classed as a Debt or Utility issue.
At this stage I would like to just says its with one of the main UT Companies.

Over the last few years... I have ran into some financial and health issues after some family bereavements and almost loosing a family home.and then having some issues with my brother over the property..

I also had lost a decent job thru some effected health and other work related issues that have caused me problem..then and still now... and some time later I had my benefits stopped and I have an issue with Universal credit and medicals that I am against...I do have some possible medical issues that do effect me but for what ever reason , I dont want on on the DWPs or my Doctors record until I have managed to investigate some other past work problems that I believe caused it...   but  for now I had managed to live of some savings...which unfortunately have now declined.

I have been trying to get some legal advice on some of my past problems , but I am sorry to say that I have NOT managed to find the advice  that I was looking for. some of my problems may be my own making and some seemed to occur beyond my control.but I have NOT managed to resolve my issues / problems and ran out of time to fall into further problems...

I have now ran into some problem with my Utility Company...where I was owing them a fair amount of outstanding payments...but for what ever reason... I did not get challenged..I did have them challenge me earlier on.. and had an initial with them after they had one earlier attempt to enter my property..but managed to stop them at the door.. and told them I needed to phone them....where I explained some of my situation and they backed off...
and I did check the letters from them for a while and most were continued bills.. ors I just thought that they had been std bills etc...and I stopped opening the letters..  that was until I was recenly sent a hand delivered letter telling me I have 7 days to pay them the outstanding balance and if I did not pay or make an arrangement,  that they would obtain a warrant to enter my home.

I have since checked some of the past letters and found that they had been chasing up the fees over the last few monthsand got to the stage to tell me that would send a balliff and want to change my meters to Prepayment ones.  This I do not want if it could be avoidable. as I will struggle to afford it any way.

I have considered some options that I could consider doing ..such as discussing things direct to my UTilty provider or trying to obtain advice from some Solicitors or legal people. and
I have done research over the last two days and found some Varied information/ websites and videos  on what may or may not be possible in order to try to avoid having to have the meters changed.BUT I am NOT sure which may or may not be valid or correct. also some things could have changed.

This is one eg that I thought maybe valid...  but even if it is... I believe often the Companies can just ignore such things if you try to make claims that they are not acting correctly.

or trying to explain some of the issues raised in how this article may describe is suggested as being possible to avoid the validity of a warrant...

https://utilitywarrantsofentry.wordpress.com/

So I was wondering in a worse situation if I am not able to find a solution as to what may the best thing to try to do to avoid having the baliff change the meters..

I was wondering if any one maybe able to to advise if they are aware of what is possible.

I am aware of companies like Step Change and the CAB who can offer some advice..
but I do not think that they always are aware of certain things that may be less well known or are more indepth for those who maybe aware of ways to get around the system. or who could challenge the way they go about things or the law !

I wonder if rather than trying to use past tactics that were shown on the previous GoodF website and videos to deal with Bailiffs if some of those methods still work
or if the companies / bailiffs have found ways to get around them,,,

It may be some things work say for Parking issues / TV Lic / Council Tax or other debts....but im not sure if they apply to utilities.

such as I found some refs to "Notice of Removal of Implied Right of Access"   but some articles suggested that they may not work for certain others.

https://info.fmotl.com/RemovalOfAccessRights.htm#:~:text=A%20debtor%20can%20remove%20right%20of%20implied%20access,is%20akin%20to%20a%20closed%20door%20but%20it

I note now that also the suggestion to use IVA  seems to now be what the main  ex GOODF website now refers to  "   https://www.ivaonline.co.uk/iva.html  "

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/bailiffs/bailiff-rights-and-powers.aspx#:~:text=In%20most%20cases%20a%20bailiff%20can%20only%20enter,Find%20out%20more%20about%20dealing%20with%20bailiffs%20.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/stop-your-energy-supplier-installing-a-prepayment-meter/



ALSO CAN I ASK... IF a Balliff with a Warrant brings the POLICE ...
can the Police be part of the enforcement to enter my property...or take part verbally to
support the Bailiffs ? or do they generally just observe and act to keep the peace if any sort of conflict was to happen ?

I am not really what steps to take or what to consider doing or trying and in what order ?

such as if the consider trying to communicate with the Utility Company or some of the options that
they may offer...or also exactly what really to tell them in ref to my own situation..be health related..
uncertianlty of any future earnings etc.. or what I may consider trying to do to obtain money.

There also maybe an option to obtain some sort of aid from the Company for in hardship who can have the debt
paid possibly even in full..

but even if I applied and was lucky enough to obtain it... I may well still struggle for furture payments with them.
I am trying to sort out a series of problems that I had before I can decide what to do in the longer term.
for eg I may be trying a Work problem I had for compensation...but unfortunately I have not been able to get the right advice to consider persueing that.   But my decisions could vary depending on what other things happen. or the outcomes.

But Initially I want to try to get the pressure of me if they are now only offering me 7 days or now less.

or whether I should consider what to do if and when they turn up if there is a postive way to delay or prevent them
taking further negative actions against me.


The other things is, also the ammount that the Bailiff is telling me that I owe them... Is less than what I believe I should owe...which is over 1000 GBP.

and they have not read the Meter... IF they later do... then I am not sure if they may ask for more later.

but if I was able to pay what they aare asking me to pay... this could be much cheaper than what I may really owe them...

I have read sometimes that Companies can some time just ask for an estimated ammount owed and do not persue
later take any further action or request for further fees. As long as they obtained what they had requested at that particular time.



IF THERE MAYBE SOME BETTER SOLUTIONS... then I would greatly appreciate any advice.
Thank you in advance...


These are some other links that I have looked at...but some of the info seems to vary or just is not brought up or suggested.

https://utilitywarrantsofentry.wordpress.com/

https://www.moneyadviceonline.co.uk/DCBL-bailiffs-enforcement.html

https://www.no5.com/media/publications/the-problem-with-the-rights-of-entry-gas-and-electricity-boards-act-1954/

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3716667/magistrates-court-hearing-for-warrant-to-entry-for-electricity-debt

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4612541/warrant-of-execution-electricity-company-installed-pre-payment-meter

https://www.talkaboutdebt.co.uk/knowledge-hub/can-bailiff-enter-property/

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/2-3/21/section/2

don't worry too much I know its easy to say when not actually on the receiving end of any of this. By all means contact your utility provider & the I take, its a collection agent directly. With the agent state under NO circumstances will the collection agent (DCA) get anything as far as you are aware you have no contract with DCA to pay ANYTHING. Anything owed will go directly to the utility provider.

With the utility provider contact direct as they will have some sort of Trust payment help meaning anyone that can't afford payments, the util Co have access to funds  to aleaviate unnecassary adverse poverty.

I am sorry to hear of all your troubles as well but will be in touch later as I have to go out currently. I will write to you in more depth as to what the very highly likely out come may be.

For all other questions posed by 'Photon' please could others who have experience of non utility issues help here?

LS

Photon please do this today as quick as possible, you will be doing yourself a favour.

Hi Lionshare,

Thank you for your replies and kind sympthetic coments in ref to some of my past situations.

I note some of the things that you say...but may need to check a few more details... but was trying to just clarify a few further things..

I just spoke to "Step change" and they informed me what they believed could occur   or some  options that I could consider...

the main one being to contact and discuss with them... where they believe that I could be given more time as long as I agree to deal step change where I may then a further 60 days.

I can also then try to get some further info or reconsider trying to get the  aid from the UT company trusts..

I was considered that before but later had reconsiderations for some reason that I cannot recall... I will have to later try to remind my self what those reasons where..

probably once I had obtained it I could not be sure I could pay future bills after they funded what I owed.  SO therefore I continued to delay. and they still continued to just send me updated bills for a long time and did not follow up on other actions... until the last few months...But in between time.. at one stage.. they had found out of the bereavement and also they I had not informed them..  they later started sending bills under a different name rather than the previous house holders name... but they still did not challenge me further for many months.

IT BECAME RATHER COMPLICATED.. that 99.99% of such situations wouldNOT  likely occur to anyone else.

but because I considered that in the past...or those further things have happened.. they may not allow to reconsider a further time.

I would hope to have upto Friday / weekend maybe or Monday to contact them.
letter arrived on the past Tues 1st Feb... is my deadline Monday 7th or Tues 8th ?

but they have sent some else around today ... but I did not respond.

they did tell in the letter 2 days ago I had 7 days... and never mentioned further visits..

The other thing is now they have somehow obtained my name and sent the letter direct for me..
and had sugegested that I only moved in over the last few months.. but I have lived there a long time.

A few months ago... I was having a dispute and fall out over what to do with the property.. which has also beome very complex dues to my opposing situations to him... where I dont really want to have to sell the house. or move out. at leats for now due to my health problems & stress / lack of job or income etc

that was a chance that had informed after he had been to se a solictor.

Its since then they that they have contacted me in my 1st and family  name rather than just the reps of the  family name.

So if he has informed them...  I also dont know where I may stand if they try to fully put this on me...
whether he has any rights over me to be dealing with some of this at least in terms of us being joint owners.

I would question if he has informed do I have any rights or what ever to question them about it or get some legal reasoning on my side should this be the case and a worst type of situation.

As brother later we seemed to have had some reasoning together and he had backed off pressuring me as he had other issues of his own he was dealing with.  But we have not been in contact for a while.

and I am yet to question him about it ...

At one stage it was understandable that he wanted to obtain his part of the family asset... but problems prevented me being able to make proper decisions on what I needed to do as I could NOT get the advice I needed in the way I wanted..

and whatI mean by that is at one time... I could speak to legal advisers or solictors etc and get some free advice..

BUT NOW so many things have changed over the last few years... I have found almost impossible with numerous authorities or legal persons to get whatI would call ANOMINOUS advice... without them wanting my details..
ie name and adress etc

SOME of the things that I want to ask I really want to ask in private... and not inform them my details at least  until I have got the info I need.

I did find find one solictor who offered to help me but I am sorry to say he got arrested for something and when I tried to find out what had happened to him.. all I gottold was he had been sectioned and I was not given any info by the authorities at all.. as to what would happen to him or where he had been take etc..

The Polcie and law court. mental health service etc would not tell me due to the so called Data protection that is NOW made to be such a HUGE issue..The whole system now is a utter nightmare for certain things ...

and I now just feel now in a stale mate situation as they describe in Chess.

I ref to things that have been described or discussed so far.

I am at this stage also considering what could be a worst case type of situation in advance.

or IF there is some ways that I could at least delay things further to allow me more time... IF say that I do not talk with them until I feel that I have got some further information.

The reason I say that... is they may have made a mistake if my brother has reported my name to them and I do not think thats acceptable that they may have acted on on his or his solicitors say.

As either of them do not really understand or may dont accept my situation. (which I had tried to explain.. but things are seen in varied ways between us)  But lawfully I may have some rights on this.
So I may need to try to speak with an adviser 1st before I speak make contact  with the company.

So therefore I also want to know based many of the articles I have tried to research...
is DO they have the RIGHT to break in my Home to install prepay meters.

or

Do I have rights to deny them this. at least for some further time ..
what ever that may take or be.

On the one hand ... I may think I could say, write a letter for them and place it on the Door...to briefly explain...but admitt nothing..just to say I need to take some further advice and need more time before I contact you to explain further.

As I am aware of some issues that seem to have occurred that I am querying.

BUT I also do want to know... Are their balliffs likely to be seen as High enforcement type Balliffs who when I have seen some past TV programs do seem to claim that they have rights to break in...

OR whether some of the articles information maybe correct in that the law is not clear on this and it can be disputed or challenged to at least stop them breaking in. THATS HAS also been suggested that even if that the law on this is questionable or can be challenged ... is that some companies will just ignore it and still break in..

which I admitt may not be a good thing that is wise to risk.

One may be able to later challenge it but would have to go to court to do so etc... and meanwhile one could freeze to or starve or not be able to eat any coooked food.

I also wonder can they NOT just also maybe request to CUT one of the Supplies of and at least leave on.
such as I MAY HAVE A MUCH larger electric bill than Gas...

Eventually they probably would cut me off... BUT I am not sure HOW long it may take for them to consider doing that.

Also I would not be sure what may happen after the 7 day deadline.. even I initially manage to off set them entering the Property.

The worry is also even if you think that they may have backed off..
if I should go out... they may come back at some and enter the property.

One the articles that I posted... does show an eg of how this occurred and the owner came home to find them in his house and he asked them to leave... they did... but claimed that he assaulted them.

He did discuss some of his situation... But unfortunatley he did NOT complete what eventually happened or what the outcome was.

He felt that he obtained evidence that they broke the law and that he may had used what could be claimed as reasonable force to throw them out..... that was  if they did not leave just  from verbal request.

I dont think he admitted to assault directly but also did not deny it.

I do not want to get invoved in confict...but under pressure one may never know how they may react.

Photon please see your messages at the top of the screen - 'Messages'

this link was supplied above, its something I have not seen before & I would say it looks really good!

https://utilitywarrantsofentry.wordpress.com/

Hi Lionshare.
Thanks for reply.

I note what you have said. and am looking at the PM now.

I may need a bit of time to absorb what you have said.
and also may need a little time to try to get something to eat.

Unless you are only unavailable now /either later or between now and say maybe by my deadline day.. which Im not sure if thats Monday or Tuesday if it suggests 7 days from 1st feb when they sent my letter.

Lion share..

Just to let you know...
I did make some replies to your PMs...
But I cannot find copies of them in my PM sent box.

whether there is a delay or not or Im limited to how much I can post..im not sure...
but I just wanted to let you know incase your awaiting the replies.

I think so its the main 1st one I replied to.. and a few of your other shorter posts...
but the other longers ones I need to still reply to.

I still have some more to reply to but It may be by tomorrow before I am able to have done so.  Ill will try to have sent them over the next few hours...so they are their by morning.

Im sure you need to  get some sleep if you have been up from early on.

Cheers

Photon

Ahh..

I think I have found what happened...

I did not realise that some of posts to you were direct replies as under the SENT Box and some are classed sent thru the OUTBOX..

I was Not familair with that set up before..

as another forum that I am on... uses just a sent only option ... other than the inbox...or draft maybe..