Electricity account on hold

[dgs]

Hi My single parent daughter owes over £6000 because the electricity company had not collected payments for the last 6 years.
They then demanded payment and we put the account on hold for a month with a view to speaking to somebody in that time. She has filled out an online form to Stepchange but 14 days later she has had no contact from them.
Question:
What is the best way to proceed on this as the hold is now only for less than 2 weeks?
She is on benefits, father is not involved or paying anything, she is in a privately rented flat with no savings and no monetary posessions of any value
Thankyou for any advicr

[ostell]

Have the read the meter during this time, just not produced the bill?

[dgs]

It was supposed to be paper billing but they put it on an online account and she doesnt do online accounts for utilities, nobody has knocked her door or threatened court action previously.
She has possibly buried her head in the sand on this a bit and it has obviously reared its head now.
Is there a better option than Stepchange on this situation and are the electric supplier obliged to postpone action whilst guidance is being sought?
Thankyou Ostell for any advice on this.
(concerned dad)

[ploddertom]

Who is the supplier as some are better than others?

[ostell]

There is a code of conduct that obliges them to only claim for the past year if they have caused the problem

[dgs]

Scottish P
Think its difficult to prove its their fault?
The only thing a judge would say is they let it go on so long? Also the fact that they instructed a solicitors letter asking for the executors of the will of my daughter to pay the bill a while back and that set her back a bit as she is classed as vulnerable. But my previous questions about Stepchange and extending the hold on the account? Thankyou

[ostell]

So if the are writing to the executor I would say that this shows errors in their handling of matters

[dgs]

Definately Ostell, but can you hold it against them?
Any offers on the other unanswered questions in my last post?
Thankyou

[ostell]

Yes you can cast doubt on their version of events

[dgs]

Any view on the Stepchange question or any better option?

[des8]

Try ringing Stepchange 0800 138 1111 (Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 8am-4pm)

Citizens Advice might help: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/co...-energy-bills/

[dgs]

Thankyou for that
The alleged account debt is on hold for about another 12 days would they stop legal recovery action while she seeks advice and waits until them to respond?

[des8]

Before initiating a court claim they have to follow a protocol, so no need to panic yet!

[dgs]

And them initiating a debt recovery firm? ( they won't find anything of monetary value in her flat)

[ploddertom]

You do NOT have to let a Debt Collector in + you do NOT even have to answer the door to them. In the main they are toothless and just use scary looking red crayons to write to you.