A pensioner claims she has been threatened with debt collectors if she doesn’t pay an energy bill that has increased from £120 per month to £4,600.
73-year-old Phyllis Kennedy says the new energy bill now totals up to four times her annual income, and she simply can’t pay it.
She lives in a bungalow in Basingstoke on a state pension of £12,000 but was absolutely astounded to receive an energy bill from Scottish Power stating that she now owes £4,600.
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The company claims they’ve read her smart meter correctly and has threatened to send debt collectors around.
Phyllis, who is a widow, claims that the only way she could make enough to pay the bill off would be to start growing cannabis in her loft.
The stress is really getting to her now, and she says there isn’t likely to be a resolution for a few weeks yet.
Phyllis explained: "I moved into the house in October and it went from £120 per month to being told it was £4,600 per month in March.
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“It’s a small three-bedroom bungalow and I don’t understand how anyone could think I should be paying £4,600 a month.
"It's insane.
"They are still saying the readings are more than £4,000.
"It works out that the annual bill is £48,000 which is four times my annual income.
"Unless I was growing cannabis in the loft that's not possible.
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"I'm a pensioner living on £12,000 a year.”
She claims Scottish Power sent her a letter in March informing her that her bills would be rising by £500, but then got a text from the company on 5 April telling her that her latest bill was £4,606.
She’s emailed and called the company including pictures of her smart meter, but they’re insisting that it is correct and told her the matter is now in the hands of the debt collectors, although they could be kept away if she made a payment.
So, she paid £100 on 19 April, but still fears her power could be cut off.
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"It jumped from £120 per month to £4,600 and it is very worrying when you get a text like that with a bill,” she said.
"I've been trying to get in touch with Scottish Power but I'm not tech savvy.
"They said I sent a smart meter reading in and it's £4,600 a month.
"I have sent photos, but they are insisting the bill is correct and that I owe £4,600.
"I phoned up and said 'What's happening, I haven't got £4,600' and they said it is now in the hands of the debt collectors.
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"They said if I paid something they would put the debt collectors on hold, so I paid £100.
"This has been going on for a month now, and I am worried they are going to turn off my power or debt collectors will turn up at my door.”
She believes there could have been a glitch when her smart meter was taken off the wall by engineers in March, although that’s not for certain.
She added: "They came round and looked at the smart meter, it was taken off the wall and put back on.
"It could be a fault with the smart meter.
"I'm a widow, things haven't been easy.
“My husband died at 47 of a brain tumour and I’ve worked hard all my life to keep a roof over my head as money has been very tight.
“The thought of my energy bill adding up to around £48,000 a year, at £4,600 a month, is very worrying.”
Scottish Power has said it is investigating the matter and will be in touch with Phyllis directly about it.
Tom Wood