EDF, Eon, British Gas or Ovo customers in debt told remember 3 words | Personal Finance | Finance

With energy bills soaring, some consumers are finding themselves with mounting debts they can’t settle. But three simple words could make all the difference. Citizens Advice says: “If you’re in debt to your energy supplier – you should speak, seek, save.”

It doesn’t matter who supplies your energy – whether it is EDF, Eon, British Gas, OVO, Octopus or someone else – help is at hand as firms have processes to support struggling customers. Citizens Advice says with energy bills being a “priority debt” it is essential to act swiftly, reports Lancashire Live.

So if you have an unmanageable energy bill this is what they say you need to do:

Speak to your energy supplier

The charity’s advice is clear: “If you’re struggling to afford your bills, you should contact your supplier as soon as possible. Your supplier has to help you come to a solution and negotiate a payment plan that works for both of you.”

They note: “When making a payment plan, they have to take into account how much you can afford to pay and how much energy you’ll use in future. On a payment plan, you’ll pay in fixed amounts towards the debt you owe over a set period of time.

“If you can’t come to an agreement with your supplier about repaying your debt, you should get help from one of our consumer advisers. If you live in Scotland, you should contact Advice Direct Scotland.”

Seek guidance on managing your debts

Citizens Advice says it is important to address any debts related to energy supplies, as they are considered priority debts. It recommends: “A debt charity will help you with long-term strategies to reduce your debt. But be careful as not all debt advice is trustworthy.

“You should use the StepChange checklist on the StepChange website to make sure you’re getting advice you can trust. National providers of free debt advice include Citizens Advice, StepChange and the National Debtline. “

Save energy by improving home energy efficiency

For saving energy and boosting efficiency at home, making simple modifications can have a significant impact. Consider tweaking your central heating usage or altering how you use your appliances.

Citizens Advice says there is potential financial support for more substantial energy efficiency improvements like new heating systems and adds: “But make sure you keep your home warm enough so there’s less risk of your home becoming damp and you getting ill. And make sure you keep essential appliances, such as your fridge switched on.”

They also highlight the benefits of smart meters in managing energy consumption by providing real-time usage data, which can lead to better energy use awareness in homes and businesses. The advantages extend to participation in schemes that reward energy usage during off-peak times or offer access to free energy at specific periods.

For extra help

The Citizens Advice consumer service is available to help if you’re finding it difficult to afford your energy bills or if you’re struggling to reach an agreement with your supplier. They are also collaborating with Energy UK to increase awareness of the steps to take if you’re in debt to your energy supplier.

More information about Energy UK can be found on their website.