05. Gas, electricity and phone bills

Gas, electricity and phone companies can disconnect you if you haven't paid your bills, without having to go to court. But they should give you written notice that they will disconnect you.

Gas and electricity companies must also take notice of customers in need. They should allow you to repay the money you owe over at least a year, if that is all you can afford, instead of disconnecting you or fitting a pre-payment meter (which makes the gas or electricity more expensive and means you end up without fuel if you run out of payment cards).

If you come up with an amount you can afford to pay, but the company won't accept your offer, you should:

• seek advice, for example, from a Citizens Advice Bureau; or
• get in touch with the gas and electricity consumer body, energywatch, or the phone-company watchdog, Oftel.

See 'Further help' for their numbers.

Responsibility for the bill
The person who has to pay any gas or electricity debt is the person who originally asked for it to be supplied. In the past some energy companies have also demanded payment from anyone living at the house when the gas or electricity was being used. Calling them as 'beneficial users'. But several courts have refused to allow companies to pursue this kind of debt now, and if you are in this situation, you may be able to stop them insisting that you have to pay. If a company is trying to make you pay a bill that you don't think you are responsible for, get in touch with the energy watchdog, energywatch, for advice (see 'Further help' for details).