cutting off utilities...

A question about : cutting off utilities...

Hello,
This is a question for someone close to me.

they are currently in debt to british gas and to the water company and I also do not think they are paying anything at the minute.

Can these companies cut off the electricity and water?

A crisis team and the CAB have been involved, and I hope that they do keep up with repayments but I have a huge fear they aren't.

thanks.

Best answers:

• Hi,
  Yes of course they can be cut off, have they made the utility companies aware of why they are unable to pay ?, unless they have young children, or are classed as vulnerable, they can be cut off for non payment.
  What makes you think they are not paying ?
  There are various schemes I believe for people unable to pay there essential bills.
• I have opened some letters of theres, that they left unopened that has final demands...they are a few weeks old and I don't feel able to ask about their current situation...
  They are aware...and she made plans to pay back Ј1 a month...but I don't think they have. I'm so mad
• To be fair, all the electric/gas/water companies run some kind of schemes for people who really cant afford there bills, but they have to apply, or make them aware of there situation, otherwise they will be treated as any other non payer, just ignoring the problem will not make it go away I`m afraid.
• They can arrange to have pre-payment meters installed, these will have any debt pre-loaded on to them and this will force them to pay the debt owed.
  It is a risky option to volunteer for as the debt payment will be set by the power company at a level they want rather than what your friends can afford.
• May have to bite the bullet and ask for a review of their debts...
  Thanks everyone. x
• Water can't be cut off which is one of the reasons I don't pay it.
• water can't be disconnected...and for every 1 person that can pay but doesn't for that reason...adds Ј10+ to every bill
• As above. They cannot disconnect the water.
  For the gas/electric, the most likely outcome is they will fit prepayment meters to recoup the debt. If the meters are inside the can get court permission to gain entry to do that.