Local MP Steve McCabe is urging people who are struggling with energy bills to seek expert advice, as new research highlights many people are not aware of the help that is available.
British Gas have teamed up with leading charity Christians Against Poverty to highlight just how important it is to avoid delay when it comes to dealing with debt. Spiralling personal debt can negatively affect all areas of a person’s life causing loss of sleep, putting a strain on relationships, leading to poor physical and mental health – and even risking their home and livelihood. Seeking help sooner rather than allowing debt problems to develop and escalate is the best way to reduce these negative consequences.
New research from British Gas has revealed that many people simply don’t know where to turn for help.While two thirds of people said they would speak to family members or their energy company to get help with energy debt, a third of those surveyed said they wouldn’t speak to anyone at all if they were in financial difficulty.Just 46% of respondents said they would contact their energy company after 1-3 months if they were in financial difficulty. But 29% said they didn’t know how to find out about help.
Steve McCabe MP said:
“January can be a particularly difficult time for many people as those big winter energy bills start to arrive. I’d urge anyone who is worried about their energy bills to get help and advice, by calling their energy supplier or by seeking help from a debt counselling charity like Christians Against Poverty.
“The worst thing you can do is bury your head in the sand. There is lots of help out there so there’s no need to feel alone or let bills build up.”
Christians Against Poverty offer face-to-face support at home while negotiating with creditors on behalf of their client. The charity helps everyone for free, regardless of age, gender, faith or background. Its helpline can be reached on 0800 328 0006.
In addition to its partnerships with Christians Against Poverty and StepChange, British Gas offers direct help to customers who are having difficulty paying their bills, with interest-free debt repayment plans. In 2016, some 105,000 people were offered assistance in this way.
The supplier also makes referrals to the British Gas Energy Trust (BGET) which has invested £85m since its foundation in 2004, helping 175,000 people with debt problems through grants and expert advice. In some cases, BGET will clear a customer’s arrears completely.
Contact BGET on 01733 421 060 or visit www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk for more information.
British Gas advisers can also check to see whether a customer is eligible for grants such as the Warm Home Discount, and offer access to energy-saving measures.
To find out more, call 0800 048 0404.
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