prepayment

A mum with kids requiring refrigerated medicines for cancer rang up with her voice cracking because she could not afford her £5 prepayment top-up and asked to be put onto a credit direct debit.

E.On has also agreed to write-off debt held by almost 150,000 prepayment customers who cancelled their accounts over the same period.

According to the data, 1.9 million items were issued to patients with a prepayment certificate.

From 1 October, households on prepayment meters will pay slightly less than those on direct debit, with a typical bill of £1,669, a rise of £147.

From 1 July, households on prepayment meters are paying slightly less than those on direct debit, with a typical bill of £1,522, a drop of £121.