Debt & Disconnection

Domestic customers are offered a degree of protection against disconnection but business users are not. Therefore, it is essential to avoid disconnection at all costs as a supplier may refuse to reconnect the supply until full payment of outstanding monies is made

Moreover, business suppliers may refuse to allow the supply to transfer to your chosen supplier, or reconnect your supply, until these monies are paid. This may prove an awkward and timely process to re-establish a supply and resume trading

There can be many reasons why disconnection may occur, or be threatened, including:

• Non payment of bills
• Accumulation of debt which the supplier wishes to limit
• Errors in billing resulting in the consumer withholding payment
• General error

The key to avoiding disconnection is communication. As soon as you are aware that problems are, or may be, beginning, contact your supplier and talk to them. For example, if you have built up a debt and are being threatened with disconnection your supplier may be able to offer a compromise to avoid this, or you might be able to change to a cheaper tariff etc. Mistakes can be rectified but your business will suffer if you are disconnected

However, if you don't talk to your energy supplier about things, you will be in less of a position to try and sort them out. Keep the channels of communication open and be honest about any problems you might be experiencing

If you have already been disconnected and you think it has happened in error you should alert your supplier immediately to the reasons why you think it is a mistake