Credit, collections & insolvency news
SSE face scrutiny from Ofgem after switching its customers to pre-payment meter tariffs, with concerns raised that some customers are in potentially vulnerable situations. Ofgem’s will review it’s Standards of Conduct which are aimed at ensuring suppliers treat customers fairly.
Firms should take all reasonable steps to ascertain a customer’s ability to pay and must take this into account when calculating instalments. Companies must also offer certain services when they become aware or have reason to believe that the customer is having or will have difficulty in paying all or part of their bill.
Ofgem has emphasised that the opening of the investigation does not imply that it has made any findings about non-compliance.