Ah I'm glad you have got somewhere and beaten them down even if it was not as much as you had hoped. You would think they would not miss another £1k wouldn't you but that is them all over. I hope this has put your mind at rest and that you can now concentrate on getting back to fitness. All the very best.

Thank you IMS - And very best to Stellakop - I hope you get this resolved.

No - am I being very thick?

Sorry to hijack but the other week I wanted to post a question and could not find how to do it. It was probably very obvious but could not see. Thanks.

Hi there. I hear you! 4 years ago I had a double whammy of partner leaving me and being made redundant. I called MBNA and asked that I reduce payments and was told that because I had always paid on time(!) they would not consider it! I was told to default for 2 months and then they would consider it. However, the man on the end of the phone also told me that if I default I would not even get credit on a lettuce - and like you I started hyperventilating at that point - the sheer lack of sympathy and the condescending way he spoke to me. During the default period I was plagued by calls from their call centre from 8am to 8pm. Anyway, in the meantime ... I went to the Citizens Advice Bureau who were appalled at the way I had been treated, particularly as I had contacted MBNA with a fair offer. In my case, when the threatening letters came through, I called again and told them I had been to the CAB and unbelievably they froze the interest and I set up a payment plan! I did speak to a much more reasonable woman that time. I think it is a battle of wills and also if you get an a**hole at the other end who loves the power. Do go the CAB as they really are good - well my local one was. Best of luck, remember they can't shoot you and I hope you have a full and speedy recovery.

In my experience, if you have bad credit they MAY ask for a guarantor (someone who earns over £30K in London area!).

This may help if she has not tried this yet: I am not allowed to post the link but if you or she goes to the inland revenue website and click on tax credits there is a link to complaints.

That is terrible - in that case, her MP needs to be contacted. x

Personally, having dealt with tax credits people before, I would get your sister to call again and again until she gets someone actually knows what they are talking about. You can be told one thing by one person and something else by another. She may also have to really stand her ground and say that this is not acceptable. She has been kept waiting far too long already. If needs be, demand to speak to a manager. It can be surprising how payments can be fast tracked if you really stand your ground. If that doesn't help, she should go to her MP. Hope that helps somewhat.

@rebel11 : it makes you want to weep! The huge profits these companies are ALLOWED to make at our expense! I still cannot understand that, as an island, we can't have wave power? A much greener option but probably far too easy and not as much profit. Oh well, as usual, our British grit will keep us going :S

Thank you to all particularly Duckwaddler. That is very interesting re the debt collection agencies and not having a contract. I never knew that. I am sorry I didn't see your reply but in the end they "relented" and are letting me pay £19 per month which is still taking the proverbial and only £7 less than original but I accepted that. I am just dreading the winter particularly as I have a young child. These energy companies are legalised protection rackets!

I never answer calls where I don't recognise the number. If they are genuine they will leave a message.

Look at this and then ignore it and forget about it. Don't answer the phone to them again xxx I am not allowed to post links yet so what I shall say instead is I googled the number and saw quite a few people have been called today - then someone put in a link and when I clicked on that it states quite clearly it is a [problem]. Someone had paid them and got caught out. If anyone were to have a lawsuit against you, I very much doubt they would phone you.

Thanks v much for your reply. I think you're right - they want us "paupers" to freeze!

Hi. I stupidly switched to Eon at the end of last year but then went back to NPower. However in the 2 months I was with Eon, I allegedly ran up a bill of £229 (it was December and January!). As they had my bank details I thought they would have taken payments but they didn't. They sent me letters but I thought they were sales letters until I got one from a debt collector saying I owed Eon money. I called them and explained that, being on benefits, I can't pay off the whole sum I would pay £10 per month. They put the phone down on me. Then I received another letter from Eon so called them today and offered them £10 per month. They told me I have to pay £26 per month over 9 months and I can't then the debt will go back to the agency and I will incur more charges. Do they not have any morals? I am going to pay the debt but cannot afford their terms and I feel now as if I'm being blackmailed.