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British Gas Pays £20m to Settle Probe Into Force-Fitting of Prepayment Meters
Ofgem said British Gas will also write off up to £70 million in vulnerable customers’ energy debt after the regulator’s investigation.
- British Gas agreed to pay £20 million into a redress fund following an Ofgem investigation into the forced installation of prepayment meters, as the regulator found the supplier failed to protect vulnerable customers.
- Three years ago, reports from the Times revealed that debt agents working for Arvato Financial Solutions forced entry into vulnerable homes to install meters, prompting an investigation.
- Ofgem found British Gas "failed to meet the standards required" for vulnerable customers, and the supplier will write off up to £70 million of energy debt as part of the settlement.
- Eligible customers will be contacted directly by British Gas and do not need to take any action, with compensation covering those affected between 2018-21 and 2022-23.
- Centrica boss Chris O'Shea apologized for the scandal, stating "What happened should never have happened," and noted the company implemented safeguards to "deliver the standards our customers have every right to expect.
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British Gas to pay £20m to settle meter scandal
British Gas will pay millions of pounds to settle an investigation into the forced installation of prepayment meters, energy regulator Ofgem said Friday.The company has agreed to pay £20 million into Ofgem's voluntary redress fund and write off up to £70 million of debt owed by "vulnerable" customers such as low-income households, the disabled or...
Watford Observer+4 Reposted by 4 other sources
British Gas agrees £20m payout and compensation for prepayment meter failures
The energy supplier will compensate customers who were affected in 2018-21 and write off up to £70 million of energy debt for vulnerable customers.
·Watford, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources35
Leaning Left5Leaning Right4Center17Last UpdatedBias Distribution66% Center
Bias Distribution
- 66% of the sources are Center
66% Center
L 19%
C 66%
15%
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