Major change to energy suppliers after prepayment meter scandal as Grant Shapps warns more measures to be introduced

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C7WP2X man using a quantum key prepayment electric meter, paying for electricity as you use it

ALL energy suppliers have finally agreed to stop forcing hard-up households onto prepayment meters.

But some firms are refusing to reveal how vulnerable customers will be compensated for cruel intrusions into their home.

All energy suppliers have finally agreed to stop forcing hard-up households onto prepayment meters

It comes after reports revealed British Gas sent debt  collectors to break into customers’ homes to force them to have pay-as-you-go meters put in.

And families who couldn’t afford to top up had their heating cut off entirely.

Ofgem has now banned energy giants from forcing the meters on customers following a national outcry.

And the regulator is carrying out a review into how things went so badly wrong.

This week Energy Secretary Grant Shapps set firms a deadline to confirm what actions they’ll take to compensate customers who faced wrongful installations.

While several responded, some greedy suppliers didn’t even address the question in half-baked written replies to the minister.

The Department for Energy says most suppliers are falling short on correcting their ways.

Mr Shapps today vowed to hold the sector to account and push firms to remediate damage done.

“People will have understandably been shocked and appalled at how vulnerable people’s homes have been invaded and suppliers are only at the beginning of correcting this abhorrent behaviour,” the Energy Secretary said.

“I am angered by the fact some have so freely moved vulnerable customers onto prepayment meters, without a proper plan to take remedial action where there has been a breach of the rules.

“This is simply not good enough… I want to see plans from suppliers actually acted upon – and customers given the service they have a right to expect.”

Mr Shapps has called on Ofgem set up a new reporting system, where customers can dob in dodgy suppliers for any mistreatment.

The regulator said it’s looking into making it happen.

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