People with 'extreme vulnerabilities' have had their homes broken into by British Gas debt collectors, according to an investigation.
Energy companies can obtain court warrants for third-party debt collectors to force their way in and fit prepayment meters if customers haven't paid their bills, the Mirror reports. This then forces the customer to then top up the meter themselves if they want to receive gas supplies, and if they fail to do so they could have their heating cut off.
An investigation by an undercover reporter at The Times found this practice happened to 'vulnerable' customers such as a single father with three young children and a mother with a four-week-old baby. The reporter went undercover with debt-collecting contractor Arvato Financial Solutions and joined agents who force-fit the meters.
