Advice and support for dealing with essential bill debt

On Tuesday 23rd June, consumer journalist Harry Kind joined us to talk about bill debt and the support that may be available to consumers struggling with essential bills, including repayment plans and social tariffs for different utilities, as well as priority services that may be offered by suppliers.

The Priority Services Register

The Priority Services Register is a UK-wide scheme enabling consumers in vulnerable situations to apply for priority support. You can find more details, including a search function to find your energy supplier here, external.

Alternatively, you can find ways to register through individual suppliers below.

Support for Gas and Electricity

Below are contact and support details for major energy companies in the UK.

British Gas

You can find contact details for British Gas here, external.

You can find information about available bill support here, external and its Priority Services Register here, external.

E.ON Next

You can find contact details for E.ON Next here, external.

You can find information about available bill support here, external and its Priority Services Register here, external.

EDF Energy

You can find contact details for EDF Energy here, external.

You can find information about available support here, external and its Priority Services Register here, external.

Octopus Energy

You can find contact details for Octopus Energy here, external.

You can find information about available bill support here, external and its Priority Services Register here, external.

OVO Energy

You can find contact details for OVO Energy here, external.

You can find information about available bill support here, external and its Priority Services Register here, external.

ScottishPower

You can find contact details for ScottishPower here, external.

You can find information about available bill support here, external and its Priority Services Register here, external.

Support for Water

The Consumer Council for Water has collated social tariffs available from all water companies across England and Wales. The breakdown can be found and checked here, external.

You can find out your water supplier here, external, and approach your supplier directly to apply for its Priority Services Register.

Support for Phone and Broadband

The communications regulator Ofcom has published a list of available social tariffs in the UK. The list can be found here, external.

Below are contact and support details for major phone and broadband providers in the UK.

BT

You can find contact details for BT here, external.

You can find information about available support here, external, including for vulnerable customers or additional accessibility requirements here, external.

Details of social tariffs can be found here, external.

EE

You can find contact details for EE to discuss your broadband and landline here, external or your mobile phone here, external.

You can find information about available support here, external, including for vulnerable customers or additional accessibility requirements here, external.

Details of mobile social tariffs can be found here, external. EE customers may also be eligible for BT Home Essentials here, external.

Plusnet

You can find contact details for Plusnet here, external.

You can find information about billing support here, external. Support for vulnerable customers or additional accessibility requirements can be found here, external.

Plusnet customers may be eligible for BT Home Essentials here, external.

Sky

You can find contact details for Sky here, external.

You can find billing support information here, external, including for vulnerable customers or additional accessibility requirements here, external.

Details of tariffs, including social tariffs, can be found here, external.

TalkTalk

You can find contact details for TalkTalk here, external.

You can find information about available support here, external, including for customers with additional accessibility requirements here, external.

At the time of publication, TalkTalk does not currently offer a social tariff.

Virgin Media

You can contact Virgin Media here, external.

You can find information about available support here, external, including for vulnerable customers or additional accessibility requirements here, external.

Details of Virgin Media broadband social tariffs can be found here, external.

Vodafone

You can find contact details for Vodafone here, external.

You can find information about available support here, external, including for vulnerable customers or additional accessibility requirements here, external.

Details of Vodafone's broadband social tariff can be found here, external.

Additional Debt Advice and Resources

You can find free advice on dealing with energy bill debt from Citizens Advice here, external for England, here, external for Scotland, here, external for Wales, and from Advice NI for Northern Ireland here, external.

You can also seek advice from debt charity Step Change here, external, and National Debt Line here, external.