British Gas admits agents break into struggling customers' homes to fit prepayment energy meters
Mr Shapps said the energy minister would hold a meeting with British Gas "in the coming days", adding: "He will be demanding answers to ensure this systemic failure is addressed."
Prepayment meters require customers to pay for their energy use in advance, either through accounts or by adding credit to a card in a convenience store or Post Office. Customers who are behind on their energy bills can be moved to a more expensive prepayment meter. This can be done remotely on a smart meter, or physically after the firm has been given a warrant to do so.
Another supplier, So Energy, said it had not "force-fitted" a physical prepayment meter under warrant. It added it had never switched a smart meter remotely from credit to prepay without the customer's knowledge or consent. In response to The Times, Gillian Cooper, head of energy policy at Citizens Advice, said: "It's truly shocking to see the extent of bad practices amongst some energy suppliers.
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