Energy Back Billing and Lifetime ISAs

Money Box

BBC

Business

4.2 • 804 Ratings

🗓️ 1 March 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Thousands of people have made complaints to the Energy Ombudsman related to so-called back billing, which is when customers are sent new bills for energy use longer than 12 months prior. The practice was banned by the regulator Ofgem in 2018 but is still causing consumers problems. In the cases investigated by Money Box customers had to complain multiple times before their suppliers recognised they'd broken these rules and cancelled the bills. Ofgem says it's committed to reviewing billing practices while the trade industry body Energy UK says suppliers are continuously working to improve practices.

Is the Lifetime ISA fit for purpose in 2025? That's the question being asked as Parliament's Treasury Committee calls for evidence about whether it is still an appropriate financial product nine years after it was created. We'll discuss how it works successfully for some, but also the problems some people face.

The price people in England and Wales pay for water and sewage services will rise sharply from 1st April. Figures announced this week revealed that households in England and Wales will pay on average £123 a year more for their water. What can you do if you're worried about affording your bills?

And thousands of people in Northern Ireland are still without power after Storm Éowyn last week - what help is available?

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Eimear Devlin Researcher: Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 1st February 2025)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hello, you're about to listen to a BBC podcast, so I'd like to tell you where you'll find more just like it.
0:05.5	I'm Izzy Lee Poulton, an assistant commissioner for BBC Sounds, which means I'm involved in the whole podcast making process.
0:12.0	Whether that's developing fresh formats or facilitating eye-catching artwork, I helped project manage all the details that make our podcast stand out.
0:19.0	At the BBC, we've got access to storytellers and experts across a huge range of subjects.
0:24.6	It could be psychologists, comedians, celebrities or journalists.
0:28.6	No podcasts or day looks the same here.
0:31.6	So no matter what you like, check out BBC Sounds.
0:33.6	There's probably another podcast on there that you're absolutely love.
0:42.3	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:45.1	Hello, welcome to this Moneybox podcast.
0:49.1	Lifetime Isis give a government subsidy to people under 40 to help them save a deposit for their first home, except when they don't.
0:57.0	Water, water everywhere and every drop will cost 25% more from April. And people across Northern Ireland, whose power was cut off by
1:03.5	Storm Aowin last week, are powerless to get compensation. But first, a moneybox listener was
1:09.8	shocked to get an energy bill for nearly £6,000 for gas and electricity.
1:14.7	Her supplier said she'd used two and a half years ago.
1:18.9	This is the bill with a date of the 8th of January on.
1:25.5	Wow. And read that number out there?
1:27.2	5,768 pounds and nine pence. the 8th of January on. Wow. And read that number out there?
1:31.3	5,768 pounds and 9 pence.
1:35.8	I mean, seeing it in black and white there is a bit more scary.
1:37.1	Yes, it is. And then that's for a period from 21st of June 2021 till 11th of June 2022.
1:46.9	And that's two and a half years ago?
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in -29 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.