Millions miss vital bill support as British household debt tops £7 billion

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed that millions of UK households are missing out on vital support for essential bills, with their total debt to utility companies now surpassing £7 billion. The report highlighted critically low awareness of social tariffs, with only a third of eligible broadband customers and 39 per cent of water customers knowing about these schemes designed to assist those struggling with payments. Household energy debt has dramatically increased by 118 per cent since 2021, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, indicating a significant rise in financial pressure on consumers, although those on supportive repayment plans owed considerably less. The NAO concluded that while regulators such as Ofcom, Ofwat, and Ofgem have enhanced consumer protections, they are not adequately keeping pace with evolving consumer needs, leading to difficulties for customers in contacting providers or accessing available support. Key recommendations from the NAO include boosting awareness of support schemes, addressing the underlying causes of rising debt like inaccurate billing, improving the identification and support for vulnerable consumers, and fostering better data-sharing across different sectors. In fullWarning millions of UK households missing out on energy bill support as debt climbs to £7bnThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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