Beat the freeze
As the weather gets colder, higher energy bills are biting. Maybe 10,000 households across Britain are being added to the 4.3 million already on pre-payment meters. Pre-payment means that you get no electricity or gas if you run out of cash one week, while with direct debit you incur debt but will not be cut off. It is more expensive, and loads the cost onto colder months rather than spreading it over the year. Energy firms can switch households on smart meters to pre-payment remotely, without having to send out an engineer. People on pre-payment meters are dependent on vouchers to get...