Pensioners threatened with debt collectors after energy bill rocketed from £120 to £4,600

Phyllis Kennedy says her electricity bill has gone from £120 a month to £4,600. The total of £55,200 a year is more than four times her annual state pension income

A pensioner has described her shock after her energy bill skyrocketed from £120 a month to £4,600.

Mum-of-three Phyllis Kennedy, 73, says the total of £55,200 a year is more than four times her annual income.

She lives on a £12,000 state pension in a modest three-bedroom bungalow in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Phyllis, who is a widow, is with Scottish Power and says she has now been threatened with debt collectors if she doesn’t pay the massive bill.

She said the stress of the situation had a massive impact on her life.

The huge bill comes after Ofgem raised its price cap by nearly £700 for someone with typical usage in the last month.

Are you being charged a ridiculous amount for your energy bill? Let us know: levi.winchester@reachplc.com

Phyllis said: “I moved into the house in October and it went from £120 a month to £4,600 a month in March.

“It’s a small three bedroom bungalow and I don’t see how anyone can think I should be paying £4,600 a month. It’s crazy.

“They still say the readings are more than 4,000 pounds.

Phyllis received an email from Scottish Power in March telling her her bills would be increasing by £500 a year.

But on April 5, she received a text message from the energy company saying her most recent bill was £4,606.

She has called and emailed Scottish Power and sent pictures of her meter reading via online chat but said they insist the bill is correct.

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On April 19, she paid £100 for the huge bill but is worried her electricity will be cut off.

Phyllis said: “It’s gone from £120 a month to £4,600 and it’s very worrying when you get a message like this with a bill.

“I’ve tried to get in touch with Scottish Power but I’m not tech savvy.

“They said I sent in a smart meter reading and it’s £4,600 a month.

“I have sent photos but they insist the bill is correct and that I owe £4,600.

“I called and said ‘what’s the matter, I don’t have £4,600’ and they said it’s in the hands of the debt collectors now.

“They said if I paid anything they would put the debt collectors on hold so I paid £100.

“It’s been like this for a month now and I’m worried they’ll cut my power or debt collectors will show up at my door.

Phyllis said the smart meter was removed from a wall by engineers in March and said she believes it may have caused a fault.

The Mirror has reached out to Scottish Power for comment.