Plea to end charging prepay customers an excess charge on gas

Apr 6 2009 by Gary Young, Birmingham Mail

A CITY MP has backed calls to legally force energy companies to finally end the controversial practice of charging prepay customers an excess charge for their gas.

Dr Lynne Jones (Selly Oak, Lab) supported a House of Commons motion tabled by John Austin MP which said the time had come for the Government to bring in legislation to equalise prepay bills with those charged on a quarterly basis.

The motion has so far attracted cross party support from 44 MPs across the UK.

Research carried out by the National Housing Federation found energy companies had raked in £100m over the last 12 months in excess charges.