In praise of ...E.ON(!)

The client had already been in the Last-Chance Saloon (having had specialist debt advice) and was going directly to Disconnection Street without passing "Go" or collecting any handouts.

He'd made the first monthly payment of the fought-for payment plan but then defaulted in spite of having a full-time job. It didn't help that the Child Support Agency were taking over £600 direct from his salary, but on paper the payment plan should have been sustainable. But then until other family commitments came up.

The option of a prepayment meter was ruled out because of the shared access to his apartment block. As energy supplier E.ON really did not have any choice. And no, the client could not make any immediate payment to show good faith that he would resume payments once his salary was in, later in the month. Not even a nominal amount.

(Privately he wouldn't even commit to making the payment - just to trying to!)

Given the situation even I would have proceeded to the disconnect stage.

But the E.ON agent at the other end of the line, after consulting with his supervisor, agreed not to take any further action until the end of the month ...and to talk about reinstating the payment plan once the next payment had been made.

I have zero faith in this client, but thank you, E.ON, for this gesture of leniency and kindness.