Energy giant ‘hounds’ OAP with bone cancer over unpaid 38p bill

SCOTTISHPOWER has threatened a terminally ill pensioner with legal action over an outstanding 38p energy bill.

- BY STAFF REPORTER

Robert Amison says he was hounded by British Gas over a 38p bill

Robert Walsh, who is fighting bone cancer, has been pursued aggressively by the energy giant for over a year, leaving him feeling suicidal.

The 65-year-old has received several final demand letters for different amounts, legal letters, threats of court action and repeated calls from customer service staff.

Robert — who is housebound, on benefits and currently awaiting an operation — accepts he may have fallen into debt with his energy bills.

But he is now frightened to answer the phone because of the “hounding”, despite the company being unable to provide him with an accurate outstanding sum.

And Robert has claimed higher than agreed direct debit payments taken from his account have left him unable to afford to travel to vital hospital appointments.

The retired carer from Stirling, who was forced to quit work due to ill health, told the Sunday Mail: “It’s been constant harassment. The stress caused has really affected my health.

“‘I’ve a terminal diagnosis for bone metastasis where cancer has spread to the bone and I have hiatus hernia attached to my throat which sometimes stops me from breathing.

“‘I’m waiting to go into hospital for an operation when I’m well enough to have it and the stress of this is just unbearable.