As a customer in receipt of disability benefit my income is quite rightly: the minimum the government has assessed is needed for me to live on. Therein, obtaining maximum value for money on my utility bills is vital. After joining OVO Energy on the recommendation of freinds & family & the 'Which?' Award, I signed up to their lowest tariff. A year later this expired without my knowledge & OVO failed to tell me. My account had switched to the standard rate & subsequently began to accrue a debt. OVO allowed this to continue in this state for nearly 8 months by which time the account became £160 in the red. I only became aware of this when I applied for a Smart Meter to be installed. OVO reviewed the account & without notice, put my monthly direct debit up 60%!! So that is twice they breached regulations & thirdly, they lied to me on the phone by telling me the new amount reflected my increased usage. In fact, their computer had factored the debt into the equation aswell. I explained to them that I was unable to afford the new payments & that I had applied for the 'Warm Home Discount' - (the Winter Fuel Allowance equivalent) for people on low incomes & that this would help pay off the majority of the debt. They then threatened me with installing a pre-paid meter & referred me to a scheme they run in conjunction with the Citizens Advice Bureau, which checks your eligibility before awarding their charitable funds to clear the debt. I duly applied & was told OVO were taking longer than usual to approve applications. Unbelievably, the government approved my Warm Home Discount in the meantime & OVO illegally applied it to the debt! 2 months later & surprise, surprise - there is still no word of their fund award & I now have nothing to help me with my winter fuel costs. AVOID OVO AT ALL COSTS!!