'Review' after €16 arrears letter sent to pensioner
Electric Ireland is reviewing its debt collection practices after a politician highlighted a case where an elderly pensioner was threatened with disconnection over a €16 debt. The pensioner, who was struggling with funeral costs, received an aggressive letter despite being on a payment plan.
Why it matters
It highlights the tension between corporate profit-seeking and the treatment of vulnerable citizens during a cost-of-living crisis.
Electric Ireland has said it is seeking to "review" a case where it was accused of "threatening" a pensioner over around €16 in arrears, after the matter was raised by a TD.
Independent TD for Tipperary Mattie McGrath raised the case of a recently-widowed "elderly pensioner in his 80s".
Mr McGrath said the man is also in poor health and had received "an aggressive and intimidating arrears letter warning of possible cancellation of his payment plan and implied disconnection" despite owing around €16.
The TD said the amount "has since been fully cleared".
Mr McGrath said the man had come under pressure due to funeral costs and additional cost-of-living expenses.
He said he had been put under a €75 per week payment plan to clear around €800 in arrears, but had been actually paying €80 per week.
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