Linda, aged 70, said she was embarrassed enough about her debts – amounting to hundreds of pounds – to want to remain anonymous.
“I could afford my bills before, but I’m really struggling now. I’ve never been in debt before,” she told the BBC.
“I’m repaying in instalments, but the debt is not going down.”
She relied on a state pension and said it never stretched far enough to cover her utility bills.
The NAO report said that awareness of the Priority Services Register, external remained low. The UK-wide project helps utility companies identify and support customers who have extra communication, access or safety needs – such as during a power cut.
Wider communications also needed to improve, according to Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who…