in the homes of vulnerable customers. changing the meters without a warrant is already forbidden, but a recent investigation by the times found debt agents for british gas had broken into vulnerable people s homes to fit meters. regulator 0fgem has since launched an investigation, and ministers have demanded better practices from energy suppliers. the headlines on bbc news: the uk economy at a standstill new figures show even though we narrowly avoided falling into recession in 2022, there was no growth at all in the final three months of the year. more than 22,000 people are now known to have been killed in earthquakes in turkey and syria. the united nations warns the full extent of destruction still isn t clear. it is two weeks since nicola bulley disappeared whilst walking her dog in lancashire. now the police are extending their search downstream.
more now on the bbc having seen internal guidance to magistrates in england and wales which said they should wave through bulk applications by energy companies who want to forcibly install prepayment meters in people s homes. earlier this week, the regulator 0fgem asked firms to suspend the compulsory installation of the devices after a times newspaper investigation showed british gas subcontractors breaking into the homes of vulnerable people. the magistrates leadership executive has been approached for comment. here s our work and money correspondent noor nanji. this was the footage that thrust
motivated by intentions. the bbc has learnt that courts were given advice suggesting warrants for the forced installation of pre payment meters in people s homes could be waved through. more than 1,000 warrants a day were approved by magistrates last year, as the cost of living crisis put many customers into arrears. earlier this week the regulator 0fgem asked firms to suspend the compulsory installation of the devices after a times investigation showed british gas subcontractors breaking into the homes of vulnerable people. our business correspondent noor nanji has the details. this was the footage that thrust energy companies firmly under the spotlight for prepayment meters. an undercover reporter from the times showed debt collectors working for british gas, breaking into the home of a single father with young children, to fit the device. the times found evidence of other stories like this, too.
also been helping out not farfrom here, there is a tennis club where volunteers have been turning up all day to get maps to do their bit to look for nicola bulley. and the searches are likely to continue for the rest of the weekend. the bbc has learnt that courts were given advice suggesting warrants for the forced installation of pre payment metres in people s homes in the uk could be waved through. more than 1,000 warrants a day were approved by magistrates last year, as the cost of living crisis put many customers into arrears. earlier this week, the regulator 0fgem asked firms to suspend the compulsory installation of the devices after a times investigation showed british gas subcontractors breaking into the homes of vulnerable people. our business correspondent noor nanji has the details. this was the footage that thrust energy companies firmly under the spotlight. an undercover reporter from the times showed debt collectors working for british gas, breaking into the home of a
specialist at which? british gas has suspended the forced installation of pre payment meters because of reports that debt collectors it employed forced their way into the homes of vulnerable customers to fit them. very much carrying on from what we have this done might be discussing because of the cost of living crisis. some of those customers were disabled, or single parents. the regulator 0fgem has launched an investigation. aru na iyengar reports. hello? british gas, your gas supplier. we re here with a court warrant. can you please open the door? otherwise we have a locksmith who will to open it for you. knocking this is the exciting bit. i love this bit. paul morgan bentley, a times newspaper reporter, says he has witnessed instances of energy companies using strong arm tactics when customers fall into debt. there s a company that the major energy firms, including british gas and others, use to do this very aggressive debt collection. they re called arvato. and when i found out ab