Mental health sufferers pay up to £1,550 EXTRA each year for energy, broadband and household bills
Problems like depression can often make bill payers frightened to face their finances which can lead to them paying over the odds for essential services
VULNERABLE people with mental health problems are being charged up to £1,550 EXTRA for household bills such as broadband and energy.
Mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression can often make bill payers scared of their finances which can lead to them paying over the odds for essential services.
Some illnesses, like bipolar disorder, can cause sufferers to erratically spend cash like Paul Scates, 39, from Bournemouth who tried to kill himself after a series of spending sprees left him with £70,000 debts.
Citizens Advice, which put together the research, is now calling on providers to give more support to those who may be losing control of their finances due to their mental health.
The charity surveyed 2,000 adults with mental health problems to find out how many extra charges they've faced, such as late payment penalties, overdraft fees and charges for bounced payments, due to their illness.
It found that those who have an aversion to change, poor working memory and who find it difficult to act under pressure end up forking out an extra £360 to £540 for bills.
Julia D'Allen from Citizens Advice Somerset added: "I’ve seen so many people whose broadband and phone packages have gone up after a year, they can’t afford it and they’re sinking into debt or having their phones cut off.
"For people with anxiety and depression, losing their phone and contact with other people is like losing a lifeline.
“These companies do have good deals for vulnerable people but they’re not easy to access. It takes them coming to Citizens Advice and for us to really push, for these providers to relent and help their customer.
“There’s nothing worse than when you see someone with depression who has tried to ask for help and got nowhere. They’ve been pushed further into their hole, they get further into debt and it becomes a vicious cycle.”
Jonathan Oxley, chief executive of the UK Regulators’ Network (UKRN) which represents the regulators, said: "UKRN agrees that people with mental health conditions must be offered the right support by utilities, communications and financial providers.
"We are already working together to ensure that vulnerable consumers, including those with mental health conditions, are fairly treated, and can better access products and services that meet their needs and offer value for money."
More than 20million Brits have suffered with depression or anxiety over their lifetime, a separate study found last year - laying bare Britain's mental health epidemic.
Sadly, a new study found that Brits with mental health issues are twice as likely to lose up to £140 a week in benefits.
People with serious debt who are under the care of NHS mental health crisis teams will not have further interest and charges added to their debts for the duration of their care, under new Government plans.
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