A council tenant who signed up to have solar panels added to her property is now living in fear of bailiffs knocking on her door.
Sylvia Evans had the solar panels installed on her two-bedroom home in Burton three years ago by Stoke-on-Trent City Council-backed Solarplicity, which is now known as the Community Energy Scheme (CES).
However, the 66-year-old now wants to the panels removed after receiving multiple bills from CES that she cannot afford to pay.
Sylvia, who has arthritis, a pacemaker, and breathing difficulties, already has a monthly tariff with Shell Energy for her gas and electricity - and says she doesn't know what the CES payments are for.
She told Stoke-on-Trent Live : "I have told them to come and take the solar panels off - and they have said they can’t do that. I keep getting messages saying I owe money.
"I am just baffled. We just don't know what to do. I don’t want the panels."
Sylvia says the panels in her attic are currently believed to be switched off.
She added: “A man came out to have a look and said they were not even switched on. I got a letter from them saying the reason I am not saving any money is because the panels are not on.
"I didn’t know they were switched off because we can’t go into the attic.
“The most recent bill said that if I don’t pay then a debt collector will get involved. I feel terrified.
"The bills are different every time. The last one said over £230. It tells me to set up a direct debit. I want to know what’s going on. If they had said I had an option to leave it I would have done it.
“I have already got enough worries without adding this to it. I like to keep my bills under control so having this money sprung on me gets worrying. The solar panels are still off - and I am still getting bills.”
CES has reiterated that all its customers are clearly informed of what they are signing up to.
A spokesman said: “We have been very flexible in our approach to customer payments and have recently set up a bespoke Stoke-on-Trent-based team to support those customers who have not been paying their bills.
“Options available to customers who engage with our team and provide an accurate meter reading could, for example, include 24-month payment plans or an export to the traditional energy grid for new energy use.
"However, when customers do not engage with our efforts to work with them we must take appropriate enforcement action to settle their debts.
“We continue to encourage all tenants to get in touch if they have any questions or concerns so that we can support them.”
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