A tenth of UK billpayers have missed at least one payment for utilities such as energy or water over the past six months as costs have soared in recent years, research has revealed.
According to a Moneyhub survey, a quarter of UK adults fell behind on some sort of payment over the past half-year.
Utility bills went unpaid most frequently, with over 10% of respondents reporting missing payments during the period.
Over three-quarters, 77%, said they were anxious about the payment of bills, with utilities again cited as the most frequent cause for concern.
“Escalating utility prices in the UK, combined with the wider cost of living crisis, have become a significant concern for consumers, with households grappling with the daunting challenge of managing their monthly budgets,” Moneyhub said in a press release.
The majority of respondents who raised concerns over utilities said that payment of energy bills caused them the most stress, followed by water and then broadband.
UK energy debt hit a record £3 billion in 2023, marking the second consecutive year of higher-than-historic bills following the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the pandemic's impact on households.
Ofgem’s energy bill cap is set to plummet by 15% in April, according to Cornwall Insight analysts, but at £1,635 will remain around £400 higher than in early 2019.
Water bills are also set to rise in April, below November’s inflation rate but still by 7.5%. Broadband costs are expected to increase by high single-digit percentages, meanwhile.
“Missed payments are causing significant concern for UK consumers, with utility bills being the number one culprit,” commented Moneyhub director Mark Munson.
“With energy bills high, there is a real worry that this problem will only worsen without intervention."