Lower taffif charges for peopel on benefits?

mummytofour

Hello everybody.

ATM we are applying for IS as my DH is my sons carer we are currently getting carers allowance.

I understand that there are special taffifs for people in our situation, can anybody advise please? We are currently on duel fuel online 4 with sottish power paying a HUGE £135 PCM. Do you power companies charge the same for their social price plans or do they differ?

Many thanks.:beer:

Sue-UU

Hi mtf. We are with Southern Electric (or whatever they're called) and being in a similar situation to you we get 20% off of our charges. I'm fairly sure it's under a scheme called 'Stay Warm'. Look it up on google, it may be worth changing. Better still, give your company a call and ask how people like you get on "as you're experiencing difficulties" and have heard about reductions being given with other companies.

I wish you the very best of luck as we all need it!

Sue

billsavings

SP dont have a special needs tariff.

Scottish and Southern offer Energyplus Care: http://www.southern-electric.co.uk/Help/ForYourHome/SpecialPackages/Default.aspx

Scottish and Southern have stated that Energyplus Care customers will have no increase in prices untill early 2009 and it will still be 20% cheaper than their standard tarrif !!!!

spiro

British Gas also offer an 'Essentials' tariff which frozen prices to next April.

mummytofour

Ok I will look into this on tuesday. I have just remembered that Scottish power have let me build up arrears on the accout as the dd was not set hight enough a while ago... I bet this will mean I cant change, but will try any way. Thank you peeps.

Cardew

mummytofour wrote: »

Ok I will look into this on tuesday. I have just remembered that Scottish power have let me build up arrears on the accout as the dd was not set hight enough a while ago... I bet this will mean I cant change, but will try any way. Thank you peeps.

Most companies(all?) will block your transfer to another company if you have a large debit balance.

If they didn't, people would simply move from company to company leaving a trail of debts behind.

mummytofour

As I say I shall have too look into it. However if S/P dont do a social tariff, bearing in mind they are the ones that set the initially lower DD knowing full well our family size then I will be a little disgruntled to say the least.. Sigh dammed if you do and dammed if you dont!

Cardew

mummytofour wrote: »

As I say I shall have too look into it. However if S/P dont do a social tariff, bearing in mind they are the ones that set the initially lower DD knowing full well our family size then I will be a little disgruntled to say the least.. Sigh dammed if you do and dammed if you dont!

How did they know full well your family size?

ScoobyCanDo

Cardew wrote: »

How did they know full well your family size?

Tis True Cardew ...........!!! :rolleyes:

None of use like it when we get hit with a big bill, so in all honesty it's NOT too hard to keep a personal check on your energy use (either daily or weekly) and then keep an eye on what you use each month? .................. after all the meter's there, close to hand and you have the prices for your Gas & Electricity, in writing when both you start a new supply or off your first bill .............. ?

And whilst it's nice to only have a small DD coming out of our banks each month ............ if you use MORE than you pay for with your DD payment, you've only yourself to blame ................ sorry.

Just because SP set the initial DD lower that your current use is just one of those things ............ it's up to YOU to check it out as well. Plus when you set up a new account with any of the energy providers, they work out the initial DD on an aggregate of your previous years use ................ give them a false usage OR start using a lot more energy now that you did the previous year and the DD will of course be set too low.:rolleyes:

NOT what you wanted to hear ............. but you use it, you pay for it ................ just like everyone else .............. sorry:cool:

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Errata

nPower has a social tarriff for those on low incomes.

billsavings

Their is also the Home Heat Helpline sponsored by suppliers.


“I’ve been able to help hundreds of people with paying their fuel bills, by letting them know how can they can access a range of grants and find a payment scheme that suits their needs." Home Heat Helpline Advisor "


http://www.homeheathelpline.org/