could I have some help with staywarm please

kate1956

I am on the staywarm scheme - but not the one for the over 60's. We went on this scheme several years ago when I was on income support and have been allowed to stay as I have a low income. I'm a single parent with four children, we live in a mid-terrace with 4 bedrooms and the bill seems to have gone up an awful lot. They are quoting me £114 fixed rate per month from march (going up by £25!!).

Now the thing is I think I have been cavalier with using electricity in particular and our usage has been very high mainly due i think to using the tumble dryer a lot. I want to get the bill down (as I can't really afford this) and have already started to get on the kids backs regarding turning everything off when we don't use it.

What I really need to know is if I can get our usage down and switch to a different supplier - how do I do this? If I cancel staywarm are they likely to hit me with a large final bill or is the agreement for monthly payment standing even when I leave?
Any help is very much appreciated.

caveat_emptor

Kate,
You need to look at a recent statement, or get one, to see if your account is in credit or debit. If you switch, your supplier will refund any credit and expect you to settle any debit when you switch.
Switching suppliers is covered on elsewhere these MBs and easiest way is to get a quote from 2 or 3 switching websites (some give money back if you use them for switching) feed in your energy usage/cost and they work out your best supplier. You can compare the quote with your current supplier. Having established which is your best supplier you can either use the switcher or go direct to the supplier.

djohn2002uk

caveat_emptor wrote:

Kate,
You need to look at a recent statement, or get one, to see if your account is in credit or debit. If you switch, your supplier will refund any credit and expect you to settle any debit when you switch.

You don't get in Debit or Credit with Staywarm. It is a fixed monthly payment regardless of what you use.

Edit: The problem people have with comparisons when on Staywarm is, it has not been necessary to keep a check on meter readings and therefore nothing to compare with.
In most cases, the cheapest 3 or 4 utility companies will be substantially cheaper than Staywarm as long as you don't act, as the OP admits, in a cavalier fasion. Careful useage and you can save over £200 a year as I have since dropping Staywarm.

Cardew

Although you may not have noted the meter readings, the Utility company will have a record of them.

You need to get them to supply you with your consumption figures over the past year and you will be able to work out what comparative costs would be with other companies. Don't forget that electricity costs vary considerably according to the part of the country where you live.

With 5 people living in a 4 bedroomed house, with plenty of cooking and washing for the children, your bills will inevitably be high and you need to ensure that any new supplier will be cheaper; even allowing for your intended 'economising'. Like adults keeping New Year Resolutions, getting children to keep switching off lights etc is not easy.

It is almost certainly not worth changing suppliers until this winter is over as your consumption will be at its highest over the next month or two.

kate1956

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I think I'm going to stick with staywarm for the moment - at least I can budget for what is going out with no big surprises. Thanks again.