No really, how much for gas ???

bam_bam_111

My friend is a single parent with a 6 month old, is on income support and has a pre payment gas meter with British Gas. Now the weather has changed, the heating has to be on for approx 3-4 hours a day. It is costing her approx £30 a week :eek: and she cannot afford it. I thought i read somewhere that she is entitled to help either from the government or British Gas themselves. However i can't find any info on it anywhere. Can anyone tell me if such a scheme exists, or is it just wishfull thinking on my part?

Fire_Fox

How well insulated is the property? Does your friend dress appropriately for winter around the house? Is she aware babies only need 16 to 18C? Has she tried a duvet on her sofa and electric blanket on the bed? Have you run checked she is with the cheapest supplier?

mums_got_no_pennies

hi,has your friend looked in to the n power spreading warmth tarif.im in same position and thats what i use.i believe you can get cheaper prices but find it helpful. my meters are then credited with £27 per quarter although i received this in september and again in november so its helping in the colder weather.

BargainGalore

Being on pre payment meter is one of the most expensive ways to pay for fuel

However she may be paying £30 because she may owe some debt. I believe often people are put on pre payment meters because they have a poor credit rating or owe money to utility company and have done little to pay any debt off

You can get help if on a low income I believe most utility companies have social tariffs but I doubt they switch her if she has some debt

I dont think there is any other help most of us struggle to pay bills but are careful how we spend our money, some people dont do that. I am not saying they are but we have come across people before on here that plead ignorant about large bills because they never put money aside to pay them off when a bill comes and hence get into debt and get on a pre payment meter

£30 is a lot per week for gas, we pay around £40 per month

iwanttosave_2

I am on a prepayment meter and have the heating on about the same amount of time with a gas fire on most of the day and have a gas hob and oven and I only use about £8-10 per week. Does she have arrears?

Premier_2

bam_bam_111 wrote: »

My friend is a single parent with a 6 month old, is on income support ... I thought i read somewhere that she is entitled to help either from the government ...

Where does she think income support comes from???

If your friend can't afford the amount of energy she is consuming, get her to cut down. Wrap a baby up and it'll be fine. It's currently about 60 deg F outside here (sheltered away from the wind) so really there is no need for much heating if any.

50 years ago most people didn't have the luxury of fully heated homes, yet all the babies didn't die in the winter else you wouldn't be here today.

zzzLazyDaisy

mums_got_no_pennies wrote: »

hi,has your friend looked in to the n power spreading warmth tarif..

N Power closed this scheme last March

Joyful

She is only being charged £32 a year more for the PP meter than she would be for a credit meter with BG. We have an Essential package which she might qualify for the Support side. Check this out on https://www.britishgas.co.uk. We can also advise with Energy Efficiency and insulation and products to help her. Tell her to give us a call.

capetown1972

I need some serious help.

Within one month I have used 3889 units of gas (m3 meter), which I believe is virtually impossible. I live in a two bedroom flat and have a combi boiler. I only use the central heating an hour in the morning and an hour a night. I tink this will cost me over £1000. Can anybody tell me what the problem might be. I have contacted British Gas who will monitor the usage for a week and then send out a specialist team, which i will have to pay for if no error can be found. Please help. I'm am really stressed about this.

Premier_2

capetown1972 wrote: »

I need some serious help.

Within one month I have used 3889 units of gas (m3 meter), which I believe is virtually impossible. I live in a two bedroom flat and have a combi boiler. I only use the central heating an hour in the morning and an hour a night. I tink this will cost me over £1000. Can anybody tell me what the problem might be. I have contacted British Gas who will monitor the usage for a week and then send out a specialist team, which i will have to pay for if no error can be found. Please help. I'm am really stressed about this.

Are you sure you have read the meter correctly?

Are you sure the meter you have read is the same one read last time?
(often they may be muddled up if located together, e.g. serving flats)

If you are, then there is certainly an error so stress no more

Cardew

capetown1972 wrote: »

I need some serious help.

Within one month I have used 3889 units of gas (m3 meter), which I believe is virtually impossible. I live in a two bedroom flat and have a combi boiler. I only use the central heating an hour in the morning and an hour a night. I tink this will cost me over £1000. Can anybody tell me what the problem might be. I have contacted British Gas who will monitor the usage for a week and then send out a specialist team, which i will have to pay for if no error can be found. Please help. I'm am really stressed about this.

Were your previous meter readings estimated(for 2 or 3 years?)

You obviously cannot use 40,000kWh in a month.