.

Cardew

Surely the issue is not whether the benefits are sufficient on not, but paying for goods received.

There seems to be a view that, alone amongst commercial firms, gas and electricity companies have a social obligation to support those who cannot, or will not, pay their bills.

What irritates many people is that being in receipt of benefits is put forward as a justification for defaulting on payment. e.g. I only get £x so how can I be expected to pay £y.

If you default on mortgage payments, bank loans, credit card payments etc you are charged interest. You have entered an agreement with gas and electricity companies(who don’t charge interest) and they have every right to expect that agreement to be honoured.

If the benefits someone is receiving is insufficient to meet their essential bills, then that is a matter to take up with the social services. However it would then be reasonable to have their outgoings(internet, car, mobile phone etc) scrutinised to see if expenditure on those items can be justified.

aliasojo

Cardew wrote: »

Surely the issue is not whether the benefits are sufficient on not, but paying for goods received.


What irritates many people is that being in receipt of benefits is put forward as a justification for defaulting on payment. e.g. I only get £x so how can I be expected to pay £y.

If the benefits someone is receiving is insufficient to meet their essential bills, then that is a matter to take up with the social services. However it would then be reasonable to have their outgoings(internet, car, mobile phone etc) scrutinised to see if expenditure on those items can be justified.

Indeed, in all cases, it is a case of better budgeting, however hard a process it is. However, I don't believe (most) people use fuel willy nilly and then decide to cry poverty. I think people genuinely do not fully appreciate just what amounts they do use and are shocked when faced with a large bill they have not budgeted for, simply through lack of realisation. Treating everyone who finds themselves in this situation and are asking for help, in a disdainful way is not helpful. Sure some people will try to milk everything for all they are worth but the majority are decent people having a hard time and need advice to deal with their situation.

My son has recently moved out and has just had his first introduction to real life issues when he was faced with a huge electricity bill. It didn't help that his first bill covered the bad winter we've just had. He is guilty of being naive or uninformed, he will know what to expect next time. I'm thankful he's not a member of this site tbh, it's not the place it used to be. Gone are the days when people were happy to help if they could, now it's all digs, condemnation and needless negative comment.

minjara

Broadwood wrote: »

Hope your partner has a yearly season ticket for his prescriptions. Looks like it would save you money if he is taking that many pills.

What can make people bitter is the fact that for each genuine hardship case there are probably two cases of whingers who smoke and/or drink, generally live beyond their means, then lose their job or get ill with no savings backup and expect instant sympathy. Likewise for every genuine disabled blue badge holder, there are two who get out of their (newish) cars and sprint (almost) into the nearest shop to spend the money they have saved from parking for free. This CHEATING the system causes bitterness and the minority genuine cases invariably get tarred with the same brush.

I totally agree with you, people flaunt the system and make it worse off for people like my partner.

fifipat Installing a prepayment meter would surely be more expensive as it charges a higher rate.

If you are on benefits you should be entitled to free prescriptions.

Sadly contributions based things overrule the income part, so for ESA cont, which is what the majority of people are on due to the anomalies in the ESA system (agreed by a manager at the DWP, saying the system is letting people down) you don't get jack, no mortgage help, no prescription help, no electric help.

minjara

Just to add though there are some good and kind companies out there that do care. My partner not really being of sound mind just now and ultimately feeling the world is on his shoulders, and me feeling totally scared for him doing something silly or ending everything, we phoned Northern Rock to let them know the situation after yet another company sending out an automated letter saying that we needed to pay the £1300 outstanding. I think this is the one thing that causes a lot of stress to people more than anything, having automated letters sent when you think things have been sorted and are ok. They put undue stress on people already on the brink of a breakdown. Anyway. as my partner has kept them informed from the word go they have been so sympathetic and very understanding. Obviously we were worried about maybe losing the house, but they have said the main thing is the recovery of him and that not to worry, there are many things they go through and try before anything happens with the house. Since Jul they have said to just pay the interest, and now they are saying just to pay what can and to get better, as long as we keep them informed. Its nice to know that there are companies that do care about the individual person.

Broadwood

GetRealBabe wrote: »

Hi

Matt unfortunately the small minded idiots you refer to always comeback. I dunno if it's better to ignore them or to respond. I really don't care what 'they'/bigots/idiots/ post back to me personally but Aunt Harriet the original OP was upset about some of the comments and I don't think she's posted back. Everyone is entitled to express an opinion but to upset someone is going too far.

I agree that all of the negative/unhelpful posters should P"*s off.

I can hear it now 'what negative comments?' What are you talking about?


GRB

If I'm not mistaken, this website is "Money Saving Expert dot com" and living within one's means is a massive step on the road to saving money both in the short and long terms.

Using credit of any form is never a good way of saving money in the long run, though credit used wisely can be a way of dealing with unforeseen situations but only as a last resort.

One poster's helpful comment could be another person's unhelpful comment if the second person doesn't agree with the idea or advice. I can only state what works for me. Everybody has the freedom to choose whether to spend all that comes in each month (and sometimes more besides) or save a few pounds a month for a rainy day. But that choice can and often does have consequencies later on greatly restricting any room for manoeuvre when we hit hard times in life.

Money doesn't buy happiness. It can buy freedom to make choices.

markharding557

minjara said:

fifipat Installing a prepayment meter would surely be more expensive as it charges a higher rate.

This is no longer the case as pp meters now have to charge the same as a credit meter on quarterly cash payment,all they miss out on are any discounts for direct debit

kjsmith7

markharding557 wrote: »

minjara said:
This is no longer the case as pp meters now have to charge the same as a credit meter on quarterly cash payment,all they miss out on are any discounts for direct debit

And an online tariff maybe, but I agree, pretty much the same other than that. Most companies are bringing in at-home top up too which is fantastic

Blackpool_Saver

Op, surely that can't be your only income, perhaps you should start a new thread an post your income and outgoings