Charis Grant - Great news;

SimIsOnTheUp

Hi,

Having applied to Charis for help with my Electricity debt last year, I've finally had some good news.

They are going to clear my debt, while I keep to a repayment arrangement for my current usage.

If anyone on here is struggling with their Utility bills, and are in arrears, I'd recommend applying for help from Charis through the CAB.

I'm so grateful to them, as I've been stressed about my Elec arrears for quite some time.

:T

undaunted

:beer: Congratulations it must be a great relief for you.

SimIsOnTheUp

Thanks. It certainly is a huge relief!

If anyone else on here is struggling with their Electricity bills, I'd recommend seeking help from the CAB, who can then help make an application to Charis.

chanz4

It is good, always to remember when applying to pay something each month to show you are willing.

SimIsOnTheUp

chanz4 wrote: »

It is good, always to remember when applying to pay something each month to show you are willing.

Hi chanz4.

Yes, good advice.

I made regular payments, while my application was being considered.

Would advise others to do the same. (The CAB will tell you this too).

Cheers.

slowhand59

these truly "glutinous" comments just have to be rehearsed!!

my experience with Charis is very different...anyone expecting a rapid turn-round needs to think again...Charis are very slow indeed, taking 4-5 months if they can get away with it. so long, in fact, that applicants circumstances have often changed or worsened in the meantime. furthermore, claimants should expect the requirement of payment-monitoring for SIX months before the balance is actually cleared!! Yorkshire Water, by contrast, will have the whole "job" done and dusted in about 3 weeks.

I have asked my MP to request a full explanation from these jokers...they behave as if they're task is to keep the money, rather than disburse it.

perhaps it's time for this site to take a good look for themselves and validate the puff-posts in this thread!!

declan134

hello i applied for help with my gas & electric in january after i suffered a stroke last year and couldnt get any help at all off anyone and my supplier british gas passed my debt onto a credit recovery agent who were threatening to send bailiffs round to my house and court action even though i had told them i could only pay so much at a time but they said they wanted it all before i went to cab and they spoke to them on my behalf, in the end i had to sell my house because it was taking charis grants so long, and in all ghat time they didnt even reply to me even though i had phoned them several times they just said there was a backlog on claims so i just had to sell up and pay the money i owed so now i have nothing so i would advise anyone who puts a application in not to say they are selling there house as they have got no chance of getting help. A very ill and annoyed person who as worked all his life and lost everything because je hot ill and nobody wanted to know

Nada666

You are saying British Gas refused an offer to make repayments through a prepayment meter?

I am not sure what selling your house has to do with your British Gas debt. I somehow think this is a parallel problem/solution and not directly connected.

Joyful

You should never assume that Charis will pay off a debt. The ideal scenario would have been to install a PP meter with a weekly recovery rate you could afford then if Charis helped out the debt on the meter would have been cleared.

Charis help many people out but in days of recession they are possibly getting snowed under like all charities. I would advise anyone with energy debts, water debts plus other types to look them up. You can find them here although other companies use them too.
http://www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/

declan134

i know selling my house wasnt directly connected all i am saying is once they knew i was selling they had no intention of helping me, i has already put my house up for sale before because i couldnt afford to run it and it was british gas who told me to apply and this was the only debt i had everything else was up to date and no arrears on my mortgage