Age Concern and Powergen

Cardew

I thought it might be appropriate to bring to the attention of Silver Savers the text of a thread in the Gas and Electricity section of Utilities.

The extract is below but to prevent duplication, may I suggest any comments are made on the other thread.

"Someone I know received a letter and brochure from Age Concern Energy Services explaining that Age Concern had teamed up with Powergen to provide a Gas and Electricity Package.

The letter and brochure were couched in terms that imply these are special prices that are only available for the elderly. There is a ‘package’ of additional benefits of bulbs, carbon monoxide detectors and a hypothermia thermometer as well as “2 hours free gas fire heating per day”.

The claimed savings were up to £78 per year.

Anyone who wishes to find out the exact details and tariff can ring the number Age Concern give out - 0800 015 2491. Powergen will answer.

On checking I found the tariffs to be some of the highest on the market(there are sufficient experts on this site to confirm my findings) and, as the Powergen operator conceded, considerably higher than other schemes Powergen themselves operate.

I wrote to Age Concern objecting to the wording of the literature which led the less well informed to believe that Age Concern had negotiated with Powergen an unbeatable deal for the elderly. The truth being that there are a host of cheaper schemes available.

The reply from Age Concern I consider to be one of most disingenuous I have seen from a Charity. A few extracts are:

]"The £78 savings are against British Gas quarterly cash/cheque unrestricted dual fuel tariff for 20,500kWh gas and 3,300kWh electricity. Savings include VAT and may vary according to payment method, region and consumption."

"The Cold Weather Payment for 2 extra hours of gas fire heating was (the princely sum of) £9.66 including VAT for the whole of 2004"

"At no time have we claimed that Age Concern Energy Services is the lowest price deal."

Perhaps most telling of all was the statement:

]"In addition, for every customer who switches to the Age Concern Energy Services scheme, Powergen will make an annual contribution to Age Concern to support our charitable work."

I for one am extremely disappointed that a respected charitable organisation would lend their name to a cynical marketing exercise by Powergen. I have no idea how much Powergen contribute to Age Concern’s coffers, but any monies surely come from the excess profits they make from the pensioners Age Concern are committed to help.