direct fuel payments

wilf55

hello everyone

i am paying my gas and electricity to scottish power directly from my benefit payments on direct fuel

paying 63 gas per month owe 707
paying 55 electric month owe 311

however if i could pay by the cheapest dual fuel direct debit tarriff i would save over £100 a year as quoted by the scottish power lady on the phone

but as i owe so much i cant afford to do this

therefore they are holding me on a higher tarriff when if they reduced the taffiff they would get their money quicker

anyone know if there is anything i can do they seem to be holding me over a barrel

im disabled and although i have cut down as much as i can and done the warm front grant etc so cant do anything else

getting desperate cos its getting harder and harder this is besides the principle of the matter

thanks in advance

Penny-Pincher!!

How old are you? If you are over a certain age, you receive a winter fuel payment. If you are under this age though, there is nothing and nobody that can help you regarding paying for your utilities.

I am disabled also and require heating on, extra electricity for medical stuff etc and we pay about £112pcm combined. As Im at home 24/7 I have broken this down to per hour and TBH, it doesnt work out that much.

You can offer to make a small token payment per month to catch up on top of your DD and explain your circumstances. Until the debt is paid off, they will offer little or no help whatsoever.

Have you checked to make sure that you are claiming all benefits you are entitled too ....DLA, Income Support & Premiums if receiving DLA, HB, IB etc etc?

PP
xx

wilf55

hi im 41 and partner is 52 have checked we are getting the correct benefits and we are

just really annoyed that they are making me pay a higher rate for my utilities than if i were able to pay by monthly dd even though they are guaranteed regular payments!!!!

Penny-Pincher!!

I would just call and explain the situation and see what they say. I honestly dont think that you will get anywhere, but must be worth a try?

PP
xx

wilf55

hi

thanks i tried that and guess what got NOWHERE!!!!

changkra

There is something that you can do through the benefit office where they take it direct from you benefit money and pay it direct to the utility company. Benefits work out how much they think you should pay a month which should be allot less than the amount you are paying now, but you will still build arrears up. Contact benefits and speak to benefits. There is a particular wording to use but I'm sorry i cannot remember it - memory probs.

wilf55

thanks this is what i am on DIRECT PAYMENTS however it means that i am paying more for my gas and elec than i would be otherewise does mean the wolf is kept from the door though

thank you debs

changkra

wilf55 wrote: »

thanks this is what i am on DIRECT PAYMENTS however it means that i am paying more for my gas and elec than i would be otherewise does mean the wolf is kept from the door though

thank you debs

OK, sorry but can i clarify this with you as i can get confused easily. so, i take it you are already on the system i posted about, but you pay more on this system than if you were not on it? i can't understand it, sorry but it seems ludicrous and i can't understand the logic of it. How can someone who is on benefits which is less money pay possibly more than someone not on benefits

or do i really have terrible brain fog today :eek:

Penny-Pincher!!

I think the OP has debt (£1000) on their gas and electric account, so the company is not allowing them to switch to the cheaper option till the debt/arrears are paid. Normally a pre-payment meter is installed in this kind of situation, so the OP would appear fortunate that this hasnt occured yet.

Is that correct? I would send a letter in to HO stating yor reasons and concerns and maybe including a copy of income and expenses. Stipulate that you think that you are being treated unfairly and see what happens.

Once the debt is paid up, yo could look to another company to provide cheaper utilities, but until the debt is paid, you will be stuck with your current company!
PP
xx

lil_me

http://www.energy-ombudsman.org.uk/links/10-0-contact_us.php wondering if these may be able to help. Might be worth a try.

You can transfer companies when in debt I think, I have before, but leaves the debt to pay off.

lil_me

http://www.energypeopletrust.co.uk/50_vcustomers.html don't know if that might help