MSE News: Pensioners face energy hike as Eon withdraws tariff

Nada666

minislim wrote: »

i suspect this is a knee jerk reaction to the past two weeks of threats by the political parties to freeze tarrifs.

No, nothing to do with that - those increases are still to be implemented on top - more just to do with the previous round of Ofgem proposals.

thistledome

PollySouthend wrote: »

Why should (a house containing one person) over 60 get cheaper energy than the rest of the population?

Many people in their 20s cant even dream of owning a house and pensioners / people approaching pensionable age (50+) are one of the richest sections of uk society.

I couldn't afford my own house in my 20's either and I had a full time job, not many people in their 20's can afford to. Seems an odd comparison to make - OAPs vs 20-somethings, but if you must....

OAP's often feel the cold more than young people, are more likely to be home all day/housebound/unable to create heat by moving around more and also more likely to die from hypothermia especially if they're worried about the size of the heating bills and turn their heating down in fear of spending too much on electric.

OAP's are often living on a fixed income which they are unlikely (and in many cases unable) to supplement by taking on extra work or more hours, like a person in their 20's could.

My mum's 86 and on StayWarm (costs over £200 per month btw). She couldn't afford to own a house in her 20's either, if it makes you feel any better.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

thistledome wrote: »

I couldn't afford my own house in my 20's either and I had a full time job, not many people in their 20's can afford to. Seems an odd comparison to make - OAPs vs 20-somethings, but if you must....

OAP's often feel the cold more than young people, are more likely to be home all day/housebound/unable to create heat by moving around more and also more likely to die from hypothermia especially if they're worried about the size of the heating bills and turn their heating down in fear of spending too much on electric.

OAP's are often living on a fixed income which they are unlikely (and in many cases unable) to supplement by taking on extra work or more hours, like a person in their 20's could.

My mum's 86 and on StayWarm (costs over £200 per month btw). She couldn't afford to own a house in her 20's either, if it makes you feel any better.

Very pertinent points I grant you, however the question I think the poster is alluding to is "Given the taxpayer is already subsidising OAP's bills in the form of the Winter Fuel Allowance, should they also be subsidising OAP's reduced cost energy tariff through their energy bills?"

I don't have a problem with OAP's getting this discount, however I can see how hard up "younger people" might.

happenstance

thistledome wrote: »

I couldn't afford my own house in my 20's either and I had a full time job, not many people in their 20's can afford to. Seems an odd comparison to make - OAPs vs 20-somethings, but if you must....

OAP's often feel the cold more than young people, are more likely to be home all day/housebound/unable to create heat by moving around more and also more likely to die from hypothermia especially if they're worried about the size of the heating bills and turn their heating down in fear of spending too much on electric.

OAP's are often living on a fixed income which they are unlikely (and in many cases unable) to supplement by taking on extra work or more hours, like a person in their 20's could.

My mum's 86 and on StayWarm (costs over £200 per month btw). She couldn't afford to own a house in her 20's either, if it makes you feel any better.

The average age for buying a first property used to be in the 20s, now its 37 and rising.

Houses are less affordable than they used to be. My parents had their first house bought outright for them when they were 23ish, but these are just anecdotal stores and not the bigger picture.

bargepole

The Staywarm tariff was always a matter of style over substance anyway, and in most cases didn't actually give any saving at all.

I used to work for another energy provider, and we could almost always give people a lower cost than Staywarm when working it out on actual consumption as opposed to estimated annual average.

EconomicallyChallenged

My mother-in-law who is 67 has just received a revised direct debit statement from Eon. It has gone up from £148 to £289 per month. She is horrified and scared as she can not meet the increase.

penrhyn

Have you checked the meter readings against the bill?

matelodave

Has anyone been reading the meter?

These sort of hikes usually only happen when the direct debits have been based on estimated readings and then the meter eventually gets read and shows that significantly more has been used than estimated.

It's not hard to check bills against the meter readings and to phone the supplier if they are wrong and to get the bill corrected and the DD adjusted. If she's managed to rack up arrears then she will have to try and negotiate with Eon a longer period to pay them back bearing in mind that she will have to pay back what she owes together her continuing usage.

EconomicallyChallenged

Thank you for your replies. The reason was because they over estimated usage by 33% on the previous year usage. We have now changed suppliers and reduced the payments to £178. Thanks again for the advice.

SirFreddy

We are both pensioners and have been on the Eon Age Uk tarriff for the past two years, this finishes in June.
Any tips on what is the best way forward as following my meter reading the monthly D/D has been adjusted from £115 to £127pm?

On the Eon Energy site I cannot access what tariffs are available as it is more than 52 days away.
TIA
ps: Our boiler is now 31 years old but we are not on benefits, the pilot light goes out now and again, so this is something else we need to be considering, yes it was serviced about 6 months ago:)