EDF Energy Trust Fund : Application Form Help!!

The_Saverman

I'm currently unemployed and in receipt of benefits.
I am searching high and low to find work, but as yet no luck

I'm also struggling to pay my utility and energy bills. As a result ,I now have huge Energy Bill Debts. I've contacted my energy supply to workout a repayment plan and have also sought Specialist Debt advice.

I've found out that people experiencing financial hardship help may be eligible for financial help via energy trust funds.

Anyone have any experience of Energy Trust funds?

I've downloaded Application Forms for financial assistance from EDF Energy Trust and Thames Water Fund.

The forms are pretty straight forward however the are a couple of questions that leave me scratching my head for answers.

Obviously I don't expect people to answer them for me , but what is it exactly that they are looking for from me.

Questions from the EDF Trust Form I need help with

1. Please tell us how a Payment from us would help you budget for them in the future.
2. Please tell us why you have not been able to pay you utility bills.....

I guess from Question 1..they want to see that after giving you a payment they want to see better money management , better budgeting and better debt management

My answer for Question 2 is …..Currently I am unemployed and in receipt of Benefits (Job Seekers Allowance). Meeting day to day living costs is a struggle and I find it very difficult to find the funds to pay for my utility bills.....

I really need some pointers/guidance on how to complete these Applications for Financial Assistance Forms.

Can anyone help?

ka7e

Try contacting your local CAB office. They can help you with the forms and may have a designated fuel debt advisor.

SwanJon

As above, CAB would probably be a good place to start.
My interpretation (and just that with no experience of these forms)
Q1 is checking that you won't need more help down the line.
Look at your current consumption - could you afford to pay for this if the balance wasn't there? If not, what changes could you make to prevent the debt building again (Change tariff, reduce consumption etc)
Q2 is what you've written in the firts part of your post. Describe your circumstances and how the balance built up. Say what you have done to take control of the situation (you've got this far so you're doing it right). I'd avoid just saying that you can't afford the bills - this won't tie up well with Q1!

Have you thought about Fuel Direct? You can apply for this at the same time as to the trust. The balance is recovered at a fixed amount per week (about £3.60), regardless of the size of the balance. They also take enought to cover your current consumption.
Another option is a prepayment meter, but you might not get as low a recovery rate.

What ever you choose, keep EDF involved/informed so that they don't progress this to a warrant and force fit a prepayment meter and charge you for the privelage.

The_Saverman

ka7e wrote: »

Try contacting your local CAB office. They can help you with the forms and may have a designated fuel debt advisor.

Thanks...done just that!!

I have arranged an appointment with my CAB Office next week.

Explained to the advisor, on the phone that I had the trust fund forms already...The helpful advisor told me to complete and bring the trust forms to the appointment.

I wanted to fill as much of the form as possible before my appointment...so I needed a few pointers.

Alloneword

I have no experience directly but it has been mentioned to me in the past by both EDF and Thames Water, from my understanding on the EDF side this will be a one of deal they will either pay it all off for you or a very high % at least, so crazy as it seems i was told to make application as a last resort, that is from EDF.

As for Thames Water they do the same kind of scheme but i did hear the other day in the library 2 people talking saying water companies are not allowed to cut you off or restrict your water supply in ANY way as water is needed as a matter or life and death (something like that anyway) and one said to the other just ignore the bills there is nothing they can do apart from affect your credit file, now i have no idea how much this idea holds water (no pun intended) morally it's wrong but then again some would say the same about paying for water at these levels and the same goes for gas and electric but that's for another day i guess, let us know how you get on.

All1

The_Saverman

Alloneword wrote: »

I have no experience directly but it has been mentioned to me in the past by both EDF and Thames Water, from my understanding on the EDF side this will be a one of deal they will either pay it all off for you or a very high % at least, so crazy as it seems i was told to make application as a last resort, that is from EDF.

As for Thames Water they do the same kind of scheme but i did hear the other day in the library 2 people talking saying water companies are not allowed to cut you off or restrict your water supply in ANY way as water is needed as a matter or life and death (something like that anyway) and one said to the other just ignore the bills there is nothing they can do apart from affect your credit file, now i have no idea how much this idea holds water (no pun intended) morally it's wrong but then again some would say the same about paying for water at these levels and the same goes for gas and electric but that's for another day i guess, let us know how you get on.

All1

Thank You !!

My CAB appointment has been rescheduled due to the recent inclement weather.

Fingers crossed I hope to be seeing an advisor at the CAB next week.

I will let you know how I get on.