E.On to pay £3m over sale of 'free' low-energy lightbulbs to Irish

ani_26

I received a letter which i don't understand, yesterday. I've already received my Warm Home Discount payment earlier this month. Not much use for my winter bill, although it paid all my summer bill, with some to spare.


The letter states :-


We've paid this £135 discount earlier than usual.




Normally we pay the discount a bit later during the winter months, but we've paid your discount earlier than usual. This is because we've agreed to make additional Warm Home Discount payments this year as part of a settlement agreement with Ofgem, following a mistake we made with an energy efficiency scheme in 2010.


Unfortunately there were problems with the way we managed a scheme to give away free energy saving light bulbs and we incorrectly reported the number of lightbulbs which had been distributed in Great Britain. We've since made changes to out process to make sure these mistakes don't happen again.


We hope the early discount came in handy.





Not as handy as it would have been as a payment toward my winter bill?...........................


Am i wrong in reading from this letter, there will be a second Warm Home Discount Scheme payment, toward my winter bill?


E.ON rep, please?.........................................





http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/household-bills/10168480/E.On-to-pay-3m-over-sale-of-free-low-energy-lightbulbs-to-Irish.html



http://pressreleases.eon-uk.com/blogs/eonukpressreleases/archive/2013/07/09/1949.aspx

ani_26

I found this which states :-

It will have to pay out £2.5million to vulnerable households, starting this October. Around 18,500 households who currently receive a Warm Home Discount will be eligible for £135 each of this money.

Note the word " currently."



http://www.lovemoney.com/news/household-bills/gas-and-electricity/21737/eon-to-pay-3million-after-giving-false-energy-efficiency-information


Either that's mis reporting, (cough, mis wording,) or?



Only one way to find out. Ring customer services tomorrow morning.



I'll be back to report my findings. :rotfl:

ani_26

I've rung customer services and i'm none the wiser as they know nothing about this.



Can you give an answer please, E.ON rep?

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Morning ani,

I'm so sorry about the confusion with this, also for the fact our customers service weren't able to help you.

I need to have a word with a colleague to make sure I get the correct info for you and others reading, so I'll get back to you a bit later if that's ok?

Helena

ani_26

That will be great, thanks.


CS have called me back but are awaiting a response from the WHDS team.


They said it might be a few days, so if you can find any information sooner, that will be much appreciated.


On the plus side, it's prompted me into changing to a cheaper tariff. I've been meaning to ring all year. Beaten your price increase, and on a fixed rate tariff, at least.

ani_26

Anyone for a cuppa? :coffee:

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

ani_26 wrote: »

Anyone for a cuppa? :coffee:

Yes please

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you.

You will only get the one Warm Home Discount payment this year, I understand you've had this already.

We have sent some payments early as we have got to make more payments this year.

We had to explain in the letter why you would be getting this early, but I'm sorry it was confusing, I have fed this back.

If you do need any further information, please let me know.

Helena

~Chameleon~

ani_26 wrote: »

We hope the early discount came in handy.





Not as handy as it would have been as a payment toward my winter bill?...........................

Why would it make a difference whether they pay it now or later? It's all coming off the same bill and you're still only paying the same amount each month by DD. People usually accumulate a positive balance over summer anyway which then goes toward the higher cost of winter bills.

ani_26

Thanks.


Still ambiguous wording, though?



This now means an additional 18,500 customers will be receiving the payment?


How do you propose to make them aware of this?

ani_26

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Why would it make a difference whether they pay it now or later? It's all coming off the same bill and you're still only paying the same amount each month by DD. People usually accumulate a positive balance over summer anyway which then goes toward the higher cost of winter bills.

Maybe many consumers who are eligible for the WHD, don't necessarily have a bank account or pay bills by DD.

For instance, they might have a prepayment card, prepayment meter, or even pay their bill quarterly by cash, which makes it more difficult to do your own budgeting whilst on a low income?

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

ani_26 wrote: »

Thanks.


Still ambiguous wording, though?



This now means an additional 18,500 customers will be receiving the payment?


How do you propose to make them aware of this?

I understand,

Last year quite a number of Broader Group applicants were unfortunately declined, so it means that more of the people applying will actually receive the payment.

There are a limited number of discounts available I'm afraid.

Helena