40% off electricity bill!!

loulou41

Just got a phone call telling since I am a pensioner I am entitled to 40% discount on my electricity bill for life. The number is 001614983123. I am wondering whether this is a scam. I told him I am not going to pursue this conversation and if I am entitled to any discount, my energy provider will inform me. Has it happened to anybody else? Thanks

Bubblebath

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I've asked the Forum Team to review .... but as it's the weekend, they may not be around until Monday.

I see the OP didn't hang around either ... :cool:

Browntoa

Seeing it's an America prefix dialling code it's got to be a scam

robbiecaratiger

Agree with Browntoa - avoid

Nada666

loulou41 wrote: »

if I am entitled to any discount, my energy provider will inform me

That is certainly not true. (But you should not respond to anyone phoning with silly offers, either.)

YOU have to do the work and find out what discounts and credits and alternative tariffs are available and apply for them - very few are automatic.

Richie-from-the-Boro

loulou41 wrote: »

Just got a phone call telling since I am a pensioner I am entitled to 40% discount on my electricity bill for life. The number is 001614983123. I am wondering whether this is a scam. I told him I am not going to pursue this conversation and if I am entitled to any discount, my energy provider will inform me. Has it happened to anybody else? Thanks

- if you gave your bank or other personal details during that phone call
- contact the police and your bank immediately and ask for advice

Best of luck.

Bark01

Nada666 wrote: »

That is certainly not true. (But you should not respond to anyone phoning with silly offers, either.)

YOU have to do the work and find out what discounts and credits and alternative tariffs are available and apply for them - very few are automatic.

Not true - The Alternative Supplier Cheapest deal license condition that came into force in March 2014 requires suppliers to tell customers on every bill and annual statement if they can save money by swapping onto any other tariff/meter/payment scheme.

Nada666

Bark01 wrote: »

Not true - The Alternative Supplier Cheapest deal license condition that came into force in March 2014 requires suppliers to tell customers on every bill and annual statement if they can save money by swapping onto any other tariff/meter/payment scheme.

As far as I know registering for Warm Home Discount or cold weather payments or pensioner winter payments are not covered. Why would a supplier know the age of a customer in the first place?

I also doubt the thoroughness of the cheapest deal claim - you really think they cover each fuel on different tariffs or different suppliers or an alternative payment type?

lstar337

Nada666 wrote: »

As far as I know registering for Warm Home Discount or cold weather payments or pensioner winter payments are not covered. Why would a supplier know the age of a customer in the first place?

Our bills and online section from EDF tell us that the WHD and Cold Payments exist, and where to go to check for eligibility.

I think that is probably the best they can do without the information you specify above, such as age of customer.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Those qualifying for WHD [supplier] and CWP [DWP].

- the CWP is automatic to the individuals bank account paid direct by the DWP
- the Core Group of the WHD is data matched by the DWP and both the (1) individual [snail mail brown envelope] and (2) all big 6 suppliers are pre-informed of eligibility
- the Broader Group of the WHD is up for grabs on a 'the supplier selects' basis, and only if you ask - currently suspended by the big 6 !

Bark01

Nada666 wrote: »

As far as I know registering for Warm Home Discount or cold weather payments or pensioner winter payments are not covered. Why would a supplier know the age of a customer in the first place?

I also doubt the thoroughness of the cheapest deal claim - you really think they cover each fuel on different tariffs or different suppliers or an alternative payment type?

SCD license condition rules:

There are 2 types of SCD, each type is represented on every bill, annual statement, read reminder, price change and product closure mail.

Relevant cheapest – same meter – same product type (I.e fixed or variable) – any payment method
Alternative cheapest - any product - any meter* – any payment method

*The any meter rule only work backwards from a time of use to a standard meter. It can’t tell you if you’d save money by swapping to a time of use tariff as there is no way of knowing how your consumption would fall over each register. In a nutshell if you are on a standard meter it will only recommend a standard meter but if you are on a time of use meter it will tell you if it’s cheaper to be on a standard meter.

Both types are applied per fuel so if it’s cheaper for you to have one product on one fuel and another product on another fuel you will be told this

As Richie pointed out the main WHD / CWP pot is assigned by the government you can’t ask to go on it.

Most of the RMR changes brought in are a large step in the right direction, they have not been publicised because it’s not in the media’s interest.