No winter fuel discount from OVO

joesgran

I changed from Scottish Power to OVO after signing onto MSE's Energy comparison check. Signed on with OVO energy but have only just found out that they do not participate in the £140 winter fuel payment which I would have been entitled to as I am on Guaranteed Pension Credits. If I had been aware that this company do not take part in this benefit. This would have made a big difference in whether or not I would have signed with OVO. If I had been aware, I would have gone with another company who did give the discount. As I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Asthma and a husband with health problems, this £140 would have allowed me to have my heating on more without the worry if I can afford to switch it on or not. Maybe MSE should warn it's members that certain companies do not give these government discounts so they can check up on it before they sign up with these energy providers.

CharlieBilly

But they do make you aware is clearly on comparison. If you click on the ? it says its you wont get the £140 rebate

JJ_Egan

Its also well posted on this forum .

joesgran

Sorry, I didn't see it. Maybe it could be made a bit more obvious? Perhaps in bold print, capital letters?

OVO_Energy

Hi Joesgran. We’re not yet eligible to offer the WarmHome Discount, however we will be from April 2015. We’re really sorry to hearthat you feel that this isn’t outlined well enough on switching websites. A fewof our customers brought this to our attention so to ensure we remaintransparent and honest, we added a link to our quote and switch page to explainour position on The Warm Home discount. We do have a specialist team to supportvulnerable customers and they may be able to help. Please send an email to [EMAIL="socialmedia@ovoenergy.com"]socialmedia@ovoenergy.com[/EMAIL] andthey’ll be happy to see what they can do for you. Thanks, OVO

westerby1

Ovo_Energy_company_representative wrote: »

Hi Joesgran. We’re not yet eligible to offer the WarmHome Discount, however we will be from April 2015. We’re really sorry to hearthat you feel that this isn’t outlined well enough on switching websites. A fewof our customers brought this to our attention so to ensure we remaintransparent and honest, we added a link to our quote and switch page to explainour position on The Warm Home discount. We do have a specialist team to supportvulnerable customers and they may be able to help. Please send an email to [EMAIL="socialmedia@ovoenergy.com"]socialmedia@ovoenergy.com[/EMAIL] andthey’ll be happy to see what they can do for you. Thanks, OVO

Surely it is not that you are not "eligible" it is that, as yet, you are not large enough as to be required by law to provide the warm home discount? You could provide it now, if you wished to do so, but you have decided not to until the law requires you to do so! I am responding to this as a 3 year, satisfied customer of Ovo, please don't ruin that satisfaction by misleading people. Stating that you are not eligible implies that you are not allowed to offer the discount at the moment, not that, (because you are not required to by law,) you are choosing not to provide it!:(

tomtontom

westerby1 wrote: »

Surely it is not that you are not "eligible" it is that, as yet, you are not large enough as to be required by law to provide the warm home discount? You could provide it now, if you wished to do so, but you have decided not to until the law requires you to do so! I am responding to this as a 3 year, satisfied customer of Ovo, please don't ruin that satisfaction by misleading people. Stating that you are not eligible implies that you are not allowed to offer the discount at the moment, not that, (because you are not required to by law,) you are choosing not to provide it!:(

Ovo are a business, why would they give out many thousands of pounds when they are not obliged to?