winter fuel payment

racon

mgdavid wrote: »

costs next to nothing as all done by computer. Take into account that they get the use of your money for several months for no charge and they almost certainly come out on top.

Hey. Yes I can understand that, but what seems to happen is that by September each year we are always in credit and the amount is always higher than the previous year. Shouldn't they then take that credit balance into account along with the annual £200 that I send to them when calculating what the monthly Direct Debit should be?

pollypenny

Racon, you don't need to pay it to your supplier in a lump, simply allow for it in your budget.

If you're in credit ask for it back. Renegotiate your DD. We've never had a problem with npower. Last time the overpayment just appeared in our current account.

JB9302

WFA still not received by MIL and she hasn't had the letter , so will ring up on Mon for her , looks like she slipped the net this time .

racon

pollypenny wrote: »

Racon, you don't need to pay it to your supplier in a lump, simply allow for it in your budget.

If you're in credit ask for it back. Renegotiate your DD. We've never had a problem with npower. Last time the overpayment just appeared in our current account.

Hey. Why don't we need to pay it over to the fuel company? Isn't that what it's for? As we already pay enough each month to cover the annual fuel cost, shouldn't the fuel company reduce the direct debit.If you don't pay it over, what are you supposed to do with it then? We budget £104 every month. I can't see what you mean, the budget is already made by us excludes the extra £200. It seems that for us there is no extra fuel cost for the winter as we pay a regular amount throughout the year. We have Scottish Power and they say each year that with the rising cost of fuel year on year, by leaving the extra credit it will be used to cover the increasing costs and helps to keep our £104 budget the same.

colsten

racon wrote: »

Hey. Why don't we need to pay it over to the fuel company? Isn't that what it's for?

Seems you are over-thinking this. You got £200, which is intended to help you with your fuel costs for the year and which are more than £200 a year. Exactly how you settle your bills with your fuel supplier is your private business. Nobody checks that you handed over £200 to your fuel supplier.

pollypenny

racon wrote: »

Hey. Why don't we need to pay it over to the fuel company? Isn't that what it's for? As we already pay enough each month to cover the annual fuel cost, shouldn't the fuel company reduce the direct debit.If you don't pay it over, what are you supposed to do with it then? We budget £104 every month. I can't see what you mean, the budget is already made by us excludes the extra £200. It seems that for us there is no extra fuel cost for the winter as we pay a regular amount throughout the year. We have Scottish Power and they say each year that with the rising cost of fuel year on year, by leaving the extra credit it will be used to cover the increasing costs and helps to keep our £104 budget the same.

I'm not suggesting you blow it on beer and flowers.

As I said, renegotiate your monthly DD, allowing for your £200.

Better in your account than theirs, even with minuscule interest.

racon

colsten wrote: »

Seems you are over-thinking this. You got £200, which is intended to help you with your fuel costs for the year and which are more than £200 a year. Exactly how you settle your bills with your fuel supplier is your private business. Nobody checks that you handed over £200 to your fuel supplier.

Hey, I don't think you are understanding me. We budget £104 a month for the dual fuel. £1248. Whether it is -30 in the winter, our budget should cover the total annual cost. Then we get the 'Winter Fuel Payment' of £200 from the government. The name gives a clue as to what it is for - winter fuel. Having received it, what do I do with it? spend it on Christmas festivities? That certainly wasn't what it is paid for. Our winter bill is already covered by our budget. Should I send it to our fuel supplier? That seems the most logical answer. That then puts us into credit by the end of the year which is then carried forward into the following year and should be absorbed by any price rises which aren't covered by our budget remaining the same. Why should anybody check what it is used for. It is quite clear what it is for. In my opinion it is only useful if you have coal/wood fires for the extra warmth in the winter.

mgdavid

racon wrote: »

Hey. Yes I can understand that, but what seems to happen is that by September each year we are always in credit and the amount is always higher than the previous year. Shouldn't they then take that credit balance into account along with the annual £200 that I send to them when calculating what the monthly Direct Debit should be?

I just decide what amount I want to pay monthly, and set up an SO for it. It's usually a bit too low so I end up paying a small lump sum to get back to zero once a year, but at least I'm not lending them my money. Had a big row with them a few years ago when they called and tried to get me to pay a huge monthly amount, I told them they had a wrong number, if they wanted to borrow money to finance their business they needed a bank. They've left me alone since then.

mgdavid

racon wrote: »

Hey, I don't think you are understanding me. We budget £104 a month for the dual fuel. £1248. Whether it is -30 in the winter, our budget should cover the total annual cost. Then we get the 'Winter Fuel Payment' of £200 from the government. The name gives a clue as to what it is for - winter fuel. Having received it, what do I do with it? spend it on Christmas festivities? That certainly wasn't what it is paid for. Our winter bill is already covered by our budget. Should I send it to our fuel supplier? That seems the most logical answer. That then puts us into credit by the end of the year which is then carried forward into the following year and should be absorbed by any price rises which aren't covered by our budget remaining the same. Why should anybody check what it is used for. It is quite clear what it is for. In my opinion it is only useful if you have coal/wood fires for the extra warmth in the winter.

you really don't get it do you...

zygurat789

mgdavid wrote: »

I just decide what amount I want to pay monthly, and set up an SO for it. It's usually a bit too low so I end up paying a small lump sum to get back to zero once a year, but at least I'm not lending them my money. Had a big row with them a few years ago when they called and tried to get me to pay a huge monthly amount, I told them they had a wrong number, if they wanted to borrow money to finance their business they needed a bank. They've left me alone since then.

For maximum effect you should enquire if there is a refund and request repayment in the October/November, then make out the DD/SO for the comong year. This way you will owe the supplier throughout the year rather than be lending it money, afterall they aren't a bank.