Dilemma re Warm Home Discount Scheme

Smartdriver

In October/November of last year I switched my fuel provider to First Utility from Scottish Power. When Scottish Power closed my account I was in credit. A cheque in the sum of £200+ subsequently arrived and was paid into my bank account. I rang Scottish Power to inform them that this was much more than expected and was told that the £140 Warm Home Discount Scheme payment had been included. When I informed them that I had already registered for the Scheme with my new provider I was told 'not to worry' as First Utility would not be able to claim on my behalf.

I now have a recent credit on my bank statement of £140 from First Utility. :shocked: A telephone call to them to inform them of this 'overpayment' led to some confusion and to me being told that I owed this money to the Government and not to First Utility.

Try as I might (and I've spent several hours trawling the net - and speaking to Citizens Advice Bureau - attempting to find a relevant phone number for this scheme) I'm unable to find a way of paying this money back and am becoming increasingly anxious that it may be construed as my obtaining this money by fraudulent means.

Does anyone have ANY idea at all as to how I can repay this blasted money !! ???? :mad: ........... please ???

lvf

Your best idea is to speak to the Government's own specialised department for the WHD to gather their own procedure for cases like yours.

You can call them on telephone: 0345 603 9439
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Source: https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/how-to-claim

Smartdriver

Thank you for your quick reply lvf, but I've tried this number previously, and it consists of a recorded message along the lines of "application deadline for this year has now passed and all potential recipients for next year will be contact by post. For more info on this Scheme, go to Gov't website"

There is no opportunity to speak to anyone and I'm, back at square one :eek:

lvf

Well that's not much use!

What did the CAB advise?

Smartdriver

Between you and me ..........

keep it 'ring fenced' until "they" (whoever "they" are) ask for it back :rotfl:

shammyjack

I know someone not a million miles away who is in the very same situation !

Their advise is just the same as the previous poster !

Smartdriver

:beer: shammyjack

belisha-beacon

I would do something to keep it safe (in case you're asked for it back), but useful. So I'd be tempted to buy Premium Bonds or something like that. Not a great investment generally but in the short term it means that you wouldn't accidentally spend it but that you might win a million quid :j

If the government chase you up for it, you can simply smile sweetly, say "Ah yes, I have been keeping it safe for you" and just pay it back. As you're worried about seeming fraudulent, you could always email the new provider about it. You'd then have written evidence, if anyone asked, that you tried to alert them to the error and rectify it.

Smartdriver

Sound advice belisha-beacon, thank you

I have a written record (with names, date and times) of my conversation with First Utility, but - following your advice - I may well send them a confirmation email

Joyful

Are you a Core customer? ie on Guaranteed Pension credit? I suspect not as the DWP should only let one company know. If you are not then the fact that you were on supply with SP when they paid you means you met their conditions. If you have then registered with FU unaware that you had been paid it already then the money is yours to keep from them also. It may not morally be right to claim it twice but I'm sure neither company will be bothered. The money comes from each supplier, not the DWP.

Anthorn

There is a cut-off date beyond which you cannot claim even if you are getting guarantee credit. This year it's 12th July, 2015. My guess is you qualified at your old supplier but not at your new supplier for 2014 and that discount is likely to be applied to quarterly bills around March, 2015.

Also not all suppliers are part of the scheme and so not all suppliers pay the discount.

https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/eligibility