A Warning on Switching for Warm Home Discount Recipients

rhubarbarella

Hi there,

Not been on forums here in a long time...health took a massive nosedive and just, bleh whatever.

I wanted to share some information, it may already be well known to some/all of you, but I didn't know and so others might also not be aware of this. I feel it is important to flag this so that as many people as possible are aware.

If you are eligible and have applied for the Warm Home Discount Scheme with your energy provider, but during the winter months for which the discount applies you switch provider YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY OF THE DISCOUNT! Not even a "pro rata" rate or a partial payment.

I think this is important to know. We are all being constantly encouraged to switch energy providers and to save money on our utility bills, but at no point in the switch over process (which I did following the advice from this website) was it made clear or obvious or brought to my attention that switching provider during the winter would mean that I lost the full £140 discount for the year. For my household, £140 a year is a large amount to lose out on, especially as I had applied in good time, had my evidence verified etc.
The people most likely to be caught out by this, are those who are most likely to have trouble or find it less easy to go through all the paperwork/online forms, take in and process all the information etc, due to the age and/or disabilities that entitle them to the discount in the first place, and so if this information is provided, it is not done in a clear and obvious way.

I want others to be aware of this so that they don't get caught out. For some people the supposedly money-saving switch may actually end up costing them money, if the annual saving they switch for is below the £140 discount they would have otherwise received.

For people who are eligible for the discount and are in the energy club thing through this site, and get alerts for when cheaper tariffs become available, I would suggest setting the trigger limit at £140 or above, to prevent losing out instead of gaining. And I would ask those of you who are able bodied/minded to bring this subject to the attention of your friends, relatives, colleagues etc who may be eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme and not realise that switching will lose the annual discount.

I hope this information might prove useful for somebody out there, and prevent people losing out on a significant discount.

Thanks for reading.

fredandwilma

You will lose the Warm Home Discount with your current supplier (if you are in the broader group,) however, you can apply again for the discount with your new supplier, assuming they offer the Warm Home Discount and it's still open for registration.

I.E. -If you've just switched to British Gas for example, you will have to reapply with them.

Just make sure you switch to a supplier who offers the WHD scheme. I've spoken several times of the difference that £140 makes to energy savings, for those in receipt of this, which isn't taken into account on comparison sites, so it is a good idea to set your trigger limit higher.

I would never switch to a supplier who doesn't offer the WHD which means i don't switch necessarily, to even cheaper suppliers, but the £140 saving far outweighs any other small potential savings.

D_M_E

If you are not in the core group for WHD you also need to be aware of the terms and conditions the supplier has for the discretionary WHD payment, such as length of time you have been a customer.

rhubarbarella

Thanks for the replies D_M_E and fredandwilma

Its good to know that it is possible to still get the discount, within certain circumstances. Although it doesn't unfortunately make any difference for myself or anyone else who missed out the previous year due to this.

I do feel that the information regarding the necessity of reapplying when switching, and when and how to do so should be more obviously and explicitly explained and more prominently displayed during the switch over process because it isn't currently, and the people eligible for the scheme are likely to really benefit from the discount. I just hope posting this thread can help others to make sure they don't lose out

fredandwilma

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


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/09/elderly-at-risk-of-losing-140-energy-rebate-if-they-switch-suppl/


http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-3312391/Winter-Home-Discount-supplier-check-switch-avoid-missing-140-perk.html