Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

Sun_Addict

We were with that company 7 years ago and had so much trouble with them.  Ended up getting quite a fair bit back in compensation when I complained to their executive complaints department. At the time Mr SA was in intensive care fighting for his life and it was the last thing I needed.  As soon as I could I changed back to Sc0ttish P0wer and have stayed with them ever since, no complaints about them on the whole they are fine.

Hope you have a good day today.

pennywisepoundstupid

When we moved house 8 years ago the new property was with npower and we had a complete nightmare with them, we moved back to Scottish power (previous supplier) as soon as we could and have stayed with them ever since and like SA have no complaints.
Hope your keeping well xx

[Deleted User]

We're with Sc Power too.  Have been really pleased with them from day one.  We're ex.nPower customers too!  Strangely, Sc Power tends to do  badly in customer service surveys etc (long waits on the phone were an issue a while back according to complainers) but I've never had a minute's bother with them.  They are the most helpful and quick to sort out anything I've ever had to contact them about (not that there's ever been much).

Wishing you a good day at school, HHOD.  Stay safe.

badmemory

Are you on npower's SVR?  Just because they won't let you leave does not mean that you can't change to a better tariff with them.  That could save you a lot of money.

I gave up with the big 6 & their big 6 prices finally lst year & went with one I've never heard of.  People's Energy  saved myself £25/month last year with an almost similar amount this year as they reduced their prices.  Great customer services, even gave me a code to tell my previous supplier to pull their finger's out closing the account.

The problem with them!  They are very upfront with the fact that their tariff includes paying 2 months DD in the first month (it is in the tariff name so you can't miss it) that makes it hard for someone whose finances are tight to change to them.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks everyone . All seem to agree that NP0w3r are terrible!

HairyHandofDartmoor

I experienced my first day at school today since the lockdown started. It was fine . I was the only MTA there and there weren't many children, so it was a bit boring compared to how busy I normally am. We sat the children two to a table to eat their lunch, and they each had their own colour coded ball, hoop and skipping rope to play with in the playground. The children seemed to understand why they had to keep their distance from each other and me, so obviously their parents and staff have been talking to them about the virus. It was nice to talk to other staff members from a safe distance .

On the way home I popped into a small food shop. That was quite stressful . People were queuing outside at a safe distance but some people were passing each other in the doorway as they entered or left 🙄 and one man actually opened the door for someone so they passed far too close to each other 🙄. I only entered the shop when the previous person had left and walked away a bit. Inside it wasn't too busy so it was easy to keep away from people and people were being sensible at the queue to pay.

I managed to buy skimmed milk (only allowed one carton), bread (only allowed one again),  a pack of 9 toilet rolls, 12 eggs, curry sauce, pasta sauce, two punnets of grapes (they didn't have any bananas), and the frozen food £5 offer. So not a bad haul 🎉. But they didn't have any oats and we're running low. I only like porridge for breakfast so I dont' know what I'm going to do when we run out of oats 😭. 

DH picked me up in the car as I had so many heavy things and I was glad to get safely indoors! I wore latex decorating gloves in the shop and when I got home DH washed the shopping wrapped in plastic. The rest will sit in the corner of the kitchen until it's out of quarantine. I changed my clothes as soon as I got home and put them straight in the laundry basket and left my trainers in the porch in a plastic bag. I'll make sure I wear freshly washed clothes every day to school.

The most dangerous thing about going out today was avoiding people on the pavements on my walk to school. I had to swerve up a side road to get away from a runner who was about to ovetake me 😱, and twice I had to do a big semi-circle into the road (I checked there were no cars coming first) to get away from men who were walking towards me 😱. Some people still don't get it 😡

elizabethhull

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

I experienced my first day at school today since the lockdown started. It was fine . I was the only MTA there and there weren't many children, so it was a bit boring compared to how busy I normally am. We sat the children two to a table to eat their lunch, and they each had their own colour coded ball, hoop and skipping rope to play with in the playground. The children seemed to understand why they had to keep their distance from each other and me, so obviously their parents and staff have been talking to them about the virus. It was nice to talk to other staff members from a safe distance .

On the way home I popped into a small food shop. That was quite stressful . People were queuing outside at a safe distance but some people were passing each other in the doorway as they entered or left 🙄 and one man actually opened the door for someone so they passed far too close to each other 🙄. I only entered the shop when the previous person had left and walked away a bit. Inside it wasn't too busy so it was easy to keep away from people and people were being sensible at the queue to pay.

I managed to buy skimmed milk (only allowed one carton), bread (only allowed one again),  a pack of 9 toilet rolls, 12 eggs, curry sauce, pasta sauce, two punnets of grapes (they didn't have any bananas), and the frozen food £5 offer. So not a bad haul 🎉. But they didn't have any oats and we're running low. I only like porridge for breakfast so I dont' know what I'm going to do when we run out of oats 😭. 

DH picked me up in the car as I had so many heavy things and I was glad to get safely indoors! I wore latex decorating gloves in the shop and when I got home DH washed the shopping wrapped in plastic. The rest will sit in the corner of the kitchen until it's out of quarantine. I changed my clothes as soon as I got home and put them straight in the laundry basket and left my trainers in the porch in a plastic bag. I'll make sure I wear freshly washed clothes every day to school.

The most dangerous thing about going out today was avoiding people on the pavements on my walk to school. I had to swerve up a side road to get away from a runner who was about to ovetake me 😱, and twice I had to do a big semi-circle into the road (I checked there were no cars coming first) to get away from men who were walking towards me 😱. Some people still don't get it 😡

Most of us retired people don't need to go to such lengths as the viral load is tiny, but as you have potentially multiple sources of infection, I quite see your punctiliousness in being careful. It may seem a massive faff, but I'm sure you're absolutely doing all you can.

It just seems a dreadful situation where we have to view the entire human race as dangerous - I have nothing but admiration for all key workers, like yourself, who are doing their bit to keep everything going. You may not be my neck of the woods, but thank you anyway xx

HairyHandofDartmoor

elizabethhull said:

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

I experienced my first day at school today since the lockdown started. It was fine . I was the only MTA there and there weren't many children, so it was a bit boring compared to how busy I normally am. We sat the children two to a table to eat their lunch, and they each had their own colour coded ball, hoop and skipping rope to play with in the playground. The children seemed to understand why they had to keep their distance from each other and me, so obviously their parents and staff have been talking to them about the virus. It was nice to talk to other staff members from a safe distance .

On the way home I popped into a small food shop. That was quite stressful . People were queuing outside at a safe distance but some people were passing each other in the doorway as they entered or left 🙄 and one man actually opened the door for someone so they passed far too close to each other 🙄. I only entered the shop when the previous person had left and walked away a bit. Inside it wasn't too busy so it was easy to keep away from people and people were being sensible at the queue to pay.

I managed to buy skimmed milk (only allowed one carton), bread (only allowed one again),  a pack of 9 toilet rolls, 12 eggs, curry sauce, pasta sauce, two punnets of grapes (they didn't have any bananas), and the frozen food £5 offer. So not a bad haul 🎉. But they didn't have any oats and we're running low. I only like porridge for breakfast so I dont' know what I'm going to do when we run out of oats 😭. 

DH picked me up in the car as I had so many heavy things and I was glad to get safely indoors! I wore latex decorating gloves in the shop and when I got home DH washed the shopping wrapped in plastic. The rest will sit in the corner of the kitchen until it's out of quarantine. I changed my clothes as soon as I got home and put them straight in the laundry basket and left my trainers in the porch in a plastic bag. I'll make sure I wear freshly washed clothes every day to school.

The most dangerous thing about going out today was avoiding people on the pavements on my walk to school. I had to swerve up a side road to get away from a runner who was about to ovetake me 😱, and twice I had to do a big semi-circle into the road (I checked there were no cars coming first) to get away from men who were walking towards me 😱. Some people still don't get it 😡

Most of us retired people don't need to go to such lengths as the viral load is tiny, but as you have potentially multiple sources of infection, I quite see your punctiliousness in being careful. It may seem a massive faff, but I'm sure you're absolutely doing all you can.

It just seems a dreadful situation where we have to view the entire human race as dangerous - I have nothing but admiration for all key workers, like yourself, who are doing their bit to keep everything going. You may not be my neck of the woods, but thank you anyway xx

Thank you Elizabeth . The children's parents are nurses, a GP, a postal worker and in the police, so it's enabling them to go to work. I was given my key worker letter today so I don't get arrested on the way to school 🤣.

I agree that it is horrid having to view everyone as dangerous but I want to play safe. The important thing is that as many people as possible come out of this situation alive.

Sun_Addict

I was too slow on the uptake with the disposable gloves thing but wear my normal gloves then put them in the washing machine when I get back in.  I did consider wearing my yellow washing up gloves but thought it might attract too much attention 🤣 I don't change my clothes when I get in but at the moment I'm not leaving the house much, only been out twice in the past 10 days. I've had to keep crossing the road to avoid people coming straight towards me.  It appears to be the elderly round my way who just don't get it.  

teafor2

Hi HHD Glad your day at work went well and you were able to do your job rather than the cleaning you thought you might have to do. I think a lot of actions are just automatic, like holding the door open for somebody. I wonder when we're finally allowed out if we'll be quite as tactile as we were before or if keeping a distance will be ingrained in us. Hope you manage to find some oats for your breakfast. Have a lovely evening. xx