Warm Home Discount scheme & changing suppliers

littlewren

I am with Scottish Power at the moment and in receipt of Pension Guaranteed Credit, so I'm entitled to the Warm Home Discount. I've received the letter confirming that I will receive it.

I want to change energy suppliers as soon as possible and my tariff with Scottish Power ends on 31st Jan 2020, there's an exit fee too, but apparently I can change approx. 50 days before January without incurring the exit fee, therefore a couple of weeks time.

I can't get a straight answer as to roughly when the payment will be made into my S. Power account. I phoned Scottish Power a couple of weeks ago & queried it, saying that last year it was paid in in October. They said they had no clue when it would be paid in, it wasn't their decision but it would be by March 2020. So I just phoned the Warm Home Discount number and was told that S. Power will tell me when it's due to be paid in and it would be by the end of January! She advised me to ring S Power to find out when it will be paid.

I phoned S. Power back again & was told the same thing as last time, they had no information, knew nothing about dates and that it would be by March 2020. When I related what the Gov letter said, she just repeated what she'd said.

I don't want to change energy suppliers and then find I lose the WHD. From what I can make out through searching I must be in the Core group, being on Pension Credit.

I know that if you change suppliers and the new supplier doesn't offer WHD you won't get it, but if they do can you reapply with them?

And has anyone else found out from their energy supplier when their WHD is being paid?

Is anyone able to help please? TIA.

Biscuit_Tin

littlewren wrote: »

I am with Scottish Power at the moment and in receipt of Pension Guaranteed Credit, so I'm entitled to the Warm Home Discount. I've received the letter confirming that I will receive it.

I want to change energy suppliers as soon as possible and my tariff with Scottish Power ends on 31st Jan 2020, there's an exit fee too, but apparently I can change approx. 50 days before January without incurring the exit fee, therefore a couple of weeks time.

I can't get a straight answer as to roughly when the payment will be made into my S. Power account. I phoned Scottish Power a couple of weeks ago & queried it, saying that last year it was paid in in October. They said they had no clue when it would be paid in, it wasn't their decision but it would be by March 2020. So I just phoned the Warm Home Discount number and was told that S. Power will tell me when it's due to be paid in and it would be by the end of January! She advised me to ring S Power to find out when it will be paid.

I phoned S. Power back again & was told the same thing as last time, they had no information, knew nothing about dates and that it would be by March 2020. When I related what the Gov letter said, she just repeated what she'd said.

I don't want to change energy suppliers and then find I lose the WHD. From what I can make out through searching I must be in the Core group, being on Pension Credit.

I know that if you change suppliers and the new supplier doesn't offer WHD you won't get it, but if they do can you reapply with them?

And has anyone else found out from their energy supplier when their WHD is being paid?

Is anyone able to help please? TIA.

If you are entitled to WHD as part of the core group, whixch it would appear you do as you receive it due to getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you will receive it from whichever supplier supplied your electricity on 07 July 2019. (assuming the supplier operates the WHD scheme, as SP do)

So you could switch any time after 07 July 2019, and you will still receive the WHD for this year.

As to when it gets paid, there was a thread earlier today asking that question here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6075892/warm-homes-discount

More info on the WHD scheme available here:
https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme

Exit fees do not apply to switches that take place (not when applied for) within 49 days of the contract end date. If the switch takes place before then, exit fees may apply (refer to the terms you agreed to)

littlewren

Biscuit_Tin wrote: »

If you are entitled to WHD as part of the core group, whixch it would appear you do as you receive it due to getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you will receive it from whichever supplier supplied your electricity on 07 July 2019. (assuming the supplier operates the WHD scheme, as SP do)

So you could switch any time after 07 July 2019, and you will still receive the WHD for this year.

As to when it gets paid, there was a thread earlier today asking that question here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6075892/warm-homes-discount

More info on the WHD scheme available here:
https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme

Exit fees do not apply to switches that take place (not when applied for) within 49 days of the contract end date. If the switch takes place before then, exit fees may apply (refer to the terms you agreed to)

Thank you so much for your reply and for the links. I'm not sure what you mean by the bit in bold? Not when applied for? I don't know the date when I applied for the latest tariff.

Biscuit_Tin

littlewren wrote: »

Thank you so much for your reply and for the links. I'm not sure what you mean by the bit in bold? Not when applied for? I don't know the date when I applied for the latest tariff.

As I said, you don't need to worry about when you apply; its when the switch away from the contract you entered into actually occurs that determines if early exit fees on that contact (where otherwise applicable) are incurred.

The swiching window opens 49 days before the expiry date of your tariff.

littlewren

Biscuit_Tin wrote: »

As I said, you don't need to worry about when you apply; its when the switch away from the contract you entered into actually occurs that determines if early exit fees on that contact (where otherwise applicable) are incurred.

The swiching window opens 49 days before the expiry date of your tariff.

Ah I see what you mean, thank you.