Has anyone applied for help towards a water bill, with Severn Trent Big difference Scheme?

partypopper

A  year or so ago,  I completed an application for the big difference scheme for help towards my water bill.. Well, First I applied on the trust fund application but was told that it is only for people in serious debt. I always put my bills as number one priority and so was not in debt. After applying, for the big difference, based on proving  my partner worked 38 hours for less than £15,000 while I had been out of work for a year and thus had no income ( an unemployed person with a partner must be  completely supported by the working partner, when any contribution based, out of work benefit is used up), I was turned down for any discount on the bill  but was at least able to split my yearly bill into regular payments.
When asking why I was turned down, an adviser told me it was because my outgoings were not high enough. One lady asked me about hobbies and said that I would have been more likely to get a discount if I had said I had a sky TV package or needed money for  supplies for doing my  artwork hobby. I was surprised about this and so phoned again and this time another adviser asked if  I had any loans for a tumble dryer or dishwasher?  I said I did not own any of these items and wish i could afford them and said after  household bills, our biggest expense was bus fares . Even then, we walk to  the shopping centre and then bus home. Basically I felt like I was being told that I used my money wisely  and therefore no discount is available.  Surely, Living just within our means , should not mean we do not need help but if we do not qualify, surely only  absolute essential outgoings should be used to decide who needs help?

freesha

It is not only for those in debt - many 'clean' customers can go on it. Sounds like the Trust Fund may have thought that your figures were unrealistic, as they offer a level of discount based on what you have left over every month.

Just beware that it will affect your credit rating, so ensure you definitely need it before reapplying.

freesha

Just to advise, the Trust Fund GRANT is a separate thing (although can be applied for at the same time as BDS) and obviously that is only for people in debt