2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Primrose

I,m not sure who at the power companies has the authority to increase direct debits and exactly what the assessment criteria is.  It seems to me to be a rather hit and miss business.  I suppose it,s always worth challenging if you feel new levels are unreasonable in the light of previous consumption. 

Poppy_Golightly

JIL said:

I have to say my council is making a bit of a mess with the £150 payment. I like to pay my council tax in one lump sum. I use a bills account where I pay my car insurance, service and household stuff from.
However this year we were advised that due to the £150 payment it would be good to pay by direct debit. So middle of March I set one up, 10 payments.
No payment was taken for April, apparently there were such an increase it wasnt processed in time. I received a "demand" [anyone else received a demand] the payments would increase and be taken over 9 months.
However the new first payment is due on 1 May, but theres no direct debit mandate at the bank.

Before I found this site, I spent every penny I had that month, I'm sure lots of people still do that. I'm not the only one in the direct debit situation, it just seems a crazy situation that people havent paid their months council tax, due to setting up a new payment method to get a £150 cash payment.

I don't pay by DD as I do not trust my council one iota. However, they set a date on their website where non-DD payers could claim the money and I have to say kudos to them. It was live when they said it would be and 24 hours after my application I got an email to say it was approved and payment due in next 7 working days.

ladyholly

Poppy_Golightly said:

I don't pay by DD as I do not trust my council one iota. However, they set a date on their website where non-DD payers could claim the money and I have to say kudos to them. It was live when they said it would be and 24 hours after my application I got an email to say it was approved and payment due in next 7 working days.

I am the same re our council but they are saying they will get in touch and tell us how we can claim. Who knows when tha will arrive fortunately I am not deslerate for the money but some information would help.

JIL

Nobody has received the £150 here.
The direct debit isnt showing in my bank account as a new payee. I contacted again, they insisted it will be taken. 
I'm not desperate for the £150, but it's a bit ridiculous that the webpage says when they get further details of the payment they would post them on that page. Last updated 1st April. 
I have no faith in the local authority, especially as you phone and the recorded message tells the caller, they are short staffed due to the pandemic. However, apart from those actually sick with the virus, all others are working albeit some at home.

cw18

cw18 said:

MazzieD said:

Bit bemused this morning, £150 rebate in my bank account but it is called an Energy Rebate rather than Council Tax!. 

That's because it IS an Energy Rebate, it's just being paid through the council tax system as they're using bands as an indication of income level - which really doesn't work, as a tiny house in an expensive area of the country will cost more (and be in a higher CT band) than a large property in a much cheaper area of the country.

Mine went in on Friday - and is actually marked "CTRebate" !!!!     Seems to be totally at the discretion of each council how this is handled, as long as it is paid to those responsible for CT on every property in bands A-D (which is a main home).

otb666

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/03/stamps--swap-out--scheme-opens-today---here-s-everything-you-nee/#:~:text=It's free to post your form and stamps,this off with your stamps once you're ready.
Freepost SWAP OUT'. It'll be free to post, and no other address details are needed.

Hey just spotted this time to post back stamps you have without barcode

Wicked_Lady

otb666 said:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/03/stamps--swap-out--scheme-opens-today---here-s-everything-you-nee/#:~:text=It's free to post your form and stamps,this off with your stamps once you're ready.
Freepost SWAP OUT'. It'll be free to post, and no other address details are needed.

Hey just spotted this time to post back stamps you have without barcode

That's fine but I checked with my local PO and was told they are still fine to use until 31 January 2023. 

nannygladys

According to my smart meter, in March my useage g&e was well below half of the payment and the month of April it's about half, so at this rate I will be well in credit by the next hike in prices!

cw18

otb666 said:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/03/stamps--swap-out--scheme-opens-today---here-s-everything-you-nee/#:~:text=It's free to post your form and stamps,this off with your stamps once you're ready.
Freepost SWAP OUT'. It'll be free to post, and no other address details are needed.

Hey just spotted this time to post back stamps you have without barcode

And (even as a postie) I'm very worried about this.

The Royal Mail terms and conditions state that unused postage stamps aren't insured in the mail unless they're sent by Special Delivery.   (point 8 in the definition of valuables)

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/91/kw/insurance

I get 50 1st class stamps as my Christmas bonus every year - I've had 6 years worth of the 'bonus', but the ones from last year are barcoded.   I've never used any, as I had a stock of stamps before I started the job and I'm still working through those.   So I have 250 first class stamps @ 95p = £237.50    I have other stamps in my supply that I'm not likely to use by the deadline, so I'm working on posting £250 value.

I'm planning on speaking to others at work.   I reckon that if we all fill in individual forms and put them into separate envelopes, we can then put all our envelopes into one Special Delivery wallet - which may cost up to £10 if there are several of us.   But if there are 10 of us with a significant number to send (25 of us in the office, so that's possible) it will only cost us £1 each.    I'll check with my Mother, daughter and OH before I send in, and I can add any they have to my claim (meaning theirs are also insured).

Worth noting - the ONLY 'special' releases that need to be barcoded are the Christmas ones.   Any others (such as releases for the Queens special birthdays, or James Bond, or Coronation Street etc.,) remain valid even without the barcode.

missmoneywatch

nannygladys said:

According to my smart meter, in March my useage g&e was well below half of the payment and the month of April it's about half, so at this rate I will be well in credit by the next hike in prices!

Well done @nannygladys! We are on a fixed rate until end of June thankfully but have been trying to save energy and our has gone down from £60-£65 a month to £49 last month so we're trying to keep our credit high ready for next winter too.