It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

YorksLass

From what's been said on here about the monthly £66 energy refund, it seems different suppliers are doing different things.  Ours (eon.next) applied the £66 as a credit on our account thus reducing our October DD by £66 so, although I'd budgeted for a higher amount, I'd in effect paid £66 less than expected and had that amount sitting in my current account.

Back in April when we got the £150 CT rebate, I opened an easy access savings account with the £150.  Since then, I've been dribbling in small amounts left at the end of each month's budget as well as October's £66.  I'll do the same each month between November and March and will move our winter heating allowance there too.  That way, the money isn't getting mixed up with anything else, is still there for the bigger energy bills if needed and will earn a little bit of interest into the bargain.  As yet, we don't know what the situation will be next April once the EPG/EBSS end.

I'm worried some of those who had the money returned to their bank accounts may well spend it on other things - either because they're financially stretched in other areas (eg higher mortgages to pay) or just aren't thinking logically what the money is really for. 

joedenise

I'm doing similar @YorksLass - except I'm leaving it in my current account which earns more interest than my savings account, which is where I save my holiday money.  I keep track of it on YNAB.

zaxdog

YorksLass said:

From what's been said on here about the monthly £66 energy refund, it seems different suppliers are doing different things.  Ours (eon.next) applied the £66 as a credit on our account thus reducing our October DD by £66 so, although I'd budgeted for a higher amount, I'd in effect paid £66 less than expected and had that amount sitting in my current account.

Back in April when we got the £150 CT rebate, I opened an easy access savings account with the £150.  Since then, I've been dribbling in small amounts left at the end of each month's budget as well as October's £66.  I'll do the same each month between November and March and will move our winter heating allowance there too.  That way, the money isn't getting mixed up with anything else, is still there for the bigger energy bills if needed and will earn a little bit of interest into the bargain.  As yet, we don't know what the situation will be next April once the EPG/EBSS end.

I'm worried some of those who had the money returned to their bank accounts may well spend it on other things - either because they're financially stretched in other areas (eg higher mortgages to pay) or just aren't thinking logically what the money is really for. 

In Argyll & Bute the council issued the yearly bill with the rebate taken off so the monthly payments are smaller. Seemed a sensible way to do it and no having to chase for it etc that I have heard about in some areas of england?

YorksLass

zaxdog said:

In Argyll & Bute the council issued the yearly bill with the rebate taken off so the monthly payments are smaller. Seemed a sensible way to do it and no having to chase for it etc that I have heard about in some areas of england?

That seems logical to you (and me) but I suppose councils each have their own way of administering such schemes.  At least ours was on the ball and we didn't have to chase for it!     

Alas, joedenise, my current account no longer pays interest, hence the easy access savings account.

MovingForwards

I'm still rounding up my utilities when I pay my monthly bill, leaving the £66 credit to build up with my overpayment; one of the big 6 therefore no concerns about getting popped off to another and arguing over the credit balance.

My CT stayed the same as last year due to the £150 being applied directly to it. 

Some who've had payments back will spend it on other things, either as it's extra money and makes for a few good times, because they're so stretched cupboards are getting filled for the first time in a while or because it's well timed and the kids need new clothes.

basketcase

zaxdog said:

In Argyll & Bute the council issued the yearly bill with the rebate taken off so the monthly payments are smaller. Seemed a sensible way to do it and no having to chase for it etc that I have heard about in some areas of england?

Same with Aberdeen Council @zaxdog

strawb_shortcake

Rosa_Damascena said:

annabanana82 said:

Katiehound said:

timehastoldme said:

Anxious introvert, and big fan of self scanners, wish Aldi did them. Small talk is exhausting. 

Aldi has self scan tills in our local store. They've been in for at least a couple of months. However, they are not patient! If you hesitate for even a moment the wretched thing has some kind of message for you.  If you have 30% stickers on anything you need to leave them to the end as an assistant puts in the discount code.
There are cash ones & cards ones- 6 or 7 in total and I think have replaced 2 traditional tills. If I have a very full trolley I would use the normal till.

I remembered when a local Asda introduced the self scan, and I was stood in queue to pay when the two ladies behind me fed up of queuing said aloud "let's go to the self scan, it's cheaper". I remember thinking it'll never catch on if the shoplifting is going to catch on! 
But many years later its still going, I guess the reduction of staff compensates and additional costs from thievery.

I did inform a member of staff of what I'd heard

I think it been around for long enough for people to realise that the tills are highly calibrated towards product weight and people are on CCTV so any dishonesty might be pulled once but am pretty sure the security staff work to a rogues gallery.

I'm sure it's quite obvious to staff those that might be not too honest shopping.

I often use scan as you shop, and twice my trolley has locked before leaving the store, apparently if you go through too quickly the trolley will lock and you need a member of staff to unlock it. 

Floss

annabanana82 said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

annabanana82 said:

I remembered when a local Asda introduced the self scan, and I was stood in queue to pay when the two ladies behind me fed up of queuing said aloud "let's go to the self scan, it's cheaper". I remember thinking it'll never catch on if the shoplifting is going to catch on! 
But many years later its still going, I guess the reduction of staff compensates and additional costs from thievery.

I did inform a member of staff of what I'd heard

I think it been around for long enough for people to realise that the tills are highly calibrated towards product weight and people are on CCTV so any dishonesty might be pulled once but am pretty sure the security staff work to a rogues gallery.

I'm sure it's quite obvious to staff those that might be not too honest shopping.

I often use scan as you shop, and twice my trolley has locked before leaving the store, apparently if you go through too quickly the trolley will lock and you need a member of staff to unlock it. 

How bizarre, to have locking trolleys, I've not come across those anywhere.

General_Grant

pelirocco said:

linz said:

Those people with Shell Energy it looks like theyve added the £67 to accounts. Just noticed the credit in my account has gone up by about that figure since I did the meter reading on 29th Sept

British gas refunded to £67 to my bank ,think that's a crazy idea it should stay credited  to fuel accounts

GaleSF63 said:

pelirocco said:

British gas refunded to £67 to my bank ,think that's a crazy idea it should stay credited  to fuel accounts

It's even dafter if your DD is less than £67. They (well Scottish Power do anyway) refund the amount of the DD to your bank account and put the difference to your account. 

I'm with Ovo (who took over SSE).  They took recently-increased DD (still less than £60) and the next day paid in the £66 (IIRC they originally suggested it could be something like 7 days for the refund to be applied).  If someone with a Santander account was in this situation, they would be happy because of the cash-back offer.  And, of course, unhappy if it reduced their DD either partially or completely cancelled collection.

Rosa_Damascena

I have just read this, it's pretty shocking how the YS scrum has escalated: https://apple.news/AmXhSrFL4STuy2shEQcq9HQ