Energy bills support scheme vouchers

Glee1968

I have two prepay meters one for electricity, (Bulb). One for heating and hot water, (energybilling.co)
I loaded my key from advice from MSE, I am entitled to help from the government of £400, in the form of 6, monthly vouchers, to be redeemed at the post office, and only the post office, I have plenty of electricity, my heating meter can be loaded by internet on pay worldwide or at any paypoint by cash or card, I wish to use my energy vouchers for heating my home and water, the post office does not have paypoint, and so I am in a predicament, I have contacted both Bulb, whom the vouchers are sent by email through and energy billing to no avail. The government said the vouchers can be used for gas, electricity or split for both but only if you can manage to do this, I think some costumers have been overlooked by this scheme, myself being one, and the vouchers can't be used as intended. I feel disgruntled and wander if anyone can think of a solution.

Astria

You need to visit https://www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder

Look for a post office which supports paying bills.

pochase

Welcome to the forum.

The £400 are to be applied to your electricity account.

Where did you find the government statement that it can be used for heating or electricity. If you have both with the same supplier some will allow you also to use the vouchers for gas, but I do not see how you can use the Bulb vouchers to load money onto a different company.

Astria

pochase said:

Welcome to the forum.

The £400 are to be applied to your electricity account.

Where did you find the government statement that it can be used for heating or electricity. If you have both with the same supplier some will allow you also to use the vouchers for gas, but I do not see how you can use the Bulb vouchers to load money onto a different company.

I didn't recognise energybilling as a different company, must be because I've hit my middle ages! I'm 48 this year, time to be put down me thinks as everything is breaking

pochase

Looks like they are not a supplier but kind of providing sub metering.

https://www.energybilling.co.uk

doesntnotcompute

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1128945/ebss-guidance-for-electricity-suppliers.pdf

5.58 Where an unredeemed EBSS payment has expired or been lost a replacement credit can be issued.

5.59 Replacement credit can be issued up until the scheme closing date of 30 June 2023. When providing replacement credit close to the scheme closing date suppliers should account for the time taken for a customer to receive and redeem a payment and therefore should consider the use of SAMs or cheques as necessary.

....

5.65 Where, having exercised reasonable endeavours, suppliers are unable to provide an EBSS payment using the methods set out for each of the customer types, they should provide the payment by non-transferable cheque, bank transfer or a secure voucher that may be exchanged for cash. Payment using these methods should be by exception.

....

5.75 ....

Soapqueen

Hiya, I have pre-payment meters with SSE, and when I received my December 2022 voucher I took it to my usual shop to redeem it. The cashier said it had been added to my key, but when I put the key in my meter it said '0.00'. The shop said it has been redeemed so they can not help me, and SSE (after many, many conversations) are saying the same thing. I am disabled and unable to work and am on their vulnerable list but all they refuse to do anything about it. I sent a letter of complaint to SSE a month ago but have heard nothing back. I am so worried about my energy bills and I really need the £66!! Has anyone else had the same problem as me? TIA.

Gerry1

Soapqueen said:

I sent a letter of complaint to SSE a month ago but have heard nothing back.

In a fortnight you can go to the Energy Ombudsman: SSE agreed to a six-week period rather than the usual eight because their customer service had been so poor.

Sounds like nothing has changed.