Does Ovo use CashOut?

pjs493

This morning I received two text messages from CashOut. One for a £100 voucher and the other for a £50 voucher. I’d never heard of CashOut before, but it seems to be a legit company. 

I’m not sure why I’m receiving £150, but the links in the text suggest it might be from Ovo. I had an account with Ovo at my previous address. I don’t want to click on any links until I’m sure it’s legit and isn’t some sort of scam that is going to try to access my phone. 

The texts suggest I can access these vouchers via a PayPoint. I didn’t know what that was either, but I’ve discovered there is one in my local corner shop. 

Has anyone had this before? I’m currently undergoing cancer treatment so I’m wondering if this could be some sort of government incentivised credit that I’m due because of my medical situation. I’m in receipt of PIP. 

t0rt0ise

Ask at the Paypoint. They'll either cash it or say no. There are various disability payments sent out by either the government or councils.

HillStreetBlues

pjs493 said:

This morning I received two text messages from CashOut. One for a £100 voucher and the other for a £50 voucher. I’d never heard of CashOut before, but it seems to be a legit company. 

I’m not sure why I’m receiving £150, but the links in the text suggest it might be from Ovo. I had an account with Ovo at my previous address. I don’t want to click on any links until I’m sure it’s legit and isn’t some sort of scam that is going to try to access my phone. 

The texts suggest I can access these vouchers via a PayPoint. I didn’t know what that was either, but I’ve discovered there is one in my local corner shop. 

Has anyone had this before? I’m currently undergoing cancer treatment so I’m wondering if this could be some sort of government incentivised credit that I’m due because of my medical situation. I’m in receipt of PIP. 

£150 could be the Warm Home Discount, was you with Ovo on the 11 August 2024?

pjs493

t0rt0ise said:

Ask at the Paypoint. They'll either cash it or say no. There are various disability payments sent out by either the government or councils.

I popped into my local corner shop and it appears to be genuine. They entered the codes in the texts and gave me cash in return. Having done some deeper google diving, it looks like my council has a discretionary fund and families with health problems and/or young children are eligible. I have two small children as well as a cancer diagnosis. My husband died in 2023. I informed the council of my circumstances when my PIP payment was awarded because I was advised to inform the council tax team as I might be eligible for a PIP related discount. So it’s probable/possible that I’ve been given £150 from this fund because my household meets the criteria. I don’t recall applying for it directly, but it may have flagged up somewhere. 

pjs493

HillStreetBlues said:

£150 could be the Warm Home Discount, was you with Ovo on the 11 August 2024?

I was with Ovo then, but I didn’t receive my cancer diagnosis until this year. Having dug a little deeper on Google, it looks like my council have a discretionary fund and households with young children and/or certain medical conditions qualify for money from it. They use CashOut to make these payments. 

I informed the council tax department when I received my PIP award of my change in circumstances. I was advised to because it may have made me eligible for a PIP related discount. It’s possible that this then flagged something on their internal systems and I was therefore given this as a one of payment from my council. 

In any case, it seems legit because I went to my local corner shop with a PayPoint, explained the situation and they seemed to know what to do. The codes in the texts worked so it appears to be genuine. I didn’t click on any of the links. I just wasn’t expecting it, but to be fair, the chemo is messing with my brain a lot and my memory isn’t the greatest right now, so I may have been told to expect this.