Changes To StayWarm

Ham_+_Bud

lona wrote:

Like your father, Panther, I got my renewal letter in today for next year's monthly payment.

It does not state whether I am a high user, med user or low user.

My monthly payment has gone up from £74 to £115 which I think is at least a 50% increase.

I called the freephone number for an explanation and ofcourse was told it was because I was a high user. I explained that that wasn't the contract I signed up for when Staywarm was not owned by Powergen.

I have been on staywarm since it first began and although there was an increase every year to cover inflation I feel that Staywarm rather than discontinue the service is making it so unviable that people will move of their own accord.

I would have admired them better had they just wrote to customers and said that Staywarm was being discontinued, rather than con people into thinking they had an unmeans tested service.

I have till the 7th October to find a more honest provider as I certainly won't be giving my custom to Powergen even if they work out the cheapest.

It's a matter of principal, I abhor backdoor tactics.

I agree, and would like to point out that -If you are a low user and cancel your Staywarm/Powergen account ( because it is sky high) you may be guided towards Age Concern/Powergen. Do not fall for this sales pitch, Age Concerns gas tarrif is OK but the electricity tarrif is very expensive. Powergen gives the impression that it is a scheme suitable for elderly people. Do the elderly not use electricity?
Powergen controls the only two companies aimed at older people, In my opinion this is not in the interest of vunerable people.
Ham + Bud

Gal

The age concern tariff is suitable for low users as they primary rate is cheaper then standard electric prices.

Its unfair to give out information that would affect peoples decisions especially as it is biased and quite clearly has no substance to it.

Age concern is primarily designed for low users - If your not a low user then age concern is not recommended.

djohn2002uk

Gal wrote:

The age concern tariff is suitable for low users as they primary rate is cheaper then standard electric prices.

Its unfair to give out information that would affect peoples decisions especially as it is biased and quite clearly has no substance to it.

Age concern is primarily designed for low users - If your not a low user then age concern is not recommended.

Not quite correct. Age Concern will recomend it without any reference to being a low user. And the very fact of the name encourages people to think it is a good scheme for all elderly people.

System

What a coincidence!. Having been with Staywarm for about 18 months and now pay £68.11 for the two of us in a two bed house, Age Concern stopped me recently and suggested I'd be better off with them. I have the leaflet and was considering a change, now I'm not so sure.

djohn2002uk

islandman wrote:

What a coincidence!. Having been with Staywarm for about 18 months and now pay £68.11 for the two of us in a two bed house, Age Concern stopped me recently and suggested I'd be better off with them. I have the leaflet and was considering a change, now I'm not so sure.

Islandman, I hope during the 18 months you've been with Staywarm (about the same time I was with them) you've taken meter readings so that you can compare in 6months time when it's certain that, like all the other Staywarm users, you will receive your massive price hike.
It's such a shame that Powergen have ruined what was once a brilliant scheme for us wrinklies, even though most of us never really "took advantage" of the system.

Gal

djohn2002uk wrote:

Not quite correct. Age Concern will recomend it without any reference to being a low user. And the very fact of the name encourages people to think it is a good scheme for all elderly people.

At which point did I state that age concern recommend it to low users?

I stated that age concern is suitable for low users.

Your text indicates that its not suitable for anyone and that is not the case.

System

No, sadly I haven't taken any notice of meter readings. What would you suggest my next move would be?.

djohn2002uk

islandman wrote:

No, sadly I haven't taken any notice of meter readings. What would you suggest my next move would be?.

Start taking readings on a monthly basis straight away, then when you get your next notice of increase from Staywarm you will have a record of your usage over the worst months of the year.
I think that Staywarm will have some readings too, and there could be some from the time you joined them. Request them, they could be very useful as you could then work out your usage over a longer period including summer and winter.

I saved around £240/year when I moved to Scottish Power from Staywarm and set my own Direct Debit amount from these figures and over the last 2yrs I've been within £5 each year.
If you need more info or help just send me a PM.

System

OK, will do just that. both meters are side by side and I'll enter a reminder on the calender. Thanks for your offer of PM help as i don't like too many people to know how dim I am (lol).

djohn2002uk

islandman wrote:

OK, will do just that. both meters are side by side and I'll enter a reminder on the calender. Thanks for your offer of PM help as i don't like too many people to know how dim I am (lol).

Nobody's "dim" on here, (Well a few maybe);) Almost everything we've learned in life was because someone showed us how.