I have just made a clain today for a disabled friend with British Gas / Sainsburys Energy as their scheme went live on the 01/09/2017. I am adding a list of links for other providers that are live. I found these today to help set the ball rolling for those who qualify.
Thanks for this, I am a single parent on a low income and I got this for a couple of years then suddenly last year they told me right at the last minute I didn't qualify. I knew I did I paid to send off my wage slips and proof of child tax credits and everything else they asked for and then they told me it was past the deadline even though I had originally applied months and months before. The difference with not getting that money had a real knock on effect so I'm hopeing this year will be done correctly so I don't struggle so much with topping up the electric. Doesn't help when my daughter leaves every light on in the house grrr oh the arguments :disappointed: . Wasn't aware I could do this online, thanks again so simple :thumbsup:
premierfella to LeahsMintytoutou
8 Sep 17#3
I had this when applying for a family member. We didn't let it go at that point but took it further and raised a formal complaint and refused to be fobbed off by the third party that was doing the administration.
Wish I'd have took it further. I did complain but they told me it's not them so I can't complain. I was so sick of going backwards and forwards I just left it. If it happens again I won't leave it. Everything's changed for me and I think itssince minimum wage was increased earlier this year. I'm much more worse off :disappointed: thanks for your take take on it.. it's soured me on to stand up for what I'm untitled to if it happens again :muscle:
premierfella to LeahsMintytoutou
9 Sep 17#52
This is the reason why its good that they at least have a core group that gets it automatically without all this BS.
Your application for the WHD would have been to the supplier, irrespective of the fact that a third party handles it, so "not us guv" (whilst it has some truth to it) doesn't mean they can just refuse to log a complaint! (IMO they should have logged the complaint, given that response and then allowed you to take that forward to the Ombudsman for their opinion, which could have gone either way of course). I'm guessing that if an application is in well before they run out of funds, you provide paperwork requested in a timely manner and in good faith, there is a good chance the Ombudsman sides with the customer on it or at least bears the number of similar complaints in mind when assessing how the provider is meeting its obligations under the scheme.
j484rkh4n to premierfella
8 Sep 17#15
Was it British Gas by
any chance? This happened to me to, At first they claim not to receive any paperwork. Despite me having proof that i did apply. They offered £50, then £75 and when i showed them the letter from the government explaining that my father was entitled. BG changed their mind and offered £140, cheeky. I'm might put in a complain in how they handle my application to the Ombudsman. No indication that the application process was being handled by the third party despite getting replies from BG on their headed paper. :rage:
premierfella to j484rkh4n
9 Sep 17#50
NPower in our case. To be fair to them they dealt with the complaint in a sensible manner, so they get points for that :smile:
eatmorefish
8 Sep 17#2
Instead of handing out cash to energy companies (nicely maintaining their prices) the government should be more concerned with introducing genuine competition to the marketplace.
My oldies, like many I assume, use winter fuel payments for flights somewhere sunny each January. What a world we live in.
notos to eatmorefish
8 Sep 17#7
When it comes to utilities we need no competition. There should be one supplier, or at the very least, one rate, for everyone. I don't want to pay for endless nonsense TV commercials and the competition chimera which translates as cost-plus profit for every wannabe middle man supplier that has an idea for a new energy brand. Not to mention the wasted time of everyone who searches for a new supplier every year.
eatmorefish to notos
8 Sep 17#32
I am not philosophically bound to either marketplace nor nazionalisation....but the current situation clearly does not give the customer good value.
PaulusIsHere to notos
9 Sep 17#51
Government intervention in the free market is almost universally awful and is usually the cause of most economical problems.
For example Tuition fees are high because the loans are backed by the government created an atmosphere of no risk and no competition. There's also similar problem with banking where the government insures the first £85,000 in someone's bank account leading to little risk or accountability for these banks when it comes to investing.
Competition ultimately drives down prices and drives innovation. If you're not a believer in this then take a look at the Smart Phone in your pocket or the TV in your living room and compare what was possible 10 years ago.
What's needed in the energy markets is less regulation, lower taxes and a faster switching process. This will spur competition and lower prices.
If the big 6 are price fixing and a 7th company starts up offering much lower prices people will switch. If a 8th company started up offering lower prices and a switch of just 1 week even more people will switch.
And so on.
ksonia875 to eatmorefish
8 Sep 17#29
Lucky for them! But it genuinely does help the people I know and can mean the difference between a stingy winter where they have to cut corners to cut costs or a low stress winter where they don't have to worry about bills.
am_289 to eatmorefish
13 Sep 17#64
I am not sure if energy companies are getting any cash; this is applicable only for energy companies with large user base. also scheme operates on first come first serve basis; capped to some max number of claims.
eatmorefish to am_289
13 Sep 17#65
Schemes to 'help people pay' whether it be high rents to private landlords paid with housing benefit or this scheme can also be interpreted as the government's decision to prop up the chosen market.
bnxc
8 Sep 17#4
Thanks for the links, I've forwarded to my parents, is this different to the payment they get for winter anyway? Dad is registered disabled, with the maximum care allowance, but they don't receive any of the credits needed for many grants etc.
LeahsMintytoutou to bnxc
8 Sep 17#8
If you go on the link and fill out name address then go to the second page it asks you to select things from a list that you receive like disability living allowance, child tax credit ect ect. They've got to receive a yearly income of less then £16,000 odd and receive at least 1 other listed benefit. It tells you on the second page. You can do that to see whats eligible and needed to apply then don't submit if you want to tell family and friends then they can do it by theirself or you can do it for them. Just make sure your info is correct :thumbsup: ps it's only 2 small pages 1 your name address ect. The second is tick boxes then submit. Ps not sure it applies for retired people maybe someone else knows this?
gemniz to LeahsMintytoutou
8 Sep 17#13
Yes it applies to anyone on a low income... Pension credits is one of the qualifying criteria for the core group(who get it automatically each year)
killabyte
8 Sep 17#5
What is this exactly? Does it work for someone who's retired?
As far as I can see the eligibility varies between different companies, whereas for the first few years the govt told the big six whom should qualify, which makes trying to compare firms an absolute nightmare, with a lottery element. Pensioners who receive pension credits do usually qualify (on top of the winter fuel allowance). Some will give discounts if you receive disability benefits, but some only if it is a disabled child, a lot say something along the line of "you may qualify for our broader group (but we're not going to tell you in advance), but it's first come first served". Sometimes you'd save money by forgetting the grant and getting your energy elsewhere. If anyone finds a comparison site which allows you to input your income and benefits then will tell you the cheapest firm with a guaranteed warm home discount for a disabled adult let me know!
I'd encourage everyone who thinks they might be eligible to apply ASAP but don't rely on it. Incidentally you may also be eligible for grants to improve insulation, replace boilers etc so your bills aren't as high, worth a look.
ksonia875 to Elizabeth.Smith
8 Sep 17#30
I really like to use the money saving expert comparison because even though they don't use your income or benefits to show you the best rates, their comparisons clearly state if the supplier offers the warm home discount. :grin: :raised_hand:
Gollywood
8 Sep 17#12
What if you register whilst with 1 supplier & then move to another (if both are on the list?)
gemniz to Gollywood
8 Sep 17#14
AFAIK you won't get it then :disappointed:
RobertM0215 to Gollywood
8 Sep 17#17
It's unlikely as there is normally a requirement to have a range of dates that you need to have been with the supplier with. For instance, British Gas' terms are you have to be their customer up to 31st May 2018. As it's not hit winter though, it's worth checking what the terms are with the new supplier.
bigwheels to RobertM0215
8 Sep 17#18
Once its been paid how can they keep you as a customer ?. As long as your not tied in leave. My friend who I claimed for is on Sainsburys fixed price april and is getting it. But as soon as april come or its paid she can leave. Or switch tariff.Easy way to leave a locked in deal is to switch to the standard tariff with your provider then leave with no fees.A small loophole they dont tell you about.
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Opening post
£140.00
I have just made a clain today for a disabled friend with British Gas / Sainsburys Energy as their scheme went live on the 01/09/2017.
I am adding a list of links for other providers that are live.
I found these today to help set the ball rolling for those who qualify.
I hope this may helps some members of hotukdeals.
Claim from these Energy Providers Below Now.
britishgas.co.uk/ene…tml
economyenergy.co.uk/red…nt/
edfenergy.com/for…unt
eonenergy.com/for…unt
edfenergy.com/for…unt
cooperativeenergy.coop/red…hd/
scottishpower.co.uk/cus…nt/
sse.co.uk/hel…unt
npower.com/spr…nt/
sparkenergy.co.uk/war…unt
utilita.co.uk/sav…unt
Pre Register your interest below
ovoenergy.com/ovo…tml
All comments (67)
Result: £140 received, token £15 goodwill (and switched supplier of course!)
thanks for your take take on it.. it's soured me on to stand up for what I'm untitled to if it happens again :muscle:
Your application for the WHD would have been to the supplier, irrespective of the fact that a third party handles it, so "not us guv" (whilst it has some truth to it) doesn't mean they can just refuse to log a complaint! (IMO they should have logged the complaint, given that response and then allowed you to take that forward to the Ombudsman for their opinion, which could have gone either way of course). I'm guessing that if an application is in well before they run out of funds, you provide paperwork requested in a timely manner and in good faith, there is a good chance the Ombudsman sides with the customer on it or at least bears the number of similar complaints in mind when assessing how the provider is meeting its obligations under the scheme.
My oldies, like many I assume, use winter fuel payments for flights somewhere sunny each January.
What a world we live in.
For example Tuition fees are high because the loans are backed by the government created an atmosphere of no risk and no competition. There's also similar problem with banking where the government insures the first £85,000 in someone's bank account leading to little risk or accountability for these banks when it comes to investing.
Competition ultimately drives down prices and drives innovation. If you're not a believer in this then take a look at the Smart Phone in your pocket or the TV in your living room and compare what was possible 10 years ago.
What's needed in the energy markets is less regulation, lower taxes and a faster switching process. This will spur competition and lower prices.
If the big 6 are price fixing and a 7th company starts up offering much lower prices people will switch.
If a 8th company started up offering lower prices and a switch of just 1 week even more people will switch.
And so on.
If you go on the link and fill out name address then go to the second page it asks you to select things from a list that you receive like disability living allowance, child tax credit ect ect. They've got to receive a yearly income of less then £16,000 odd and receive at least 1 other listed benefit. It tells you on the second page. You can do that to see whats eligible and needed to apply then don't submit if you want to tell family and friends then they can do it by theirself or you can do it for them. Just make sure your info is correct :thumbsup: ps it's only 2 small pages 1 your name address ect. The second is tick boxes then submit. Ps not sure it applies for retired people maybe someone else knows this?
I'd encourage everyone who thinks they might be eligible to apply ASAP but don't rely on it. Incidentally you may also be eligible for grants to improve insulation, replace boilers etc so your bills aren't as high, worth a look.
As long as your not tied in leave.
My friend who I claimed for is on Sainsburys fixed price april and is getting it.
But as soon as april come or its paid she can leave.
Or switch tariff.Easy way to leave a locked in deal is to switch to the standard tariff with your provider then leave with no fees.A small loophole they dont tell you about.