Thousands of the Island’s most vulnerable residents could be left without power after the much-heralded Energy Bills Support Scheme has failed to help many of those on prepayment meters.
The £400 off energy bills for households came into effect in October. This automatic, non-repayable discount should be applied in 6 installments between October 2022 and March 2023 to help households through winter. There is no need to apply for the scheme and you will not be asked for your bank details.
The grant money is paid in a number of ways, in most cases taken off energy bills at source by the energy companies, or paid into the customer’s bank account. However, those on the old pre-payment card and key meters have vouchers sent through the post. This is where the scheme has fallen down. Nationally millions of pounds have been ‘unclaimed’ as vouchers have been held up by the postal dispute, or not sent out at all.
The Post Office, the UK’s biggest voucher processor, said only 60% of those eligible have used the vouchers, the BBC reported. Payment company PayPoint told the Evening Standard it expected to process 800,000 vouchers in October, worth a total of £52.8million, but the business said only £27million had been redeemed so far.
It is important that everyone on pre-payment meters checks their post, and then takes the voucher into their usual shop to top-up their meter. In a few cases, bill payers have never informed an energy company that they have taken over the premises, and are using the previous residents card. Thus the letter may be addressed to the previous occupant. In these cases contact the energy supplier and bring them up to date.
Nationally the number of households on prepayment meters rose by 60,000 in the 6 months from October 2021. It is usually the poorest of households that use this system of pre-payment to help budget, but it is generally a more expensive way to buy energy.
Scammers have also been actively taking advantage of the public by sending fraudulent messages asking them to provide bank details as the energy price guarantee comes into force.
Those concerned about their energy bills should contact The Footprint Trust on 01983 822282. For concerns about debt, benefits and tax issues etc should contact IW Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8848. For non-payment of energy grant contact your energy supplier.
Back in the 80’s, I met a guy who was selling some sort of electrical swindling device which he bought from the miners who were making them when on strike.
The device was made from a car battery charger I believe. It had a couple of probes which you dangerously were supposed to push into the meter somehow.
Apparently he said it made the meter then run backwards! Which wiped off much of what you had used.
I declined the offer, but always wondered if they worked or if it was a con.
Can anyone else recall such devices, as I expect someone will be constructing such again now. Very dangerous avoid imo.
Yes, they existed.
Yes they worked.
Yes they were exceptionally dangerous:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFtB0C0rBaM
Will not work with any modern electronic meter which will almost certainly report any tampering.
Rather than sit and be cold, some could always choose instead not to buy dope, alcohol, drugs, have their nails painted up, not dress in designer gear, sell the BMW, cancel the Sky plus plus, send back the Apple glass TV.
They could use the thousands in child tax credits, or if as some do work 16 short hours a week and claim working tax credits AS WELL, they could use the £20 per week per child child allowance.
Some sell and grow drugs and could use that, some work on the side and could spend that on fuel, others fake living alone to up benefits.
Just a few ideas that WON’T apply to all, but I wager to very many pleading poverty yet STILL bringing in more children to their impoverished life, so either selfish, or lying.
Not disagreeing that some are like this ,but majority are elderly with no option of work etc, also those where are working hard but low income and high expenses, mortgages have gone up as well as bills and cost of living, not always people have other options. Council doesn’t help increasing council tax, not paying market rent ( some are having to top up rent buy£200/£300 a month now, school transport, school uniform, parking charges etc and pay for CEO that’s not needed. Possibly cutting Community support for disabled/vunerable etc.
Agreed those druggies, drinkers and lazy twats should be made to work or go without so others can have – who have paid taxes etc. Lay abouts don’t know how lucky to live in UK and get Universal Credit etc.
The BBC website ran a sob story last week about a 38yr old mother complaining that her electricity supplier had forced a prepayment meter on her and that she was down to her last 30p of electricity, illustrated by social media posts of her pouting into her phone with all the plastered on make up that seems obligatory.
The report ended by revealing that she was £11,000 in arrears with her bill, built up over some years.
At that point my sympathy for her evaporated, that was just negligence or idiocy and such stories undermine the sympathy I should have for those in real hardship, there are far too many but we need to know who they are in order to help, not just those who think wearing a sweater indoors is a sign of poverty.
Problem is the BBC and most other media ONLY tell half the story.
They bleat on about their rent and council tax, but most only pay a fraction IF at all.
They get thousands a year if bothered to work 16 hours a week in additional benefits as well as child allowance.
They get more if can get one or more children badged with some syndrome
All get free food extra thousands for heating and child care
The list is endless. That is why so many have children and why half the world has arrived here now.
All income and only necessary expenditure needs to be taken into account when giving handouts to people.
Otherwise as we have now those with children are often better off than those working as the income V necessary outgoings is often better on both counts for those working a few hours or none per week.
Please folks if you are Struggling to stay warm, there are heat hubs setting up all across the island, some offering meals as well
Austerity comes for taxpayers and pensioners.
Feckless, entitled scroungers won’t notice. As our council will shut all community facilities to give them even more money. Feel sorry for the pensioners, who after working lifetime get thousands less, than career skivers.