Energy (Gas and Electric)

[MummyMadness2016]

Ok so here goes...

I have just relocated to a completely new area nearly 500 miles away from my home town with my 8month old daughter.

I am due to start work next week and have lived in the house for a week now.
This evening my electric meter has cut off with no emergency credit left i topped this up the day i moved in with £10 after obtaining a new key from BG. I thought £10 would be enough to last me through till my payday but alas.

I have taped the freezer shut and i am wrapped up warm. My babygirl has plenty of bottles and her room is nice and warm fortunatly as i made sure her room was carpeted etc before anything else in this house.

I have spoke to BG whom state that theyre unable to help or apply any additional credit and that my electricity meter wont come back on untill i top up enough to cover the emergency and standard credit. Im at a loss on what to do or where to turn...

Babys dad is not on the scene and is the reason i have relocated.

Is there anywhere else i can try.

I am unable to get an overdraft or loan as my ex left us in considerable trouble and i will not be approved for these. And i only have 1 neighbour whom i would rather not approach as they dont loom particularly approachable.

If anyone has any suggestions theyd be muchly appreciated.

I just wish i knew what to do... and looking for advice.

[dementedpixie]

Any family or friends who can help?

[MummyMadness2016]

Hi dementedpixie

Due to the circumstances i wish there wae but there isnt. :(

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

Ask your employer for a salary advance. I am sure that they would help - you mentioned payday so I'm assuming you have an employer?

If not, speak to your health visitor. Some food banks give out energy tokens.

Are BG aware that you have a baby. If not, call them and advise. The rules about cutting off power etc are slightly different with children in the house

Google energy charities too and see if they can help

Worst case scenario, do you have anything you can take to cash converters?

Finally, investigate obtaining maintensance from your DD's father. It can be fine without you having to have cu text via the CSA, as was (cant remember the new name)

[MummyMadness2016]

Payday is my child benefit payment have already asked if payment can be made early and it cant.

My new employer has said no also.

Maintenance cant be obtained from my DDs father as he is currently in prison.

I am litterally stuck between a rock and a hard place as everywhere i turn its a flat out no. Im not bothered about myself but want make sure my daughter is ok.

I have already pawned everything possible to relocate only thing i have left is a mobile phone that is loaned from my phone network as mine has had to go for a repair.

[MummyMadness2016]

I will have a loom at energy charities and give them a call.

British Gas where completely unhelpfull and said summat about because its a prepayment meter there is nothing they can do. And to go the shop and topup what the women never seemed to grasp was the distinct lack of available funds to do that.

Im sure ill figure something out.

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

Sorry to hear that. Health visitor is the best bet and calling British Gas. They have a charitable arm who should be able to help plus they should be making some kind if exception due to your DD anyway

You can find out details of your local health visitor by calling your nearest GP surgery - whether you are registered or not

[MummyMadness2016]

Iv contacted Health Visitor and she is seeing what else can be done. From what i am being told had the temp been lower at night there is more help but because its not.

BG are quite frankly frightful with their lack of information on what i can do/help
But i am keeping on at them.

Im off to a local mother n baby group this afternoon to see if anyone down there has any ideas too.

[BarelyCopingToday]

Take your phone charger with you to charge it up at the baby group

[MummyMadness2016]

I am doing :) fortunatly the battery is pretty good on this

[MummyMadness2016]

Well what a day... still no further on tbh. Still no electric BG say there is nothing i can do, the local food bank only do food parcels and not energy help. The Mum n Baby group where great and someone that lives local to me has offered for me to warm up baby girls bottles/food there if needs be. The health visitor hasnt even got back to me. Im at a complete loss now. Only so much 1 person can take and this last week has been the final hit

[Fluffycloudland77]

Do you have a bank account with 2 DD? If you do then switch to Halifax to get the switching incentive. It's usually paid in 7 days or less.

It varies £75-125 depending on any promotions they're doing.

[MummyMadness2016]

I already bank with halifax :( because of the debt issues caused by my ex theyve just downgraded acc to a basics account too

[bimbobaggins]

Can you apply to the dwp for a crisis loan , they may have changed names but I believe it may be called a social fund loan or something similar

[MilkTart]

Look up the email address for the CEO of bg (Mark Hodges I believe) and send an email explaining the situation. It will be dealt with by a specialist team who will have more power to do something. They can absolutely put some money on your key and set it to collect back at a few pounds a week. Make sure that you stress that you have a baby.

[MummyMadness2016]

Well thanks to you all fir yiur advice. A very lovely lady at the mum n baby group came around today and topped up the gas and electric for me till my payday. All is good in the home. My baby girl also started crawling tiday so been a very tearful day xx

[Beansprout30]

So pleased someone was able to help and how lovely that your now have a crawler hope all goes well in your new job