Martin Lewis issues a stark warning

[GreenLunchBox]

And I'm really quite scared what's going to happen 😭

twitter.com/MartinSLewis/status/1549305060320067585?t=2QJm_R-HS3gXtUUCoy_8tA&s=19

Sometimes, I can see how Cassandra felt

It’s too depressing. People are overwhelmed. A lot of people are going to go under and just don’t want to believe it. Plus a lot of people are intimidated by numbers.

There is going to be a lot of money that could be spent in the local economies - however, it will be going to the energy companies.

That's going to have an economic effect.

17% pay rise ?
You do realize that’s abnormal …
No worries about bills for you then 🙄

Well I simply can't pay it - I can barely pay it now and I pay one actual use based on meter reads during the summer when we are barely at home. I won't be alone. Will they just cut us all off?

I can’t see it. They’d be cutting off thousands of homes. People would riot in badly hit areas. There will have to be more cost of living payments or something to ease it.

I don’t feel he is such a guru anymore although I know he really wants to help.

Hi could you please explain this more?

I called Eon today to request that I just pay my usage amount this month rather than the ridiculous new DD amount. They have said they can’t do that or else they’d need to take me off my existing tariff, which includes the dd discount, and put me on a standard tariff which would be more expensive.

How do I get them to agree to just let me pay what actually using? But still keep my direct debit discount?

How do I get them to agree to just let me pay what actually using? But still keep my direct debit discount

It sounds like you are on a fixed rate - which means your DD should only change if your usage is more than predicted.

I think that with a fixed rate, they should set an appropriate DD amount for you which you pay monthly. No paying 'as you go'.

Also @liveforsummer (and anybody else worried), there are agreements in place about disconnection;

Most suppliers have signed up to an agreement called the 'Energy UK Vulnerability Commitment'. You can check if your supplier has signed up to the commitment by contacting them or checking their website.

If your supplier has signed up to the commitment, they won't disconnect you between 1 October and 31 March if you live with children under 16.

They also won’t disconnect you at any time of year if you:

are disabled

have long-term health problems

have severe financial problems

have children under 6 years old living at home

If your supplier hasn't signed up to the commitment, they should take your situation into account, but they’re not obliged to.

If you’ve been threatened with being disconnected but think you shouldn’t be, contact your supplier and let them know. They should visit your home to check on your situation before they do anything. You can make a complaint if they decide to go ahead and disconnect you.

So if it gets hairy, make sure you tell your supplier about vulnerable family members.

Also there is something called a “priority service register” for some vulnerable groups, so check if you think you’re eligible and register for that as soon as you can.

Seriously, though, Rishi can say what he likes now, but the government are going to have to help.

How do I get them to agree to just let me pay what actually using? But still keep my direct debit discount

The problem with paying for what you are using now is that you also have to do that in winter, when your bill could be 3 or 4 times what it is now.

You say your DD is 'ridiculous' but is it fair? As in its about one twelfth of what your annual bill is expected to be.

Companies have been told that DD amounts have to be proportionate, so if yours isn't, that's your basis for challenging the amount you pay.

But if you're on a low income, it's also worth seeing what extra help is available. I know we're not best pleased with Martin Lewis right now but if you look on Money Saving expert there's a whole section on grants, direct debit amounts etc.

Feel free to ignore the bit about whether you should fix or not

In Martin's video that I linked to he says that lots of his followers are talking about civil unrest. My question is why has it taken so long and where is this civil unrest? Or a general strike, or SOMETHING!!!

I sometimes wonder if Net Zero is really about restricting energy to the rich only. Reductions will happen because poorer people (soon to be the majority) will no longer be able to afford it so will no longer use it.

I do volunteering work and the stories I hear from older people who are struggling financially with the cost of living crisis that are heart breaking. One woman whose direct debits had been increased from £50 to £80pm told me that she'd started thinking about killing herself as she didn't think she'd be able to manage come the winter.

It's not so much the unit price increasing, but the standing charge. My supplier tried to raise my direct debit, saying I needed to be in credit for the winter. I declined their kind offer, as I haven't decided to stay with them, and by the end of the 12 months from when I started with them, I'll be about £50 debit. As they are getting £400 from HMG towards my electricity that should take care of the amount they want to raise the DD by.

This will sound mean but older people have been through a lot more than a £30 per month bill rise so I'm a bit sceptical of this story.

Me too, well until Oct 2023. I am so glad I ignored him, he wasn’t right then in advising people not to fix. Otherwise I do like him though and he does seem to have good connections to Treasury etc.

Fixed rates were 30% above the energy cap. Why would he tell people to fix?🤔

And not just holidays, but absolute crap as well

I am on a diamond painting page on FB. I am not obsessed with it but it’s a nice hobby. I buy one kit for about a fiver, complete it, buy another…etc

the FB group is full of people buying pile upon pile of absolute shite for this hobby, £200 orders off Shein for them and so on. I really don’t get it!

You lot are mental

Who in their right mind would advocate fixing when fixed rates were 30% above the energy cap and this situation had never been encountered?

He was advising people that before then though. My deal was up in October 2021 and he was advising then not to fix.

I fixed below the old price cap and am very glad.

I listened to his advice last winter and came to my own conclusion that it was best for us to fix at 30% higher £ because we value the certainty in our budget, so I’m not sure I agree that he told people not to fix. You have to take responsibility for your own financial decisions. I’ll always fix if I can because I like to have a fixed budget.

haha, dont believe everything you read online

And ridiculously expensive cars!! So many massive 22 plates where I live !

If we can blame M Lewis we don't have to blame the tory party! I call it common sense!

But these dont help anyone on a prepayment meter... it doesn't get fed it cuts off.........

But is it a naice leafy area?