I can’t put the heating on.

[VacancyAtNumber10AGAIN]

Just that really. I can’t afford it. £19 went in 4 days last week. I’m on prepayment. They want £300 to change to credit meters. I can’t afford that.

flat is prone to damp and mould so have to keep windows open to ventilate, washing isn’t drying. Clothes in wardrobe are freezing cold and there’s black mould all round the window frames.

I don’t see why people in the world have to live like this. It’s not the 1800’s. I’m worried for my DD’s health and my own. Does anyone know if there are any schemes etc for help with gas? Also this isn’t a begging thread, I don’t take handouts off people and I won’t even ask my own mother for help with bills.

Counting down the days until summer

That doesn't work with dummies, does it. Bastard EDF got me there once😂

Yep, agree with @saveforthat A window vac is so much better than a squeegee, used properly they're great, no need to mop up any water, it sucks it all up (if you move it around relatively slowly) then just empty in the sink. I use it every morning, I used to use a squeeedgee but then had to mop the resulting water up so had loads of wet cloths that needed to be dried somewhere.

I don't know what you mean here?

The old meter, not smart meter - dummy meteer

It's the case with all prepayment meters. Smart or none smart.

I don't know if it will help. I was forced on to prepayment meters after I moved in to a property that the previous tenant had tampered with the electrics. They told me it would cost me £150 to change to credit meters. I asked if I was in credit meters would it cost the same to move to prepayment?

The answer was no it would be free. I then argued why should I be charged for a meter change, if it wouldn't cost the other way round. They waived the fee and I got them installed for free.

That is my quoted tariff for gas, however I actually pay 5% less as I pay the exact amount monthly by DIrect Debit.

How can they change non smart meter. I changed suppliers and it just continued as is? It's not accessible to change unless you physically touch it? I am curious now that I missed something!

OP I’m sorry things are so tough for you. The damp traps only work when it’s relatively warm - if your house is cold then don’t bother. I used them in my old cold and damp flat and they barely filled. But my dehumidifier sucked 2L out the air a night and was very economical with electricity! A dehumidifier would also be helpful as it shoots out warm air and will suck much more moisture from the air than a damp trap. As air dries, it gets slightly warmer. I use Meaco 12L low energy dehumidifier and it’s fab. They are expensive (get a Black Friday deal, the ones on appliance direct look good!) and see if you can pay in instalments? They’re a great investment generally.
All the best

Oh hold on. I wish we had edit button. Edf said you need to be 28 days on top up with them, then change it. Now i remember.

Anyway, back to OP.
If it's only adult and child £5 can be lowered.
Divert money from what you would top up on leccy to gas.
Check with CAB or local charity if you claim everything you should.
Local council may have funds too.

I've stopped drying my washing at home as it was making the place too damp. Once a week I wash it all at home and take it to the laundrette. £2-3 in the dryer gets it all done (I'm in London) and while it does it, I sit on the bench with my back against the dryer reading a book, so I have half an hour of getting nice and warm.

All prepayment meters are able to be altered remotely via electronic messages to the meter. How do you think the meter knows how much you've put on it and how much credit you have left and how that feeds to your energy supplier?

It's also how we can set up debt repayment via the meter.

I know because I work for an energy provider.

I can't speak for your specific situation of course and I do know it's different if your supplier goes bust and another takes you over as that's a 'continuation of service' situation. But for a standard change of supplier they have to change it to credit. Its just how it is. Lots people have prepayment meters put in for debt management. But if you've got no debt, just move supplier and bobs your uncle, credit meter.

Fair enough. I never use mine - if you want it OP just let me know. I prefer squeegee and a cloth!

I was about to suggest this too, it does work

The only way to remotely change dummy meter is via key or physically get to it. That's how prices get programmed.
You can't change dummy top up to debit according to edf without physically changing it

It's rubbish Op, you're not wrong. no good for the temperature, but mould proof paint works- unfortunately it's also expensive, about £50 a tin for the good stuff. Maybe someone's selling the remainder of a pot on ebay or something. Or the landlord could stump up for it if they're reasonable. It doesnt stop the condensation but it seems to stop mould growing.

Agreed - love mine (both for sucking up condensation and cleaning the windows!). Much less mess than a squeegee.

This isa good tip - and maybe you could pull the stuffing out of a plushy and refill with dehumifying litter!

Other options for condensation is cat litter, this will absorb moisture from the air, you can put in on plates and near the windows.

We got some condensation bags from amazon that are reusable, pop them in the the microwave to dry them out then reuse which seems to help too (and less risk of having cat litter spilt on the floor)

A house needs to have 40%-60% relative humidity to be healthy. Less than that you have dry skin and respiratory issues, over that you have mould and respiratory issues.
Even if your dehumidifier gets you below the healthy 40%minimum you will still get condensation if your house is cold enough.
Gas is cheaper than electricity.
So avoiding your gas heating and swapping to managing your condensation by using an electric dehumidifier is a false economy, you'd be better off airing the house as much as you can on a dry day, keeping the house as warm as you can (when the windows are shut) and mopping up the wet on the windows.
Reduce how much moisture you have in the house by limiting shower times, make flasks you don't boil the kettle as often, lid on panda when you cook etc.
It's crap we even have to have these conversations. The uk has been building badly designed houses for too long and now we can't afford the energy to heat them it's biting us on the arse. 😔

As a short-term solution while you're waiting to hear back from support schemes (do you have social tariff broadband?) and check through anything for which you're eligible, are there warm hubs open/ing by you?

I don't think there's a definitive list, you need to check on your local council/authority's website and other networks like this. I know that a fair number have opened.

www.warmwelcome.uk/

In a similar situation.
I looked online last night at switching providers and switching from pre pay too dd but was told there was nothing on offer right now and I should stick with prepay. Apparently costs are the same everywhere.
I am using around £5 gas and £5 electric a day, 3 bed house but just with me and dd2 here at the moment. I am out most of the day so heating is only on for a hour or so in the evening.

For anyone wondering where their gas might be going.
My gas boiler was lighting up regularly to keep a temp. I reset it so now it heats up only when called upon. Plus no hot eater for mere hand washing so basically it's just 2x showers, 1x dish washing if there is any, cooking, heating.
Workout about £3-£3.50 a day average with heating on morning and evening, 1.5 - 2 hours all together.
My boiler is far and I am pretty sure the amount of gas it wasted on getting hot water to someone waiting to wash their hands (just to give up and wash them in cold anyway) was worth few hours of heating a month🙄

British gas has a support fund, you don't have to be a bg customer for some parts of it. For the parts where they say you're not eligible they say its mostly because your own supplier has a support fund themselves.

www.britishgas.co.uk/british-gas-energy-support-fund.html

Contact your local mp too, my love. Good luck and keep posting and let us try help you

The most important advice you've been given on here OP is to check with CAB - either on their website or actually ring up/go in - to see if you can get any help. I'd make that a priority.