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

Call your housing association , sometimes they have funds to help or can make sure heating all working ok as £19 in 4 days is a lot

HAs are going to have to be a bit better about mould in future.

How is your property ventilated? Is there a working extractor fan in the bathroom? Is there an extractor fan above your cooker? If not ask the HA to install them, although I'm not sure if they'll do a cooker hood. Keep an eye on any freecycle or local facebook pages - quite a lot is given away where I live, I've not seen a window vac or dehumidifier on there but if you got other freebies maybe you could buy one.

A window vac removes water easily, I use mine a lot. If you dry stuff out in the microwave you are just putting the water back into the air. We also run a dehumidifer, they do warm the air a bit and their energy use is low. We've tried the £30 ones - useless and I'd give that away if I could find the lead - while the pots dont remove enough to be useful and are expensive.

@Fufumcgoo I can't find any company to take me on as have 1st generation smart meter pre payment and none will let me switch

@anyolddinosaur its also going to be hard for them with lots not being able to afford to put hearing on at all
On here loads saying not putting any hearing on and just wearing extra layers etc but a home also needs some heat to help with damp and mould etc
The goverment need to understand that as they don't seem to get that people will have more damp and mould due to not being able to heat their homes

Just to add I have prepayment and it doesn't seem as expensive as it used to be compared to dd
I like it as no bills coming in
They put the £66 all on electric but apparently you can ring once on and ask them to spread but I just put a but less on electric and more in gas
Spend about £135 month in electric and was £30 gas before heating , so expecting to be maybe £65-70! On gas
I also live in Ha but onky built late 2000 so well insulated so once heating on it keeps warm for a while and only needed it on for first time couple days ago
Im planning on buying a dehumidifier as well as washing takes ages to dry when no heating on and don't want damp: mould

Under the Energy Price Guarantee rates I think standard credit would end up costing significantly more than PPM or direct debit - while under the price cap PPM was more expensive, I think they've subsidised PPMs more under the subsidy scheme.

OP - as you're on a PPM, have you claimed your support scheme vouchers? They expire and aren't automatically applied so make sure you're using them.

£135 on leccy is like 14kwh a day😱

You need to try again, many companies are not selling fixed tariffs but they are obliged to take you on, onto the standard tariff as its part of their license conditions. They cannot refuse to supply you.

Kingfisher mouldclear, follow the instructions, then paint over with Zinsser BIN paint. It's all magic.

A dehumidifier would help you a lot.

New meters are by default all smart. This means the energy supplier can change the meter remotely from credit to prepayment and vice versa. So she can change her meter to credit as long as it a smart meter. She just needs to ensure before she moves, whenever that is, it is changed to prepayment.

@BosaNova its about 11 if a 30 day month
We wfh a few days as well though

@BosaNova seems i use around average maybe just above

Stil 😱
We use under 5.

A will point out we are slightly below the average I am aware of that

The suppliers aren't making loads of money, only the producers are.

Lots of energy companies do both e.g. Shell. So their producer arm is raking it in while their supply arm is likely just doing OK or being subsidised.

There have been a few documentaries on this in the past year. One guy who use to run a supplier company said about 25% of people didn't pay their bills at all.

@BosaNova well not much we can do . We have led bulbs i use a dishwasher maybe every other day , washing machine a fair bit, turn lights out i rooms , bought an air fryer to try and use oven less , although we tend to cook on gas, electric shower is what costs us I think as its old.
I use tumble dryer occasionally as it takes ages for the clothes to dry
But seems similar to what others are paying
Also couple of us wfh couple days a week

Direct debit is not always cheaper.
Ive just moved - last house was on prepayment this on monthly DD, checked with them with my usage whilst living there and just done it again and prepayment has been cheaper in both properties based on my usage so don’t jump into getting prepayment meters removed without checking if this is suitable for you!

Electri showers are right bastards.

Have you tried this fairly cheap way of reducing heat loss from the windows, it very effective and easily to fit. Only a hairdryer required.

www.amazon.co.uk/Insulating-Windows-Transparent-Glazing-4-5m2/dp/B002TPQ5D0/ref=asc_df_B002TPQ5D0/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=272054178218&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7478377603298375659&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007901&hvtargid=pla-739831406352&psc=1

They are actually really good for what she is going to use it for. Sucks up the condensation and then you tip it down the sink. Actually collects loads and much cheaper than a dehumidifier because the priority has to be saving money to heat the house.

OP I am so sorry and angry you are in this situation. I hope you have found some help on this thread.

Have you looked into the Household Sipport Fund? Also, if you google your local council's name alongside cost of living help, you will find out if there's anything locally to assist you.

If your mum is in a position to help you, I think you should tell her about your situation. I'm sure she would want to help.

Hi OP

1 You should have had your £66 for one month, at least and more coming .
Has that arrived?

2 Black mould on window frames is normal. Use some diluted bleach on an old toothbrush and clean it off. Make sure you wipe the condensation off the windows in the morning. Get insulating tape to fill any gaps in the frames and keep the rooms warm.

3 It's not been frosty yet, and as you are in a flat, you should be able to manage with very little heating. Do you work or are you at home all day? Where is your DD during the day?

If you are at work and she is at nursery or school, you will only need heating on at the end of the day.

4 Your bill sounds high- £5 a day roughly so £35 a week. We are paying roughly £50 a week to heat a 4-bed detached house- 2 adults, washing machine on almost daily, hot water on constant.

How much heating - electric and gas are you using?

Have you looked at changing providers for better deals?

@saleorbouy the window film is very effective. We have single glazing in some parts of the house and we don't get any condensation on the ones with the plastic film fitted.

OP - I would ring the Housing Association about the damp and mould.

I'm in a council flat and the council sent someone to remove the black mould off the property and then they put in extractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen. I've also been opening the bathroom window more often which seems to have made a difference.