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

Mine, Swalec, wanted £1,200 to change mine from pre-payment when I moved here, I was on quarterly with them for years, but this rental was already on pre-payment! Pretty cheeky when they can manage to switch others TO pre-payment remotely lol
With the huge price difference on pre-payment, I now wish I'd just paid it then would've been cheaper in the long run

Thanks everyone for such good advice it hasn’t gone unabsorbed!

HA are doing a damp inspection next week and sending a joiner to come and check windows, and a bricklayer is coming to check external walls so can’t really fault them there

The £66 electric rebate makes absolutely 0 difference when gas is the thing that’s gone up. I’m still paying the same. And despite being in a flat there is no insulation and I have to keep windows open for ventilation to avoid the mould so I do actually need heating on. In a way I’m happy I’m on prepayment because with the current climate if I was on DD I’d be tempted to just not pay it and then I’d end up with debts which I do not want

I wonder what the breaking point is now, many of us are sitting in the house freezing, constant worries about money, eating shit cheap food. I am well aware that there are so many worse off people it just seems to be such a scary way of life compared to say last year, and is there gonna be a way out of it

Window vacs are quite expensive. I just use an old flannel and a microfiber cloths and wipe the windows down each morning. Wring then out in the sink to get rid of the water, as air drying just puts the water back in the house. A dehumidifier might be better than a windows vac, but again they cost money.

Get the £66 transferred with your provider.
This is from EDF (for the paper ones on old meters) and they should be able to move it around of you have smart meter

@BosaNova oh my god can you do that?! I’m with Scottish power but I’ll certainly try calling tomorrow. Mind you trying to get through to an actual human there is like pissing in the wind

Looking at CAB it seems that few more at least offer to put the rebate on gas if customers wants it.

In case anyone needs the funs on gas rather than leccy

I am planning to spend mine on gas. I don't expect pushback in post office😂

@VacancyAtNumber10AGAIN
Sorry to read about your situation but at least the HA are being proactive so 10/10 there.
As you're getting 66pm rebate for electricity then that's money you don't have to spend and that saving will surely go towards your gas bill.
You sound very clued up and sensible regarding not wanting to pay via DD. Once in debt it's a slippery slope. Wishing you all the best for a happier future. 💐

I am sorry OP that you are living like this. I don’t have anything more to add in terms of advice, so posters have been great here

I just want to highlight to any Tory voters - this is what you voted for….hope you are satisfied with the devastation your party is causing.

White vinegar and water will get rid of the black mould. Keep opening the windows to ventilate and use hot water bottles and extra clothes to keep you all warm. Its horrible that we have to live like this, but its just too expensive right now

I think non voters (of course i mean the ones allowed to vite in ge) should get equally pulled up tbh

If you're in financial hardship and have a credit meter you can get a voucher, I think it's about £50. I can't remember how you get it but I think you have to call your energy supplier and ask for it. Sorry I can't be more specific.

Check if your Housing association has any schemes to help residents out. I know the one I work can provide fuel vouchers to help residents out.

It might have already been mentioned but can you try the British Gas energy trust? You don’t need to be a BG customer

I live in canada and it is so awful seeing these threads. To think there are people in developed countries or just anywhere in general who will be cold for christmas breaks my heart. Best wishes to you OP.

A bowl of salt by each window will help absorb moisture.

Get some electric blankets and if you can afford it a heated clothes dryer, ours was about £50 I think, electric blankets don’t cost much to run and you can go to bed early and watch tv in bed, we do this sometimes because our house is old and even with heating on at 20C the living room is freezing as we leave the heating on low while we’re out at work (we tried setting the heating on a timer, but we were getting a lot of condensation damp).

Im in a similar situation. I live on my own in 2 bedroom flat , work full time and never had any problems paying bills by myself. I refuse to pay over £300 a month for this. this is my plan and what Ive been doing : up to today I had no heating anywhere in the house at all since April, I have it on at night since start of November (I have thermostat of course) as house is badly insulated and bedroom is freezing (10 degrees with no heating on atm and I need it to be at least 15) . I have electric mattress topper - a must. My elderly cat has igloo bed and heated pad and shes absolutely fine. I had electric blanket too but it broke down . I got myself usb heated outfit of Aliexpress which I have been wearing and I will wear with hat (its not that cold yet)and fingerless gloves . I use spare duvet when watching telly in leaving room (but I mostly just do that now in a bedroom)My downstairs is also cold and take ages to heat up so my plan is to put the heating on (when temp is near 0 outside) for like an hr in the evening when Im here. 15 degrees is comfortable. But mostly I try not to waste heating on and just spend time in the bedroom. Spare bedroom is closed off and air vent is open.
Im alright atm :)
Hope that helps

Tory voters are to blame?

Really? 😅

If another party were currently in power what would they be doing to combat wholesale energy prices?

oh my washing also doesnt get dry so I put it outside when it isnt raining I also started using tumble dryer (which previously I only used for bedding and towels once a month) as my clothes were smelly :(the first couple of times this autumn/winter before starting using dryer
I dont (yet?) have mould anywhere

@ArtisticYouth i think they were going to target the profits of energy companies to offset the cost to the customer.

I wouldn't personally go for the window vac. It's ££ and really only gets rid of the condensation once it's already formed, it doesn't reduce the condensation iygwim. I picked up a squeege today for £1.50, I've had a go in the bathroom after a bath and can pretty much work out scraping the water off the window on to the outside ledge, then quick wipe down with a bit of toilet roll to dry.

I would be looking what I can do to reduce the amount of condensation, and adding a bit of heat as much as possible. Eg we only wash when the washing can go on the line. I've trialled using a small oil filled radiator in the dc's room in the morning vs the heating and while yes the heating heats the whole house, using the radiator for that room costs less. We do have a dehumidifier, have had one for a few years as out house is prone to damp spots and they really help a lot and the room feels warmer.

@VacancyAtNumber10AGAIN
OP, regarding the clothes which are freezing cold in the wardrobe, i had the same problem, apparently it's caused by still, damp air. If you have an electric fan, try switching it on for a few minutes in the morning and the evening, just to circulate the air, and the use the condensation tubs which PP's have mentioned.

We'd have a whole lot of onshore wind, for one (the cheapest form of electricity, incredibly popular) because we wouldn't be in hock to unrepresentative Tory party members who appear to be the only people in the country who dislike it.

Less reliance on gas imports would be nice, wouldn't it?

Have you checked entitledto.co.uk to see if you’re entitled to any benefits. Warm home discount. If you’re in Scotland claim Scottish Child Payment