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

Try the British Gas energy trust….you don’t have to be using them to qualify.

The £66 is taken off the total energy bill, not just one of the fuels.

Contact your energy supplier they maybe able to help I contacted mine explained everything and they paid 190 towards my bill and even gave me 100 gift voucher to help with food shop they where amazing

Not on top ups where it's separate

This? Worth googling?
'How do I apply for a fuel bank voucher?
You can be with any energy supplier to get a Fuel Bank voucher. You just need to have a prepayment meter and meet the criteria set by the Fuel Bank partner. You'll need to take some form of ID to the PayPoint or a Payzone Post Office to redeem your voucher.'

This isn’t true. I have a pre payment meter with BG and they have credited my electricity smart meter on the 2nd of the month (well, they have the last 2 months) Apparently they credit electric and not gas because not everyone has gas.

My DD switched from prepayment to meters without any charge, though this was some time ago. Not meaning to be rude, but do you have a poor credit record? This could explain why they want a payment upfront.

Dehumidifiers start at around £50 in Argos but I'm sure that you could find one secondhand for less.. It would probably help if you had one in the room where you dry the washing when you can't dry outside - perhaps the bathroom as it is smaller. Also try to get rid of condensation in the bathroom after baths and showers simply by wiping it down and keeping the door shut - it is amazing what difference something like this makes. It must be such a pain not to have enough money to sort this out.

As someone else said, cat litter in old tights on window ledges to absorb condensation. But that doesn’t keep you warm. Sorry. Octopus seem to be a good energy firm. Could you persuade them to switch you without the £300 fee? Just a suggestion

Spray the mold with white vinegar and leave for at least an hour before wiping clean. This kills the mold spores. Cif Perfect Finish is then very good at removing any stains. Aways wipe the condensation and deal with mold at the first sign as it will spread in humid conditions. If you can get a dehumidifier that will help keep the humidity to a level where the mold can't spread and they are cheap to run. You can aim the air flow at your washing and it will dry it as well as keeping moisture from the air. You don't need a large one and you will be amazed at how much water they remove from the air. Your living conditions will then be much more healthy over the winter. Keep the humidity below 55% to stop mold, 45-55% is ideal. Can you pop the heating on first thing for half an hour to take the chill off or in the evening? Keep warm, wear layers and move around a lot. Have warm foods, soup, hot drinks etc.

Bottom line go and talk to your MP....tell him what conditions you are living in....if he is Tory....ask him how this is happening twelve years after the Tories were voted in...and ask what he will do to help you

Hi @VacancyAtNumber10AGAIN

Sorry a bit late but just to say. I'm with Scottish Power on prepayment meters. We get the vouchers emailed to us each Month. When we went to put it on at the shop the guy asked which we wanted it putting on Gas or Elec so that should be an option for you too.

Good luck. Hope you get it sorted.

Call your energy supplier & ask if they have a hardship fund &/or if you can have an emergency credit top up &/or grant.. I got into £900 of debt with my supplier as a result of loss of income due to lockdowns & I qualified for a full debt write off from my supplier via their hardship fund which was arranged via citizens advice after I called my supplier(my outgoings were higher than my income). Ofgem regulations state the supplier must tell you about hardship funds, grants etc. Don’t waste money on other options.

Don't forget Olio, freeegle, next-door and fb market place all allow you to request free items. Someone might have a window vac or dehumidifier they are not using. Long shot I know, but worth asking.

Various energy suppliers have credited the 66£ in different ways, just depends who you are with.

If you choose the catlitter option, silica is best apparently, best value I've seen is wilko.
Also I've been cutting up old, unused, disposable nappies that lo has grown too big for and they seem to soak up condensation quite well, but put them in a tupperware as the crystals get everywhere once wet.

Feel your pain

It's a constant worry. My £66 was put on the gas prepayment meter on 11 Nov and ran out on 24 Nov, prior to this we were managing for longer. All I have the gas on for is central heating in children's bedrooms and dry laundry on airers in front of them so hardly ever use the tumble dryer beyond a 5 minute blast.

I got a dehumidifier from B&M for £30. The difference it's made in terms of cold damp walls etc is amazing. I think it will earn it's keep but the outlay is quite high I guess.

I agree with this poster. Seems reasonable to me, and, unless the figures are wrong, you should be able to have your heating on. It’s annoying the rebate is on the gas, but I guess that means you won’t need to too that up for a while?

• rebate is on the electric.

If you can get some money together for a heated clothes airer (look for bargains in the Black Friday sales), it would not only dry your clothes, but warm up the room too for less money than running the heating. Keep doors closed in that room to trap the heat in. You can then alternate rooms you use it in to take that damp feeling out. Also, use draft excluders and the cheap dehumidifier boxes.

Can you get a small dehumidifier?

I have acquired a dehumidifier! It’s only a small one think a previous poster has the same one, a blaupunkt it’s called. Now I have another dilemma. Where the hell do I put it? 🤦‍♀️

I’ve added a diagram of my flat layout so any advice is welcome.
All rooms have windows and I have a PPI unit too. Kitchen is where I dry laundry

I would put it in the kitchen if the dehumidifier is smaller than a shoebox, or living room near open kitchen door if larger. Then rotate through bedrooms a couple of times to get air dry.

Oh hun I feel your pain. We are in same situation. Have been for 3 years now. No heat in this cold house. Other than wearing thermal leggings under my jeans and extra layers of clothing this is all we can do. We’ve been eating microwave ready meals and tinned soup because it’s too cold in our kitchen to stay down there for too long. If you have black mould you need to urge your landlord to do something about that. It’s a dire risk to your health. Have you been getting your £66 a month grant from the government? Everyone gets it even working people. It’s meant we can have a small heater on in the bedroom for a couple of hours at night instead of freezing. Partner is 54 I’m 57 with health issues but we just have to make the best of it now. Hugs

Everyone gets the £66 a month. We got an email from bulb with a barcode on which we took to the shop and used it to credit the meter