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UTILITIES WHY SO COMPLICATED

Hello everybody I thought just a line or two about gas and electric bills this time of year. Please can I ask any body why is it so complicated. Had a lad on the doorstep turn up. Quoting these smart meters and what they are and what they can do. I wont say the company a brand new way to pay and deal with your gas and electric he quipped. So I invited him in and sat down. I have to hand gas and electric bill. I know I am an intelligent gentleman and ran business and done all sorts of things. Yet I can not understand my bill every time. I look at it and ask what exactly paying for. Bank statement says one thing utility company say another on the bill. So I have agreed to switch again and have a smart meter installed. Getting cold now and I am reassured easy to understand. Lets hope so. Last night no appetite ruined by my worry of the cost I spent just trying to keep warm. It is a price to pay all I want is to know how much and what it will be each month. Only thing pay for something you do not know the cost for yet and pay an estimate. Given them up todate readings on line. Sorry if this a rant just an ordinary guy trying to live a life.
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I know that it would be cheaper to go onto monthly billing but the last time we did this we ended up with a £300 quarterly bill which we were not expecting, and prefer to pay the extra so that we can manage it better.
We did get a nice gadget at one point which told us how much we were spending on electricity, threw it away after a few days as it was making me paranoid about how much we were spending. One useful thing that came out of it though was we now only put in as much water in the kettle that we need, those things are electricity junkies, along with the iron.
I do remember one year we applied for help with the electricity and was sent a letter which allowed us to get some free electricity, but the problem was it arrived in February/early March after the worse of the cold weather that year, so no real help when it was actually needed.
As an individual I stood alone.
As a member of a group I did things.
As part of a community I helped to create change!
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I remember a few years back there was a similar scheme to your co-op idea, but cannot remember if it was just Southwark or a London wide scheme. Residents would commit to the schem and the council/s would buy the fuel in bulk and resell to those residents at reduced prices to the main suppliers. I have not heard much about it since though.
The one thing that truly bugs me is the rip off rates for those on meters. As I said it is an option I choose as it gives me more control on what is spent, but for many in poverty it is not an option. So in the end they are paying a premium price for their fuel.
As an individual I stood alone.
As a member of a group I did things.
As part of a community I helped to create change!
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
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Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
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SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
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Yes it would be nice if it was automatically given to those who need it.
There are 43 registered suppliers for electricity, while this amount may not be available to you locally for schemes like this to be automatically available the government would have to share personal data of individuals to all these companies, providing they all provide some concessionary payment. This information would then have to be sifted through by these companies to see if you are a customer - whilst also giving them a potential list of new customers. This would also mean giving private companies personal information which can easily identify you including name, address and what relevent benefits you are on.
That is for one concessionary payment, and would have to be issued annually.
Want to consider others? Water, travel, phone companies and various other businesses and organisations that provide concessions which 'should' be automatic?
Personally I would rather not have this information going here there and eventually everywhere.
As an individual I stood alone.
As a member of a group I did things.
As part of a community I helped to create change!
You can apply to your supplier if you are on a low income. Most suppliers open their scheme for applicants in the autumn and the places are limited and filled on a first come first served basis. many of these are closed within weeks, well before the cold weather arrives
CR
Going back to your original question about why is Utility bills so complicated I compare it to toothpaste! Yep toothpaste. Just look at the numbers of products and brand names in that. Do we really need them all? Whitening, minty gel, sensitive teeth, total protection, gum protection and breath freshening...and so on. It is all a smoke and mirrors act to get you to pay more in my opinion.
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got to say when the deal ran out i did not sign up for another and my bills are a lot cheaper again. weird.
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lies are the new truth.
don't worry about ranting, you actually came across as calm and i really don't mind people complaining because they make mass profits and don't really need to do half the stuff they do on top of that to make more money.
thanks
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The last I heard was that SSE and Eon would like to merge. If this goes ahead will it be less choice and less completion in the energy market?
And What is the competitiveness anyway? A new cheap deal comes along by a specific company. Maybe you join it with a lot of others. The deal is withdrawn as there is to many on it or it ended at a specific date. The next minute either the main variable tariffs are going up or new higher rate than before fixed deals come out or they start laying off staff saying wholesale distribution prices have increased! So that’s completion for you.
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SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
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well i'm off to think about better things than bills for now.
So I have to change companies. Getting a smart meter fitted with the new company.
Knew this was coming the final bill from the old company. Just a warning to all out there who are thinking of changing. Because I have the bill in front of me. Amount £180.76 in debt. I went wow how did that happen.
According to my bank statement I pay £31 a month for both fuels. Hang on I am going through this do not understand any of it all of it.
I realise have to pay £30 per fuel even so there are charges for everything and numbers I simply do not understand or how and why it is that.
Prices for unit price and standing charge what is that. I can not believe any of this. Warning then what is the point of having a bill if you are saying I pay this monthly but in reality paying this.
Rip off some one must do some thing. I am telling you all now what the hell is going on. I am sorry if I sound angry. I am not debt not because of me because of them. I will never ever understand any of this.
I will contact my MP no point contacting previous company. Last time the woman I spoke to could not tell me anything. Did not understand the bill and what I was talking about. There must be laws to make bills clearer.
Only then will every one be happy. I have no idea of clarity. I am a disabled guy but my mental state is so over fraut with anxiety because I can not see where and how I am in debt.
Please I hope and pray that others are like me out here and recognise how much they actually are paying. I hope and pray smart meter works out.
So that is money I will have to find and anyway hardly spend anything treat wise on me. Can not afford to. Struggling with this mentally. Snowing now had heating off from lunch time yesterday. Small bungalow but ended up staying warm till about 4.30pm then back on couple hours. Why today have to keep it on barely above freezing today.
Why in this country a constant battle with living just to heat a home. Do we live in Rip Off Britain?
Take care keep warm best wishes.
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