What should I do?

Oldhippie

This has been going on for quite a long time now, but I'll try and keep it short.  I live in a 2 bed beautiful housing association bungalow in a lovely village with mostly lovely people. My immediate neighbour is a nightmare, but that's another story.  I have asked the housing association if they can move me to somewhere smaller as I cannot afford to keep paying people to keep my garden tidy. I can't do it myself any longer due to old age and mobility issues. The housing association will pay removal costs if I move to a smaller property that belongs to them. The problem is, the only properties that have become available are flats, and I'd prefer a bungalow as I'd like a garden, however small.  Maybe I'm asking too much? I'm getting threatening letters from my energy supplier that my monthly payments are to be increased from £75 a month t £144 a month, which I cannot afford.  I'm on a state pension and pension credit and PIP. Recently I had to contact Sky as my Sky tv wasn't working. They said the old Sky box I had wasn't performing properly due to age, so I agreed to have a new Sky box which cost me £49 up front.  I kept asking if there were any further payments as I only had the free channels, and this is what I wanted to keep. I was assured, verbally, that I would continue with the same service. Out of the blue they took £27.10 out of my account which left me overdrawn. Having spoken to them, they said the equipment (Sky Q) cost £15.50 per month, which is the first I heard of it. Now they have sent an email telling me that if I don't pay the amount, another £10 would be added to the bill. So, I've had to pay it under duress, but having spoken to them on the phone, they don't seem to understand what I'm talking about. This is after holding on the phone for over half an hour. I'm so fed up at the moment, I just want to hand my keys back to the housing association and go and live in a hedgerow where no one can keep demanding money that I don't have.  I had cancer surgery just over a year ago, and I'm trying to get over this.  I'm a 73 year old lady and should know what to do in this situation, but I don't  Someone please tell me where to start. Thank you in anticipation.

Ross_Alumni

@Oldhippie

Thank you for making this post, and sorry to hear about what you are going through.

I don't think you're asking too much at all, it's a shame that a bungalow hasn't become available. I wonder if there is likely to be one soon and whether it might be worth holding fire for a bit on the move? I can appreciate though that that may not be an option for you, and that it is a hard subject to navigate.

In terms of your energy bills, many people are feeling the squeeze with those at the moment. Have you considered contacting Scope's Disability Energy Support service? The team would be able to talk you through your bills and any ways in which you could save money and manage better with them. you can find their details over on this page.

In regards to your Sky, it must be quite frustrating that they didn't tell you about that monthly charge. As a none-Sky customer, I always thought that their services for TV always have a monthly fee, so if so it's really strange that they didn't tell you about it.

Starlingbird

Hi  
I'm with Virgin (not Sky) but, to the best if my knowledge, if something is agreed over the phone I will always get confirmation via letter. I'm wondering if you can get out of the contract, etc, if this is covered by the distance selling act? Just an idea...might be a rubbish one lol...my brain is frazzled at the mo! 

Oldhippie

Thank you for your comments.

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @Oldhippie. It is the very least you deserve. Please don't hesitate to let us know if we can do anything else to support you