Our Money Matters Team offers a free service to help you make the most of your money. The service is available to all tenants and you do not have to be in debt to use it.
We can arrange a confidential, face-to-face chat within 48 hours.
To contact our Money Matters Team, you can:
Calls will cost the same as a call to a landline and texts will be charged at your network’s standard rate. Both will be included as part of any inclusive minutes or texts on your mobile phone package.
Our Money Matters Team can help you reduce your energy costs and find the best deal for your energy bills. This includes helping with:
Give your energy supplier regular meter readings so you only pay for what you use. If you do not know where your meter is or how to read it, contact your energy supplier or contact your Neighbourhood Co-ordinator.
A smart meter and in-home display can help you see how much energy you use. You can request a free smart meter from your energy supplier. It will automatically send them meter readings so they will not use estimated readings.
Your in-home display will show how much energy you have used in energy units and money over the day, week and month.
For more information about smart meters, contact your energy supplier or go to www.smartenergygb.org
There are many reasons why your bill may not be correct. These include using:
- incorrect names and addresses
- different supplier details
- meter details from another home
- metric units instead of imperial units
- imperial units instead of metric units
- estimated readings rather than actual readings
- day and night meter readings with the wrong tariff
When you get your bill, you have 28 days to pay or tell your supplier you may not be able to pay. Your energy supplier will not immediately disconnect you. This is usually the last thing they will do.
It can take up to 6 months to disconnect you, depending on your energy supplier and personal circumstances.
If your energy supplier tells you they are going to disconnect you, contact them for help. If you would like help with this, contact your local office to book an appointment with a Money Matters Co-ordinator or Fuel Debt Champion.
If you are struggling to pay your energy bills or are in debt with your energy supplier, contact them to see what help they can give you. Many energy suppliers offer grants to help you get out of fuel debt. You can apply for yourself or for someone else.
Make sure you have up-to-date meter readings and know:
- your full name and address as they are in their records
- meter serial numbers, these are on your bills and meters
- MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number), this is on your bills and meters
- how you pay your bills
- details of any benefits you get
- details about anyone in your home who is elderly, disabled or under 5 years old
- other things about your financial hardship, like more than one debt
You may need supporting information, like a letter from a GP, social worker or debt charity.
If you would like help to apply, contact your local office to book an appointment with a Money Matters Co-ordinator or Fuel Debt Champion.
If you are in debt on your prepayment meter, you can switch suppliers if the debt is £500 or less.
If you are in debt on a credit meter where you pay bills, your energy supplier can stop you switching. But they must offer you the best available tariff. If your debt is £500 or less, you can ask for a prepayment meter, but these tariffs are usually more expensive so you will pay more for each unit of energy.
The team can refer you to Green Doctors. This is a free service that provides:
You can also get help and support from Citizens Advice about your energy supply and bills.
