Over 6m parents worried they won’t be able to afford energy bills

13th February 2024 Arrears and Recoveries | #energy bills

Over six million children in Britain have parents who are worried they won’t be able to afford their next energy bill. And almost half of parents said they would cut back on their food shopping to pay for other household bills according to research by Citizens Advice. Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland are also…

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Energy crisis causing misery for poor pensioners

12th February 2024 Arrears and Recoveries | #energy bills

Age UK is warning that older people living in a household with an income less than £20,000 per year and not in receipt of means tested benefits, have faced particularly steep challenges with managing through recent times. New research for the Charity revealed that almost a third (29%) of over 60s in this group report…

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Vulnerable people encouraged to seek help with energy bills

Households struggling with the cost of energy bills this winter are being encouraged to speak to their council about the financial help available from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund. The Government has invested over £2 billion into the Fund since it launched, with new statistics now showing more than £360 million…

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Charity forced to double energy bill financial support

Fuel Bank Foundation says it has been ‘forced to take action’ by doubling the support it provides to vulnerable consumers due to the government not providing any additional energy bill help this winter. The chroty which provides emergency fuel vouchers for struggling households with prepayment meters (PPMs), has increased the amount of financial support it…

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32% of couples argue over the heating bill

22nd December 2023 Consumer Collections | #energy bills

As the UK officially enters winter on households are once again faced with the dilemma of when to switch on the heating. But with the high cost of energy, many households are engaging in a ‘thermo-spat’, with one in three (32%) couples having already bickered over who controls the heat, according to a poll from…

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Energy firms will now start to help struggling customers as new rules begin

15th December 2023 Consumer Collections | #energy bills

New rules which mean that energy suppliers will now have to help struggling customers with their energy bills have now come into effect. Energy regulator says the new rules will make it easier for domestic customers to contact their supplier, help provide support for domestic customers who are struggling with their energy billsand compel suppliers…

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Half of adults say energy bills are biggest financial worry

26th October 2023 Consumer Collections | #energy bills

Almost half (46%) of all adults have identified energy bills as their biggest financial concern heading into this winter according to research by Finder.com. Single-person households were the most apprehensive, with more than half (53%) of those living alone saying that energy bills are one of their biggest financial concerns heading into winter. This was…

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Energy bills forecast to rise in January

4th October 2023 Consumer Collections | #energy bills

Consultancy firm Cornwall Insight predicts that annual energy bills for a typical household are expected to rise by £73 to £1,996 in January. Under Ofgem’s energy price cap, the typical annual bill will be £1,923 between October and December, with this down from the £2,074 seen in the July through September quarter. Dr Craig Lowrey,…

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Over seven million families face higher energy bills this winter

29th August 2023 Consumer Collections | #energy bills

The Ofgem energy price cap will fall to £1,923 from October for a typical household, but over one-in-three households across England – 7.2 million in total – will face higher bills this winter than last, highlighting the urgency of further government support for hard-pressed families according to the Resolution Foundation. The Foundation notes that the…

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7.8 million people borrow to pay energy bills

Latest research by Citizens Advice has found that 7.8 million people borrowed to pay their energy bills in first six months of 2023. A total of 46,431 people with energy debts contacted the charity for advice in the first six months of 2023, a 17% increase on the same period last year. Citizens Advice says…

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One-in-three households will pay higher energy bills this winter

24th August 2023 Consumer Collections | #energy bills

Over one-in-three (35 per cent) English households, equivalent to 7.2 million households, will see higher energy bills this winter than they did last winter, including almost half (47 per cent) of those in the poorest tenth of households, according to new Resolution Foundation research. Ofgem is expected to announce a reduction in the energy price…

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13 million homes didn’t turn on heating when cold last winter

Almost half of households (46%) equating to 13 million consumers did not switch on their heating during cold snaps last winter in an attempt to save on their energy bills as the cost of gas and electricity soared new research by Which? has found. Almost nine in ten households (85%) tried to cut back on…

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Four in ten households not confident on energy bill affordability

Almost four in ten (39%) households with children at home are not confident that they will be able to afford their energy bills over the next six months, according to Compare the Market’s latest Household Financial Confidence Tracker. This compares with just below one fifth (18%) of those households without children at home. Concern over…

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