The Fletcher family is in massive debt to their water and energy suppliers to the tune of around £2,000. With both parents unemployed and on benefits and 6 children to support - 4 under the age of 8 including a 1 year old - they have fallen behind with their payments and no means to pay off the debts and meet rising energy costs.
39-year-old mother, Nichola Fletcher describes how the family plunged into fuel poverty.
“My husband is out of work and I had a job working at a service centre but even then we were struggling. We worked out that I was only 15pence per hour better off employed, so I left my job in the hope that one of us could find better paid work to meet the bills”
Despite searches and interviews, that better paid job never came off. The Fletchers managed to keep on top of their rent and council tax but rising fuel and water costs hit them – and the debts to their water company and energy suppliers mounted.
A knock on the Fletcher’s door from Irwell Valley Housing during one of the Housing Association’s regular ‘Switch On’ mobile surgeries is bringing the family’s predicament to an end.
The service is unique in the social housing sector, providing targeted individual energy efficiency advice, independent information and advice on finding a cheaper supplier, the most appropriate tariff and best payment methods and free internet access in the mobile office for residents who aren’t connected to the web.
Emma Oldham, Irwell Valley’s Financial Inclusion Officer manages the mobile ‘Switch On’ events.
“We’re taking a lead on fuel poverty,” says Emma. “Our mobile surgeries are on the road, reaching people who have miserable choices to make because they can’t meet essential household living costs. We called at the Fletchers, during a ‘Switch On ‘ event in Salford and discovered that they, like so many residents we meet, need information and advice to help them out of a crippling financial situation.”
Irwell Valley assessed the family’s circumstances and successfully applied for £1175.35 from the United Utilities Trust Fund towards their water bill.
Their energy supplier – British Gas – was also demanding over £300.00 each month to cover current charges and debts amounting to almost £1,000.
Through Emma’s team, the family received £120.00 from the British Gas Warm Home Discount Scheme and they are continuing to work with the Fletchers to alleviate the gas and electricity debts.
Emma added:
“People in fuel poverty can be offered various options to meet their debts including pre-payment meters but we frequently find that families like the Fletchers fear the higher tariffs and finding themselves in a situation where they don’t have sufficient funds to pay for gas or electricity especially where there are young children in the home. Another option offered is the Fuel Direct payments where fuel payments are taken direct from benefits, but this method doesn’t necessarily reduce the arrears.
Our ‘Switch On’ events have literally given a lifeline to residents who are uninformed about the options that are available to them to lift them out of fuel poverty.”