fanatic

fanatic

RESPECT IS EARNED, BEATINGS ARE FREE ;-)
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My friend an ex builder came round this evening in a bit of a panic after finding out how much heating oil is now.

He no longer works as he has vertebrate problem and has had 3 strokes and is only in his 50's.

He isn't eligible for winter fuel payment as not retired, but got cold weather payments of £25.

Any Idea's people,as I suggested benefit advice line and have looked round internet and can only find utilities debt relief-nothing that would help him.

He's on about turning heating down/off-last time he ended up in hospital:doh:
 
only thing ah can think of is Citizens Advice mate.... or if he has an open fire to try and get some mates in to do him some fire wood to get by with.
 
bustersbus said:
only thing ah can think of is Citizens Advice mate.... or if he has an open fire to try and get some mates in to do him some fire wood to get by with.
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I think there are two chimney's but they are boxed in-guess could do a lot worse than ask him if they capped chimney and fireplace still intact.

I found a bit about a social tariff with electricity, something like 10% discount off.
You can see his point, whatever he is getting goes up by pennies and oil rockets.
 
Just been thinkin'... me mrs' dad had a heart attack and some other complications before he was due to retire and got some help from somewhere. Can't remember just now who it was, but they told him to block up his chimney and install oil central heating! Ah think that was because he is in a rented cottage and they didn't want him carrying buckets of coal in!! Ah'll ask me mrs the morn to see if she can remember who was involved.... but ah'm not too sure if the laws on it are different betwen Scotland and England??
 
Cheers Buster, I guess there will be many in a similar situation to my mate.

Worst of it is his embarrassment by it and convinced he'll turn the heating off.

Suggested If he really is stuffed heat one room and electric blanket.

On another topic he said he is being reassessed and due to cuts of something like 30% in council he is to expect carers allowance will also drop/be removed.

I noticed that his eyelid started to droop and last time that and his speech went funny before stroke-told him to try and relax and I'll think of something.
 
Aye ah guess so mate. Ah had an aunt in a kinda simillar situation before all this grant thing came about. Turns out she was trying to live in one room (with under floor heating that she couldn't afford to run) and had maybe one bar on an electric fire if absolutely needed.... didn't turn out too well for her in the end!!! Got an elderly relation in the same situation just now, but he lives in his bedroom as it's the smallest room and easiest to keep warm. He only comes down to the living room if folks visit and puts one bar on his fire for the length of time that they're there and goes back upstairs when they're gone!
Like ah said mate, ah'll ask the mrs the morn and see if she can remember who helped her dad and let ye know;)
 
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Cheers, I'm off to bed now. I'll call my mate tomorrow and see if they just capped and vented fire place. (soon pull it open and brush it if it is).

If anyone has any Idea's it would be great and thanks for the tips buster
night
 
Can he not negotiate with the supplier to pay a fixed amount each week/month so he pays the same amount through the year, obviously using less in the summer so the payment should balance out over the year.
 
finallysnapped said:
Can he not negotiate with the supplier to pay a fixed amount each week/month so he pays the same amount through the year, obviously using less in the summer so the payment should balance out over the year.
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Dunno how yer oil prices are worked out down south, but ours are up and down all the time... mostly up!!!
 
In our area spot buying the cheapest, as oil companies work schemes to their advantage. The issue is more the cost increase rather than budgeting issue.
 
I'll pass the info on, we are going to clear book cases and see if fireplace is still there- from what - have been told the surround was removed and tiles removed.
Worse case would be new insert and some tiles.
 
fanatic said:
I'll pass the info on, we are going to clear book cases and see if fireplace is still there- from what - have been told the surround was removed and tiles removed.
Worse case would be new insert and some tiles.
Click to expand...

failing that one of landowners woodburning gas bottle stoves ( ive seen them in action and theyre evry bit as good as they look ) :D:D:D
 
Not really the answer but cheapest heating is the electric underblanket type that you can leave on ( eg dreamland) means they have to lay on or sit on bed but will stop hypothermia . any form of area heating is really expensive, gas was supposed to be the cheap option , thats certainly changed now.
 
Should he not get disability living allowance? Someone apart from your good self should be helping this guy Fanatic! I'll ask my mum tomorrow. She knows everything!!! :rolleyes:
 
Spoke to mum. Sounds as if he should be getting disability living allowance, and or incapacity benefit. Might help pay the bills!
 
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