Ben's* story
When our fuel efficiency advisor, Melanie, initially met Ben, he was struggling to pay for food and fuel. His bills were incorrect as they were based on estimates from before he moved into his home, and he didn’t feel confident knowing how to keep his energy costs down. He was feeling isolated and rarely went out or met any friends.
Melanie wanted to make sure that in the short-term, Ben had enough to eat and keep warm. She secured him a £150 voucher to help with food shopping, and helped him secure a Kent County Council Household Support Fund fuel voucher for £100, which meant he had enough to keep him going while she supported him with other bills and energy advice.
Melanie soon worked with our other teams to find the gas and electric readings from the day Ben moved into his home and provided these to his supplier. They provided Ben with a refund of over £350, made sure his bills were accurate going forward, and left a £500 credit in his account to get him through the winter period without having to worry. Melanie also spoke to his water supplier, getting Ben onto a social tariff, which means his bills reduced from £60 to £29 a month.
Ben was still nervous about energy prices going up in the future. Melanie spoke with him about his options, and Ben decided to fix for a year, giving him some security of knowing what his payments would be so he could budget. She also spent time with Ben, so he knew exactly how much each of his appliances cost per hour, and giving advice on more efficient and cost-effective ways to use them.
Ben is thrilled with the results of his support from Melanie, and and says he felt relieved to know he is out of energy debt and able to budget better in the future. Ben has since felt happy and confident, going out more regularly to meet new people, and has joined a free singing club nearby.
If you’re struggling with your bills, we can help. Get in touch by emailing help@wkha.org.uk or calling 01732 749400.
*names have been changed to protect resident's identity