Mr and Mrs Craggs from Stockton-On-Tees were referred to Five Lamps through the Warm Homes Healthy People project as they required some advice regarding debt on their electricity bill
Paying for their consumption via a prepayment meter was the preferred payment method for Mr and Mrs Craggs, as they were able to budget their money accordingly and did not have to worry about receiving high bills.
Unfortunately due to Mr Craggs ill health; he requires electrical medical equipment to be in use at all times. If the electricity is disconnected due to insufficient funds on the meter this affects his medical equipment which takes weeks for the hospital to reconnect.
Due to this Mr and Mrs Craggs had to have their electricity prepayment meter replaced with a credit meter. However, a few months after the credit meter was installed, Mr and Mrs Craggs began to receive bills that they could not afford to pay and the electricity bill soon built up.
Mr and Mrs Craggs contacted Stockton Council’s Warm Homes Healthy People Project, who referred them to Amy Baker at Five Lamps.
Amy Baker, Five Lamps, Executive Support Assistant, discussed different payment options with Mr and Mrs Craggs so they could set up a payment plan to ensure they were making affordable and sufficient payments to their on-going consumption.
They also worked together to submit an application form to the Npower Energy Trust fund to clear their electricity debt.
The application to Npower Energy Trust fund was a success, and Mr and Mrs Craggs had been provisionally awarded a grant to clear their electricity arrears. Mr and Mrs Craggs continued to make sufficient on-going payments to their electricity and three months later, they received a letter to say their outstanding electricity debt of; £919.00 had been cleared.
Amy also advised Mr and Mrs Craggs that they are eligible for the Warm Homes discount scheme which is a £140 rebate to their electricity through the Winter Months.
Mr and Mrs Craggs said:
“I don’t think there is any better service you can do than what you have done for us we would recommend Amy to anyone who is in trouble, the way she make’s people feel at ease and not guilty at getting into debt”
Five Lamps are currently working with Stockton Council on the Warm Homes Healthy People project helping people in Stockton on Tees who are suffering from fuel poverty.