Glaswegians are being urged to take action on any unclaimed prepayment meter energy vouchers amid the increase in the cost of living.
People have now been warned that they should contact their energy supplier if they have missed or have not yet redeemed their rebate vouchers as a deadline passes.
Advice Direct Scotland (ADS), which runs the national energy advice service energyadvice.scot, have urged households to take action - even if their vouchers have expired.
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Households with traditional prepayment meters should have received five of six vouchers under the UK Government’s Energy Bill Support Scheme to date, with prepayment vouchers only valid for 90 days.
December’s vouchers must be claimed by today (Wednesday, March 8).
Vouchers worth £67 were also sent out by post to prepayment meter customers from the start of this month, as the final instalment of the Support Scheme. However, some consumers may have received an SMS text or email as it depends on their supplier.
If a voucher does expire, customers can ask for it to be reissued. Suppliers should contact consumers if vouchers are not redeemed.
Most households will have £400 automatically taken off their electricity bills in six instalments across the winter, or will have the money added to their accounts. However, those on traditional prepayment meters need the vouchers to get the discount.
Households with smart prepayment meters will be credited directly in the first week of each month.
Some suppliers allow customers to transfer Support Scheme payments from electricity to gas meters.
Because of this, ASD have urged households to:
- Check unopened mail and junk email, in case the vouchers have been missed.
- Contact energy suppliers, using details found on bills, statements, and official websites.
- Contact energyadvice.scot if there are any difficulties getting through to suppliers or resolving issues. The team can be contacted on 0808 196 8660 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm), or through www.energyadvice.scot.
Colin Mathieson, spokesperson for Advice Direct Scotland, said: “With energy prices still incredibly high, it’s more important than ever that households get all the support they’re entitled to.
“We would urge Scottish consumers who have a prepayment meter to check whether they have been sent vouchers and use them, and also to keep an eye out for the final vouchers when they arrive.
“If haven’t received your vouchers or have any that have expired, you should get in touch with your energy supplier or Advice Direct Scotland’s advisers.
“It is worth checking unopened mail or emails that may have gone into your junk folder. Energy companies should reissue vouchers that haven’t been received and check customers are getting support in the most suitable format – be it text, post or email.
“If you aren’t sure if your supplier has your correct contact details, get in touch with them and check, otherwise they won’t be able to tell you how to access the payment.
“Right now, we have qualified advisers ready to provide free, practical support to anyone in Scotland through the energyadvice.scot service – and we can also help any customers having difficulties reaching their supplier.”
More information on the Support Scheme can be found via the consumer advice website. .
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