Scam Alert
Please share this post using the social media share buttons to make sure everyone knows about this, as it's caused a large number of people real issues!
There's a new scam going around at the moment that's pretty convincing and very current in its content, so we just wanted to make everyone aware! I've received the scam messages, as have many of my friends, and it's pretty convincing!
What's the scam?
The scam, usually a text, appears to be the UK Government website and invites you to check your eligibility for the Energy Bills Support Scheme, where £400 is being sent to your energy provider to be credited, over several m months, in £66 monthly payments, to reduce your energy bill payment over the winter months.
Once you click on the link, you will be taken to a very convincing website that does look like a . Gov.Uk site, where you are asked a series of personal questions and will be asked to provide your banking information.
Sadly the information given allows the scammers to have access to your money. On many occasions, people have had their bank account wiped of its contents, adding to the financial misery of the very people the Energy Bills Support Scheme is trying to help!
To confirm, you DO NOT have to register for the Energy Bills Support Scheme, you are automatically included in this, and payment will, in most cases, be made to your energy supplier, not you. You don't need to do anything unless you have a pre-payment meter. If you have a pre-payment meter, you will need to contact your supplier, and they will confirm your contact details are up to date and will send you the £400 in vouchers in six instalments, and will send the vouchers via email, hence why its so important to make sure your supplier has your correct contact details. The vouchers will only be valid for three months, so make sure you apply them to your meter account before the three-month timescale expires.
Below is further information on the Energy Bills Support Scheme from the .Gov.Uk website, and will give you extra information.
Eligibility
All households with a domestic electricity connection in England, Scotland and Wales are eligible for the discount.
If your circumstances change
You’ll still get the discount if:
you change your payment method
you change your tariff
you switch electricity supplier
you move to a new address
your supplier goes bust
you’re in arrears on your electricity bill payments
Households in Northern Ireland
Households in Northern Ireland will receive a £400 discount on bills through the Northern Ireland Energy Bills Support Scheme. Customers do not need to take any action to receive support. More information will be published soon.
If you live in a park home, houseboat or off the grid
The government has confirmed that further funding will be available to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for the 1% of households who are not eligible for the discount.
This includes households without a domestic electricity meter and a direct relationship with an electricity supplier, for example, if you live in a park home, houseboat, or off the grid.
How you’ll get the discount
You do not need to apply for the discount, and there’s no need to contact your energy supplier.
The discount will be applied to your monthly household electricity bill for six months starting in October 2022. You’ll get:
£66 in October and November
£67 in December, January, February and March
You’ll get the discount monthly, even if you pay for your energy quarterly or use a payment card.
Traditional prepayment meter users will get equivalent vouchers that you will need to redeem - see If you have a traditional prepayment meter for more information.
Your electricity supplier should provide more guidance on the scheme before it starts.
You need to contact your supplier if you have not received your first instalment by the end of October 2022.
If you’re a direct debit customer
You’ll get the discount automatically in one of the following ways as:
a reduction to your monthly direct debit amount
a refund to your bank account following the monthly direct debit collection
If you pay by standard credit or payment card
Your discount will be automatically applied as a credit to your account in the first week of each month. The credit will appear as it would if you had made a payment.
If you have a smart prepayment meter
Your discount will be credited directly to your smart prepayment meter in the first week of each month.
If you have a traditional prepayment meter
You’ll get the discount from the first week of each month. You’ll get the discount automatically in one of the following ways:
redeemable vouchers, sent by SMS text, email or post
an automatic credit when you top up at your usual top-up point
Your electricity supplier will inform you how you will get your discount.
Your supplier should have your contact details, but if you’re unsure or don’t receive any information from them, you should check that they have your latest number and email.
You’ll need to redeem vouchers at a top-up point if you get them. Your supplier will tell you where to redeem them, for example, at a Post Office branch or a PayPoint shop.
Payzone outlets are unable to accept the vouchers.
If you pay for your electricity as part of your rent
If your landlord has a domestic electricity contract with a licensed electricity supplier, and you pay for your electricity as part of your rent, your landlord may pass their discount on to you.
Your landlord may be reselling the electricity to you based on your usage, in which case:
they must comply with the maximum resale price rules, which say they must not make a profit
the maximum resale price for electricity is currently set at the same price as that paid by the person reselling it (see Ofgem’s guidance on ensuring customers are being charged no more than they should)
Your landlord may charge an ‘all inclusive’ rent, where a fixed cost for energy usage is included in your rental charges, in which case:
they are encouraged to come to an agreement with you on the discount in line with the arrangement in your tenancy agreement
the landlord’s fixed charge may already provide you with similar protection from the impact of the energy price increase
Other help
If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant to help pay it off.
You may be able to get other kinds of support, including:
a £650 Cost of Living Payment for households on means-tested benefits
a £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, to be paid alongside the Winter Fuel Payment
a £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment for people who get certain disability benefits
help from the Household Support Fund from your local council
Information correct as of 25th September 2022