Heating Oil Help Take-Up Campaign
There are 29,300 households in Somerset who rely solely on oil to heat their homes or water. A substantial portion of these households live rurally and many have a low or limited income.
Unlike gas or electricity, the heating oil market is unregulated, meaning increases in wholesale costs are rapidly passed through to consumers.
At the start of the Iran conflict, that saw prices almost double in a matter of days. Prices have since fallen back from their peak but are still around 50% higher than before the war commenced.
Help for people who use oil as their main source for heating or hot water is available through the Somerset Crisis and Resilience Fund – delivered by an Alliance of VCFSE partners, led by Citizens Advice Somerset – offering targeted support to people facing financial shock or hardship.
Somerset Council received £1.2 million to help with heating oil costs and we are keen to ensure it all goes to people who need it. We are calling on your help to join our take-up campaign and get the word out before winter.
The Heating Oil Help scheme is aimed at households who have a low or limited income, depend on oil for heating or hot water, and have less than 300 litres in their tank. Our average household award is £600, which makes a substantial difference.
The quickest way to apply is online at: citizensadvicesomerset.org.uk/
But if someone is unable to apply online or needs help, they can call our free phone Adviceline on 0808 278 7842 and select option 3.
Partners in the Heating Oil Help take-up campaign include Connect Champions, Thrive Village Agents, and hopefully you!
10 March 2020Beware of rogue driveway repairers
A favourite tactic of rogue traders is to target vulnerable people at home offering services like driveway and paving repairs but charge far too much for a poor-quality or unfinished job or take the money up front and vanish without doing any work. They may also fail to give the customer paperwork, including a 14-day cooling-off period, that they are legally required to provide.
They may say they are working for the council or other authority and show identification cards to try to look legitimate. They may say they have leftover tarmac from resurfacing roads, but council or highways authorities would never offer leftover materials to the public.
Not all traders who cold call are rogue traders, but it’s important to remember the golden rules:
- Never agree to work from someone you think might be a rogue trader.
- If you’re not sure, don’t open the door.
- If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Use your door chain when opening the door to strangers.
- Properly check the identity of callers before opening the door.
- Keep doors and windows secure.
If you think a crime is being committed now or you are in danger, call the police on 999 immediately.
For non-emergencies, call the police on 101.
To report a problem with a trader and get advice, call Citizens Advice on 03454 040506.
If you want to have work done at home:
- Get three quotes from reputable businesses you trust.
- Ask friends or family for recommendations.
- Use a scheme or association to find reliable businesses. For example:
- Find local, trustworthy businesses through the Buy With Confidence scheme. All businesses in the scheme are vetted, approved and monitored by Trading Standards. Visit buywithconfidence.gov.uk or call 01392 383430.
- Or use a member of an appropriate reputable trade association. Members must stick to their codes of practice. If a trader says they are a member of an association, check this is true.
- Decide who to use in your own time.
Remember, if you agree to work in your home that will cost more than £42, you are legally entitled to a 14-day cooling-off period in which you can change your mind before the work starts. If you agree to the work starting within that time, you will be liable for any cost incurred by the business up until the point at which you cancel.
This article has been written by Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service https://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/