Latest Moan From You and Me 2024

Careful what you wish for there, @shiney.

I'd never get past the media campaign against my ideas for a loop-hole free tax system, forensic Royal accounting, a wealth limit, a carbon allowance for the rich (making private jets a thing of the past), all residential properties in full time use, etc and so on.

 

On a totally different subject;
What is going on?!
4 months ago my electricity supplier, Octopus, notified me I was over £1,000 in credit. I asked for a refund but after a number of e mails was informed I was not in credit to that amount so I reduced my monthly direct debit payment.
I have now received a current statement saying I am almost £2,000 in credit. I have again submitted a request for a refund. My claim is being assessed but if successful will not be paid for a month. They are insisting on holding £600.00 of my money in credit, I am all electric except for a gas hob and my last 2 bills have been just over £70.00. I realise winter is not far off when I shall have to use heating and lighting so my costs will increase but I also feel I should not have to fight for a refund of my own money. It could be sitting in my bank account earning me interest instead of sitting in Octopus' account earning them interest at my expense."Grump"

 

I agree with you @Goldenlily26 . I was well in credit at the end of last winter [although nothing like your amount!] simply because we weren't using the heating so much, and I just kept reducing my debit amount. Usage is still much lower because younger daughter moved out, so we aren't using things like the washing machine so much, or the electric shower that's in the upstairs bathroom. I had an email recently saying they think I need to increas my debit as it looks like it won't be covering my predicted usage. They can whistle. When my usage increases later on, I'll raise the amount of the debit to suit it. I'm not keeping excess cash in their account, for exactly the reasons you give.

However, that's a ridiculous amount you're in credit. I'd just stop the DD completely until it's used - or make it a pound. When they contact you about it [which they would!] just say - well it's my money not yours, and you'll raise it when it's used up.

 

Not everyone is under Self Assessment so they cannot do a tax return. If they owe or are owed tax HMRC usually writes to them (P800), probably at this time of the year, to inform them. Hubby had a cheque sent to him! I have to do a tax return and a few years ago I was due a large refund, but was forbidden from claiming online. So I tried ringing - hopeless - they either hung up or a robot gave an incorrect answer. So I had to write to HMRC and within a few weeks I got a cheque.

But the system is already there to get tax back from pensioners, without them being put on Self Assessment.

The personal allowance was frozen at the current rate till 2028 was it not? So if state pension keeps going up then it may exceed this allowance. All depends on the triple lock......

 

We're with Octopus too and I did wonder what level of credit they expect you to have. I have gradually reduced my DD and it is now less than they suggest and it will stay that way! There does need to be some regulation on this. Do you look at that forecast graph in your online account? They like the line to be way above zero, i.e. in credit all the time.

Hope you get your refund and try to reduce the DD in your online account - you can try different amounts to see which it accepts. I've got ours down to £160 pm.

 

Yes, I am going to reduce my DD which is still over £200.00 per month. Do the powers that be that run these businesses think we are stupid?!

 

I think the new gas and elec price cap for the 4th quarter is announced tomorrow. Has anyone got a fixed deal below the 3rd quarter cap? In the old days we use to have fixed deals way below the cap. Now you're lucky to find one.

I think something is going to happen in the pricing as there do not seem to be anymore forecasts at Cornwall Insight. They use to forecast a year ahead. I bet we will be penalised for using above a certain amount of gas and elec.

 

They think we'll just do as they say @Goldenlily26 .
Mine is currently £90 quid and they want it to be over £100. I just ignored them. My readings are due in a few days, and the DD comes off around the 5th of the following month. I'm still well in credit, but I didn't reduce it again after the last one, and I'll possibly just keep it at 90 for a while.
They were trying to push the fixed rates, but I'm waiting a while before I head that way.

The reason they want loads of your money is because they take on these companies that go tits up and are paying of their debt. Or rather - we are. The standing charges are used for that too.

 

I do not usually go for fixed rates either but am wondering if I missed the boat at the moment as I heard recently they are going to hike the rates next month. Like you I have not been using heating and with longer light hours not much lighting, I have got using the immersion heater for hot water down to fine art so there is not much more I can do. Apart from smell strongly and be frozen when the weather changes.
When my son visited with his family last year I could not believe how much electricity they used, my graph went into stratisfere, lights left on, phone chargers on all night for 4, showers twice a day for all of them, washing machine on every day etc. Wow! My graph did a vertical takeoff, ran level for the fortnight they were here and then did a vertical drop thank goodness.

 

I send a letter to HMRC every yr. I am well below the threshold for paying tax, but they can fine you anyway, so the letter is my buffer against that. I'm not eligible for self-assessment and can't register online (I tried and was rejected), so a letter it is.

 

Why does it take 3 visits to find a water leak in the road!!! lots of blue paint, lots of pictures taken pos lots of reports and still the leak continues, luckly i didn't report this leak as the last one they shut the road for saftey but the locals moaned because they could drive through, the work people were leting vehicles through when they were ready but one local moaned and they shut the road which i can see because it was on a fast bend, some up set the workers, workers up set them what a crazy world we now live in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ironic statement of the day - Trump says the Obamas' criticisms of him were "too personal". Aww, Don, don't take on so. You set the tone, after all.

Mind, I have completely lost patience with US politics. All theatre and no substance.