****Utilities Trust Fund****

[mrsfoot]

Hi to all

In the last few weeks I have been researching some stuff for a friend who is in lots of debt with the utilities and have came across this gem!

United Utilities Trust Fund.

Welcome to the United Utilities Trust Fund Site

Here you can apply for a grant (not repayable) in order to clear your utilities debts. There is an application form, and you need to send the bills to them, but they are willing to help people get back on track. So if you have an unpaid utilities bill including water / gas / elec and repaying them is causing you hardship then apply for help.

Remember, if no one applies for assistance then we run the chance of aid being retracted.

[installspark]

In addition to the United Utilities Trust fund, listed below are details of several other similar schemes.

Anglian Water Trust Fund

An independent Charitable Trust offering financial assistance to those in hardship in the Anglian and Hartlepool Water Regions.

Anglian Water Trust Fund website


British Gas Energy Trust

An independent Charitable Trust established in September 2004 which aims to contribute to the fight against poverty. (To apply the applicant must be a customer of British Gas or Scottish Gas)

British Gas Energy Trust website


EDF Energy Trust


An independent Charitable Trust offering financial assistance to those in hardship to pay their energy bills. (To apply the applicant must be a customer of London Energy, SWEB Energy, SEEBOARD Energy or Virgin HomeEnergy.)

EDF Energy Trust website


Eos Foundation

An independent Charitable Trust offering financial assistance to those in hardship to pay their water and sewerage bills (to be eligible applicants must be a customer of one of the donor companies.)

Eos Foundation website


Severn Trent Trust Fund

An independent Charitable Trust offering financial assistance to those in hardship to pay their water and sewerage bills.

Severn Trent Trust Fund website

Joblinks

An online searchable database of charities and benevolent funds able to help people in need

Joblinks website

The list above is not meant to be exhaustive and represents the infomation found so far. There may be other trusts that can also help, please add details of any other organizations to this list.

If you are a member of a union it may be possible for them to offer assistance through their own welfare schemes.

[drknot]

I received a letter about this with my latest bill.

My sitution is, when I inherited my house from my father I was sent a bill by UU claiming nearly £3000 in unpaid water rates. since then I have paid the bills for my water consumption (I'm on a meter) and still dispute the backdated bill sent to me. Our average water rate in 2004 was £400 so for my father to run up a bill of £3000 means he would have not paid it for 10 years at least.

The bill has been passed from debt collector to debt colletor, I used to ask them for information regarding the bill, details of missed payments etc, but stopped after about a year, as none would give me information. Every six months I get a bill, every six months a different debt collector sends a letter saying I owe them £3000.

One even sent me a Christmas card a couple of years ago asking what thay had done wrong as they had not heard from me and to give them a call !!

Whilst the fund is a good thing for people suffering hardship, for people with inherited debts, then get proof of the debt before seeking help from them.

[The GodMother]

Hi all

I would just like to say a VERY big thank you to mrsfoot and installspark for giving the addresses for help with utility bills. I have been worried sick about my bills and worried about paying them now i have at lets got a life line and can ask for help.

dr knot i thought i was seeing things when you said u recieved a christmas card off one debt recovery company. i had to check my glasses were not dirty. Well thank you dr knot for giving me a laugh about that.

[mrsfoot]

Hi Godmother

You dont have to thank me, Im just glad you have found a way through. If you need anymore help with the applications etc then please do not hesitte to shout out. If not on here then please send an email to me and I will do what i can.

[saker1974]

I cannot seem to find anyone who can help with Scottish Power for Gas and Electric, they waited a full 8 months before billing me and whilst i'm now able to pay my electricity by meter (even though they have recently charged me for 1,700 more units than i've actually used) my gas bill is sky high and it's making me ill thinking about how i'm going to pay it - especially with christmas etc.... coming up.

Is there any fund that we know about that will help?

Kind regards

Cara

[mrsfoot]

Hi Cara

It soes seem to be water commpanies who have the trust funds set up. Who provides your water? You can apply to most funds for other essential bills so check it out. All you need is your water company name then go through the list above. Hope this helps. If not give me a shout and I will see what I can find for you

MrsFoot

[davefirewalker]

subbing for future ref

dave

[patrickq1]

could do with a sticky for these sort of trust fund companies i have never heard nor knew of this sort of thing well done to mrsfoot and others for bringing this to our attention
patrickq1

[Pen]

Hi, there is a trust fund for gas and electricity. When I first became ill a few years back the CAB gave me the application forms to fill in and they filled in a part relating to them. I received a grant somewhere in the region of £2,500 it paid all of my electricity and gas bill.

There is a clause that they will only assist if by doing so you will be able to meet future payments. In other words it's a one off payment for arrears and by making this payment you have a clean slate where by you can then paid future bills.

Please contact your CAB as they have all the forms and will help you fill them in they will also explain your circumstances and will add a recommendation.

good luck

[WILKINSS208]

do you have to be unemployed or can working people apply?
i am in debt with water, electric and gas.

[mrsfoot]

Anyone can apply to the trust fund. The idea is to help those who are struggling to get back on their feet. It is important that you can show you will be able to keep up with your payments if the balance is cleared as they very rarely help if they feel you will abuse the situation. fill the form in, send it off and who knows, you could be debt free with your utilities.

Mrsfoot

[Pen]

I would def go and ask the CAB to help fill it out with you as this will give the application a bit more clout so to speak they will wrote their own comments on to back you up. It really is worth doing but as previously said if you are unable to make future payments or if your likely to go in to the red again they will turn you down it's a one only opportunity.

[annifridsl04]

Originally Posted by Pen

Please contact your CAB as they have all the forms and will help you fill them in they will also explain your circumstances and will add a recommendation.

good luck

Please can someone tell me what CAB stands for?
Thanks
Anni

[spotnot]

CAB = Citizens Advice Bureau

[Pen]

sorry anni

[ADIE1965]

Thankyou thankyou thankyou....Mrsfoot

Just received a reply from UUTF and been awarded nearly £600 for my outstanding water bill and £200 toward's gas bill

Once again Thankyou mrsfoot