Quick question about my review & heating allowance

[lem]

Hi everyone, just in the process of completing our first review at the moment. I have calculated in cost the amount of oil we have used over the last 12 months for our central heating, 1600 litres which has cost us £80 a month, however, when I look at projections for the coming year, i have just asked for a quote and as the price of oil has increased since I last ordered (Dec), it's going to cost on average £84 a month at current prices (and they are only heading one way, this time last year it was about 54ppl, now it's 63ppl

What I am asking, is can I claim for oil at it's current price, or can I only put down what I have paid over the last 12 months?

[kallis3]

Have a word with your IP - she will tell you which one it is.

[Tina Shortland]

You should be able to use projected figures if you have a written quote as the monthly budgetting is to provide enough for you over the next year - if you keep it at the current level you will come unstuck with your oil. I have oil too and the increase in prices over the last 18 months has been shocking.

[lem]

Thanks Tina, I usually order through Boilerjuice and I have a quote for 500l today as that's all I get at a time (it's all I can afford!)so I have that in my emails which I can just print off and send in with my review documentation.

I was shocked too as I last ordered just before xmas and 500L was about £301, now the same amount is £326!, I can't believe how it goes up so much, it worries me as we have to be really frugal with it as it is and it's not even been a bad winter so haven't used as much oil as the previous year.

[footiemad]

When I did my proposal I put down £100 per month but have spent way way over that. I live in a 3 story house and it costs a fortune to keep warm even when using the log burner. At my I&E I am just going to put in what I have actually spent, with the receipts, and see what happens. A rough calculation makes it about £180 per month which is pretty horrendous. My boiler is 22 years old and I don't think it is at all efficient although I have it serviced every year. Happy days x

[lem]

I know the feeling footiemad, we use fuel on our log burner aswell and our electric has gone up to £79 a month so our total fuel costs are about the same as yours per month

[Shining]

Send in those estimates too Lem, the review will soon be done and dusted and you'll be heading towards the 2nd. x

[luluj]

I&E's need to reflect your actual spends, and if known increases are around the corner then you certainly need to ensure this is reflected in your reviews.

As a reminder, you do not need to wait for your annual review if your expenditure increases - you can request a review mid way through the year if it will help you manage better...don't be afraid to ask the question.

[JetSetWilly]

If your monthly payment is reduced then will the IVA be extended? My monthly electricity payment has been increased from £125 to £170 but it amending my IVA payment means extending the term then, personally, I think I'll try to struggle on...

[lem]

I am fortunate Jetsetwilly that my salary has increased by around £145 since last year so it should offset the increases without affecting my payments

Thanks Liz, I did enquire about a midyear review but to be honest, at the time I didn't have my payrise and as I earn extra unsocial hours payments, they told me I had to just use that first, when the time came where our expenditure started to exceed my 50% uplift that I could keep i knew we were near review time so just thought I may aswell wait

[footiemad]

Lem - do you mean that you had to use your 50% to cover the shortfall or pay less over x

[lem]

I had to use my 50% to cover the shortfall

[footiemad]

That's not so good is it but thinking about it, that's exactly what we do. As |I've mentioned before, we could not manage without Hubbies bonuses x

[MelanieGiles]

You must put down the current price Lem. We are on LPG at our house and the cost of that has rocketed over the last year. My standing order is now £195 per month - outrageous.

[lem]

Thanks Mel, I know it's disgraceful really, we try to be extremely frugal with the heating as it is, I don't have it on at all during the day when the kids are at school and just wrap up warm inside the house if I have to, the most I had it on over the winter was 1hr in the morning and 3 hrs in an evening and it still uses so much and costs a fortune, I wish we could have gas but not an option where we live. Thankfully it wasn't too bad a winter so we have been able to keep the costs under control this year, but I hate being cold