Share this record
Dealing with household bills can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. Am I on the best tarrif? Can I afford to pay this month's bills? What can I do if I can't pay my bills? Who can I turn to for help?
There are lots of free,impartial and confidential services offering help with financial planning, debt management and what you might be entitled to.
Saving money on your bills and making sure you are claiming all the benefits and grants you are entitled to, will take the stress out of managing your household budget.
Help with household bills
Money Advice Service
The Money Advice Service have pulled together a list of dedicated guides to help you save money on your house hold bills.
Citizens Advice
Information on what to do if you are struggling to pay your household bills.
Money Saving Expert
Use the Money Saving Experts Money Makeover guide to help you cut your household bills.
Help with energy bills and switching energy supplier
Citizens Advice
Information about the benefits, grants and help offered by the government and energy suppliers.
Uswitch
uSwitch is an free online and telephone comparison and switching service that helps you to compare prices on a range of products and services such as gas and electricity suppliers and broadband providers.
Sandwell Energy Switch
Collective switching is where a group of consumers join together to negotiate a better deal with their gas and electricity suppliers. An auction then takes place where energy companies will offer competitive prices for the group. It is free to join collective switching and you do not have to accept the winning offer, so there is nothing to lose
Energy Extra
Help give housing association and local authority tenants easy access to cheaper gas and electricity providing advice, support and information to reduce energy costs and bills.
Sandwell Consortium
Provides impartial advice to home owners and those in private rented properties on issues such as pre-payment metering, understanding energy bills and switching energy providers.
Energy Saving Trust
Offers independant and impartial advice to help you lower your energy usage and energy bills
Ofgem
Impartial information and advice on household and business energy from Britain's energy regulator, Ofgem. Choose from our energy guides or compare suppliers and view our consumer research below.
Finding it difficult to pay your water bills?
Severn Trent
can help customers who are on a low income
South Staffs Water
provides similar support to their customers
Warmth and Heating Schemes
Cold Weather Payment scheme
If you are in receipt of certain benefits you maybe entitled to a Cold Weather Payment to help with the cost of heating your home. The scheme usually runs between November and March and if eligible, you will receive a payment of £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather during these months.
Heating Benefits
Find out about Cold Weather Payment, Warm Home Discount Scheme, Winter Fuel Payment