The UK has recently shivered through some of the coldest temperatures we’ve seen in years.
Whenever the temperature drops, cold weather complaints can arise. Here’s my guide on what to watch out for.
Keeping your home warm
Energy bills are a major concern for readers at the moment. The backlog of claims about the Winter Fuel Payment has meant many pensioners are struggling to get by.
If you don’t qualify for benefits but are struggling with the bills, your energy firm is required to come up with tailored plans to help you get by. Type ‘financial difficulties / Ofgem’ in to a search engine to get a full list of the help available.
If you receive certain benefits, then you may qualify for …
England and Wales
automatic cold weather payments. This is £25 per day for every 7-day period of cold weather between 01 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.
Scotland
automatic Winter Heating Payments. This is £58.75 this year. The payment should have been made so contact your benefits office if you haven’t received it.
Northern Ireland
automatic cold weather payments. This is £25 per day for every 7-day period of cold weather between 01 November and 31 March.
The ‘Winter Fuel Payment’ and is paid automatically to older people who qualify for Pension Credit. You can also find out what other support you may be entitled to if you receive benefits or support from the state at the Gov.uk website.
Broken pipes and boilers
Sometimes your boiler, pipes or heating system breaks at the worst possible time. Broken pipes and faulty boilers can be very distressing when it’s freezing. Home emergency cover or your home insurance might help you with a broken pipe, but only if the pipe is on your property. If not, then the problem becomes the responsibility for whoever is in charge of the damaged section.
It makes sense to check your policy at this time of year before something goes wrong. But if it’s too late, then make it clear how urgent the situation is to your insurer – or a contractor if you’re not insured for home emergencies.
If water is pouring down the walls, you have no heating or you are older or more vulnerable, then it really is an emergency and your insurer or contractor should treat the situation as such. If it’s not as urgent, run a few checks before you call anyone out. Look for a damaged thermostat or a boiler that simply needs re-boosting.
Not all cold weather problems involve boilers or pipes. Heavy snowfall can damage the structure of your property. Sometimes, if the structure was a bit run down then the insurer might say the claim is as a result of ‘wear and tear’ and turn it down. If you don’t think this is fair, make a complaint and go to the free Financial Ombudsman.
Keep an eye on your car
If you’re hitting the road when it’s cold, then bear in mind that both the police and breakdown recovery firms have issued warnings about people not cleaning their windows of snow or frost properly. This could affect any claims you make for roadside assistance or damage to your vehicle if something goes wrong.
At this time of year, it’s much more common for thieves – opportunistic or otherwise – to pinch vehicles while your keys are in the ignition and you’ve popped inside while warming the car.
‘Keys in car’ thefts occur outside the home, shops, post boxes, by cash machines, even at petrol stations. Many insurance claims get turned down on the grounds that you’ve left your car unattended. However, it’s down to the insurer to prove that the car was left unlocked and unattended, so if you had taken precautions, or you don’t think you’ve been treated fairly, make a complaint.
Watch out for scammers and thieves
Depressingly, this is also the time of year when thieves know you are more likely to have brand new, expensive goods in your home. Make sure you leave your alarm on when you leave the house and make sure pricy goods aren’t on display where possible. Take ten minutes to call your home insurer and make sure you are covered for any new gifts or purchases in the sales.
Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist.