STRAIGHT TO THE POINT
I HAVE a property that’s empty for half the year. I used to get a gas and electricity bill for the months I was there, but recently got a bill for the time no one was in it. J. B., Coventry.
New rules mean energy firms have to charge a flat rate for gas and electricity and a separate standing charge to cover admin costs — up to 50p a day. Your bill is for this.
You should consider switching to tariffs with a zero standing charge, such as ebico’s equigas and equipower.
I LEFT Scottish Power in January, but am still receiving bill reminders for £107.40 every month. J. D., Poole, Dorset.
SCOTTISH Power has apologised profusely for continuing to send you bill demands even though you’ve moved to EDF. it blames a system error and is offering £150 as a gesture of goodwill. DO WEBSITES such as Just Giving charge charities when you donate through them? S. B., Swansea.
YES. Just Giving charges a £10 a month plus VAT subscription f ee and takes 5 pc of all donations in exchange for helping the charities raise money.
Virgin Money Giving charges charities a one- off sign-up fee of £100 and keeps 2 pc of donations to cover admin. I READ your article last week about bonds. What counts as an investment bond — does it include equity income funds? E. C., by email
BOND funds mean corporate bond funds or government bond funds. corporate ones invest in company debt, while government ones invest in gilts — loans issued by government. they are considered a safer bet as the UK government is unlikely to default.
Several equity income funds often invest in some bonds, but we would not tend to count them when talking about bond funds generally.
SHOULD I invest in Neil Woodford’s new fund or stick with the Invesco Perpetual Income fund he used to run? A. M., by email
MANY readers have asked about this. Neil woodford says investors can expect much of the same — he’ll invest in many of the same firms as before.
Mark Barnett, who has taken over the invesco fund, will inevitably make some changes. But if you liked woodford’s strategy, it may be worth following him to his new fund.