Thousands of energy support vouchers to be re-sent due to “technical issue”

Thousands of energy support vouchers will be re-sent to customers following a “technical issue” the Post Office has said.

It was reported several customers were having difficulty redeeming their £600 voucher which started to be rolled-out in Northern Ireland on Monday.

A spokesperson for the Post Office said 6,000 Power NI customers whose voucher are dated January 17 are “not valid due to a technical issue.”

A further 150 dated January 17 and sent to Airtricity Energy customers are also not valid for the same reason.

In a statement the Post Office said: “The issue was highlighted and following an investigation, new vouchers will be re-sent.

“We understand how important this support is for people and want to apologise to anyone who could not redeem their voucher.”

Earlier SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin was told there is an ongoing technical issue and it was hoped it could be resolved quickly.

Ms McLaughlin contacted Power NI on behalf of her constituents and was told there is an ongoing technical issue and it was hoped it could be resolved quickly.

Foyle MLA Ms McLaughlin said: “Given the long waits facing people right across the North to receive their £600 energy support payment, it’s understandable that people are concerned after trying to redeem their voucher at the Post Office only to be told that there was an ongoing issue impacting payments.

“After learning of these problems from a number of constituents today I contacted Power NI on their behalf who confirmed that there is a technical issue with the company’s systems linking up with the Post Office. They reassured me that a team are currently working on rectifying the issues and hope to have the situation resolved as quickly as possible.

Households are getting the £600 paid in one lump-sum and the vouchers can only be redeemed at post offices.

Vouchers to redeem the money are being posted out to customers who do not pay their energy bills by direct debit.

The voucher is mae up of a £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme payment and an additional £200 Alternative Fuel Payment.

500,000 households in NI are eligible for the voucher and it is expected post offices will be busier than usual.

Of the 500 post offices in NI, the vast majority are open on Saturdays and around 150 are open on Sundays.

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