Pollard offers to sort out military housing payment issue - and could get free mug
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard has offered to help a military family regarding what seems to be a Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) error in the payment of their gas bill.
Well-known military banter account Fill Your Boots posted a letter on X from the family detailing an error involving the payment of their gas bill and subsequent installation of a pay-as-you-go meter.
Mr Pollard posted in response: "Thanks for flagging. Happy looking into it. Please encourage the individual involved to contact me on [email protected] and I'll make sure it gets looked at."
The letter details that the military family of two young children had their gas supplier enter their house when they were away due to an outstanding balance that DIO had apparently not been delivering.
Due to this error, a debt recovery meter was installed, without the family's knowledge or permission.
This meter would lead to the family having to effectively pay almost twice for their gas.
The effect of this fault has been particularly hard due to the recent regular drop in temperatures.
"We are therefore without access to central heating in our property which is also without roof insulation," the family said in their letter.
Fill Your Boots directed the letter to Veterans Minister Al Carns as well as Mr Pollard in the hope of garnering their attention.
The family felt compelled to reach out the to social media page as they were only receiving dismissive answers to their problem, which was having a "significant impact" on their welfare.
Coronation Street star and forces champion Antony Cotton also responded to the X post in which he said: "Made contact with Pinnacle and DIO. Both onto it."
Following the response from Mr Pollard and wider attention from the military world, the military banter page told the minister: "If you sort it I'll send you a mug."
In July, Veterans Minister Mr Carns defended the decision to increase some charges for military accommodation, insisting that Armed Forces personnel get a "good deal" on housing.
The charges were revealed as the Government announced the majority of military personnel would receive an above-inflation pay rise of 6%.
Some accommodation charges are increasing by up to 6%, but the Veterans Minister maintains the cost of military housing remains cheaper than on civvy street.
The pay increase for the Armed Forces is described as the biggest in 22 years, with Mr Carns calling it a "significant step".
Personnel can check whether the cost of their military housing is going up here.
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