A Dartmoor homeowner who endured a series of costly setbacks has received an unexpected boost after winning 500 litres of free heating oil.
Mrs Julie Rickets, a retired resident from Sourton near Okehampton, said the surprise prize came at just the right time following a difficult period that included flooding damage and major repair bills.
Julie’s bungalow was recently hit by a burst pipe that flooded four rooms, shortly after she had paid for a new roof. Alongside ongoing car troubles, she described it as a challenging start to the year.
Her fortunes changed last week when she was contacted by Moorland Fuels, informing her she had won a quarterly prize draw through its Cosy Heating Club.
“I couldn’t believe it when they rang! I had no idea I was entered into the draw, so when I got the call, it was a wonderful surprise! I’ve never won anything before and after the two years that I’ve had, it’s just what I needed.
“I’d only just finished paying for a new roof when a concealed pipe burst flooding four rooms, causing a lot of damage. Although I was insured, the excess alone was £500, plus I had to have the heating on constantly to help dry out the house. As a retired widow, it was a really hard start to the year, but now I’m hopeful that things are changing for the better and that my fortune is on the up.”
Julie was automatically entered into the draw as a direct debit customer, something she said had proved invaluable.
“I look back on my decision to set up a Direct Debit account as one of the best things I’ve ever done as without that I wouldn’t have been entered into the draw. And with the cost of heating oil as it is because of what’s happening in the Gulf, the timing couldn’t have been better!
“Now, I can look forward to keeping warm with my greyhound who feels the cold terribly. She loves lying by the Rayburn, and I no longer need to worry about keeping it on. It’s a great relief!”
Julie, who uses a remote monitoring system on her oil tank that automatically alerts the supplier when levels are low, received her delivery earlier this week.
“My tank’s now nicely full, and that should tide me over for the months ahead. Living in one of the highest and coldest parts of Devon, knowing that I can keep warm means a lot to me. And with the money saved on my oil, I can even afford to go out and have a nice little celebratory meal with one of my friends. I can’t thank the team at Moorland Fuels enough for changing my fortune for the better!”
Moorland Fuels, which became employee-owned in 2022, said the giveaway forms part of its Cosy Heating Club initiative, a free customer rewards scheme aimed at supporting households across Devon and the South West.
Members who pay by monthly direct debit are automatically entered into quarterly prize draws and can access a range of additional benefits, including flexible delivery options and services designed to help spread the cost of heating over the year.
