Electricity Prepayment meters - british gas stopped selling tokens?

Totem_2

I found out today i can't put any electric on my meter, due to British gas no longer from today selling tokens.

They have been out 3 times to replace my meter for the key type and they can't because my wiring is so old there is no earth curcuit.

I am at a loss, I can't afford to have my house rewired, and even if I could, I can't get it done before my 1.20 on my meter runs out.

They say they have signs up in shops selling tokens, they say they have sent letters and made phone calls, I have seen or heard nothing, even the local co-op simply said the cards weren't being recognised yet they are totally unaware that they can no longer sell tokens.

I'm totally up the creak without a paddle.

My question is did anyone know about this or am I the only one left in the dark...pardon the pun

Joyful

It has been posted before. There is a team who are dealing with this. If you call BG they will direct you to this team where they have a specialist who will liaise with the Meter operators and hopefully help you.

Totem_2

Already spoken to them, totally unhelpful in any way shape or form, unless I can miraculously generate out of thin air the 3k it will cost to rewire my house, they can't and won't help.

dunloadin

BG do not sell tokens, shops selling tokens in your area may no longer be receiving a supply to sell on. Some areas I work in have had no supplies of tokens since the end of june, as this method of paying money into the meters should be by using Key meters. You pay for your tokens using a BG payment card....have they stopped your payment card from working?

Sounds strange that the guy sent out to replace your meter has aborted the job because there is no earth to the house, as this has safety implications. Who is responsible for maintaining the earthing of the property is dependant on the method used to earth the house. Any old cables attached to the meter would be replaced during the meter change, anything requiring replacement in the fusebox or house is your responsibility.

If you could post a picture of your meter showing the incoming supply and fuse box I could get a better idea of the problem.

Totem_2

Yes they've stopped my payment card from working, all the shops here have loads of stock of tokens, I just can't buy any. I'm at a total loss I just don't know what to do.

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I can't afford to replace the wiring in the house, but I need electriciticty, I have 3 kids one under 10. I'm running on emergency now. Once the electric runs out I will have no hot water as it is on an immersion heater and no means of cooking.

It's the house wiring that has no earth, yet when we first moved in they fitted the meter no problem, it was only when they came back to change it, that they suddenly had issues fitting it. One of the ring mains failed in the house 18months ago, we've had no lights since then. We have 4 plugs in the entire house that actually work running off old 2 core wiring, the fuse boxes are old cast iron, throw switch type. We have no heat nothing, the bare minimum to survive without overloading the lot and losing it.

I can't afford to get someone in to try and get the other ring main working, otherwise I would have by now. Plus thats compounded by the fact they may well just condemn the electrics totally.

I just really don't know what to do. I work online, without my pc I can't work so I can't earn. I have 2 spare laptop batteries charged up but thats not even enough for me to complete the work I have in this week, so I won't get paid.

The only thing I can think of is to buy a new consumer unit and enough plugs and wiring to run a ring around the living room, and get someone to connect it up but I have no clue what I need.

So if theres some kind electrician type person out there that can tell me what I need, or the bare minimum I need to get the meter changed I'd appreciate it, whist I can still access the net to purchase them.

spiro

Your problem is the meter worker is required to carry out certain safety checks before connecting a house (fuse box) to the network and they will refuse if they think it is not safe to do so. I would try contacting your council or CAB to see if there are any grants available for this type of work as it does sound like its not very safe. You may also find it could invalidate any insurance you have.

The ending of Token meters is being driven by OFGEM how want them all off the wall asap because of the issues of updating them when the tariff changes.

Wolfsbayne

Ive just had to change to credit meters as more and more local shops are no longer selling tokens. I prefer to be on a credit meter anyway but it was getting increasingly difficult to top up. Would have had the new meters by now if Atlantic had actually informed the engineers to come when they said they were going to.

Blackpool_Saver

Is this a proper genuine post? I keep sitting here staring at it, I can't get my head around it at all.... if it is I truly want to help you....

BallandChain

It does sound a desperate situation and my heart goes out to Totem. I know that is useless given the dire situation but I didn't want to read and run. I don't know much about these meters. Is a token meter the same as the prepayment one? What is a credit meter? I don't use payment cards or tokens as I just pay by direct debit.

Wolfsbayne

A prepayment meter takes tokens, keys (or for gas a rechargable card) to pay for gas and eletric in advance. A credit meter reads how much you are using and tells the company how much to make your direct debit. Basically, if you dont have to go into a shop and buy something to put into your meter to get your gas and electric, you're on a credit meter.

BallandChain

Thank you for explaining that to me.