Gas meter charges

auntie_jo

Can anyone tell me the cost of kwh by uesing a gas meter v/s paying by any other method.

My daughter has had a meter fitted because of a debt and was paying 5 gbp per week off the debt and her gas supply; there have been massive problems mainly due to the fact the meter was fitted in Feb 2005 by they only started (they say!!) to recover the debt in Sep 2005.

Meter usage is higher than say standing order; I need to know how much higher the meter cost are.

Compensation has gone from 20 - 70 and now standing at 115 and need to give them an answer tomorrow!!!

Any help offered appreciated,

Jo

Bri_2205

It really depends on the supplier, I can give you a rough idea tomorrow.

I'm not sure what kind of difference it will make to your 'claim', I would say you've been quite lucky to get £115 from them tbh.

auntie_jo

Thans for that, the supplier is Southern Electric; the offer of compensation is to off-set 115 against the debt as a good will gesture 'provided' I do not take my compllaint to Ofgen; hence the offer going up. I have not haggled the offer, it is this manager who keeps hiking the offer up

I just needed to know how much more my daughter was paying by having a meter fitted; a choice that she did not want and can ill afford to pay higher prices.

I know it might seem I am looking a gift horse in the mouth, but I it is information I feel I need to have before agreeing to the offer and to endourse the fact that but for their actions we would not have this problem.

Many thanks once again,

Jo

beeniemac

You are complaining about the higher charges of being on the PP meter rather than a credit meter for the period for which the debt was not being recovered?

She would have remained on the PP meter when the debt was paid off or she would have had to pay a substantial security deposit to have a credit meter installed.

I think you are lucky to get any compensation whatsoever - £115 is rediculous in all honesty.

Your daughter must have noticed that the money was not being deducted from the balance on the meter, was this reported straight away?

Bri_2205

I don't mean to sound rude here, please don't take it that way, however, it sounds as if the reason your daughter had the meter installed because she built up a debit. It's not the company's fault (unless there is more to it), so as has been said, £115 is way more than I would have expected. £20.00 goodwill would have been the most I would expect to see.

auntie_jo

The main reason for my being involved is that my daughter suffers badly with depression and she also has a history of self harming; so what might be a relatively easy task for most when she is vulnerable many things are beyond her.

She signed up to a door knocker selling 'cheaper' gas supply; she got into debt because of bank charges when the direct debit did not go on the date she had requested.

The meter was not her choice but she budgeted £20 for fuel p.m. and £20 @ £5 p.w for the debt; she never had any reason to check the debt was reducing and it was only when I talked her through how to check it this week did she find out what the debt was.

I have never asked for any 'good will' offer; I was not saying there was not a debt nor was I complaining about the supplier. I was however not happy that 70% of all money was taken off before she had any gas supply, I realise some take 100% but when she financially low all she could afford was £5 she was left with £1.20 of gas and always trying to play catch up; so it was the system I was complaining about and I said that I was going to raise this with the Ombudsman.

It was then a manager phoned offering money on the understanding I did not take anything to the Ombudsman, and that is where I am at. The problem is that I have been told that what has been offered is unethical, i.e. payment for not complaining, and as I have never asked for compensation the emphasis has become shifted.

For some reason they say they did not start to recovered the debt until the end of Sep. whereas my daughter thought she was coming to the end of the debt she has only actually paid for 9 week of debt as opposed to 49 weeks.

I am sorry this has gone on a bit, but sometimes when people have part of the picture it is hard to be compassionate to others needs.

I appreciate all offerings,

Jo

Bri_2205

You're right, it's really difficult to be objective without knowing the ful story.

£115 is a generous offer to say the least, I would personally snap their hands off!

Something to bear in mind with Quantum meters too. If the meter is in emergency credit, it will not collect standing charge & debt back. Once the meter is in a debit situation, it will only give 30% of the funds added for gas until the balance is cleared.

Personally, I'd take the £115 & put it onto the meter, that should see your daughter right for a fair while

The payment offered is the company's way of trying to reduce their complaints. The payment you have been offered is far more than the regulator would suggest.

auntie_jo

Hi Bri,
Please see my other reply that gives a fuller explanation of the situation.

I was trying to find out about the meter costs when a result pointed me to this group. I have been a fan of for almost a year and have recommended this site to others. Although I do not normally post but I felt sure 'someone' would have this knowledge, hence my posting!!!

I belong to a few such groups and I am always inspired with the helpfulness of others who take the time to help people like me; so a big THANK - YOU!!!!

Jo

auntie_jo

Another night owl!!!
Thanks again, the information helps, the offer is to remove 115 from her debt leaving her with a much reduced ballance owing. However talking to her tonight she is insisting she had been paying and that even though they told her she would not have to pay for a meter installed it is the only explenation for her bill going up by 100% in 12 weeks from when they said they would fit the meter in Dec 2004 and it being fitted in Feb 2005.

No wonder I am still working on this at this hour!!!

Jo

Bri_2205

IIRC, and I'm not 100% on this, the meter will show you how much debt is ileft on the meter, from this you will be able to see if it has been taken.

Right, erm, I think you have to press the button until it gets to screen 24, insert the card & press it another 3 times to screen 27. This should (hopefully ), give you the total debt remaining (this is without standing charges etc).

Bri_2205

FYI, it's approcimately 0.25p more per unit on prepayment.