Prepayment meters switching question..

johanne

I recently switched across to Equipower + gas from Npower and British Gas. I use prepayment meters and after a bit of a mix up... not knowing till mid jan that id been "switched" on dec 20th.. i thought everything would be ok and sorted......now im confused some more!!

Should they have been out to manually change my tariffs etc on my meters?

Two weeks on the run ive ran out of electric - which never usually happens... £5 a week is usually more enough. But my gas is lasting loads longer!! And im using the heating the same amount and everything i think!! Im going through £5 in credit instead of £10.

Been busy last few days but just sat and thought about it and have just checked my meters... this is bizarre...

My electric meters display says:

Cost: 007.2ppu
SC: £2.30 per wk
EC available: £4.00

I should be on ebicos rate of 8.68p Per KWH no standing charge

My gas meter display says:

Tariff cost 1: 0
Tariff cost 2: 0
tariff cost 3:0
Tariff cost 4: 2.610
tariff cost 5: 1.630
SC: 0.091630

i Should be on ebicos 1.94p per Kwh no standing charge


Can someone whos had pre-payment switch to ebico let me know if i should be contacting them to ask them to re-set the correct amounts on my meter etc... seems im not paying the right rate at all!! dont wanna be landed with an unsuspected bill!!!

BexTech

Did they send you out a plastic card that you slot into the meter to update the rates on the meters?

If not the meter will still be billing you at the old rates. (This is why many people think they shouldn't get bills from the current providers, as they do not realise that when the prices increases the utility companies should send out cards or you should get the card updated with the new rates).

It is also possible that this company leaves the rates on the meter as is, and then when you bill is to be made up the check the amount of credit you have added on the meter, and if this is more than the cost they charge then you get a refund.

As the cost of fuel has been rising quite a lot lately many peoples meters may not match the prices they are now being charged, and this is why the end up with a statement that says they owe money, as the credit they have added on the meter isn't enough to cover the charges.

Some meters require the card to be inserted for a few minutes, or you may have to press a button to tell the meter to read the updated prices.

This was one of the reasons I hate pre-payment meters, along with the fact you have to pay more, and have the inconvenience of getting tokens.