I don't understand my prepayment electric meter :(

Rachel_123

moved into my house in April and had a lovely surprise that the electric and gas were prepayment meters. Have been using it without too much trouble putting about £40 a month on.

Got a letter through from eon today telling me I owe them £70 which I don't understand..I thought I was paying just for what I used? Otherwise I would have been more careful with lights etc (£40 a month is half what I was paying in the previous place so a bargain for us). I don't think there is any debt on the meter as eon were aware that we had moved in and the previous tenants had gone (although I may be being presumptious here that everything is settled with the previous tenants).

I know there have been problems tallying up my payments with the card thing into my account but I was told they had sorted it out (I stupidly haven't kept the receipts though), could this be the explanation? Thanks

McKneff

The meter has obviously been not set high enough.
Did you realise that with a prepament meter you also have standing charges which are incorporated into the charge.

prepayment meters are notoriously expensive. You pay a lot more for your electric than say some one who pays by direct debit.

Rachel_123

Yes I know its got a standing charge and yes I know its expensive, I don't have a choice about it as they were already installed in the property when I moved in (estate agents kept very quiet about it!). Have to live there a year before they even consider removing them.

I've looked at the bill again and the amount of credit they have us down for paying is definately wrong - they reckon we have put £101 in since April when I can remember topping up £30,£40 and £40 in the last 3 months at least. The bill says total charges of £169.24 and then they have taken the £101 off that to come up with the amount I owe so I'm hoping this explains it. Will phone them Monday.

macman

Why did you think the bills would be half what you were paying before on DD (and bearing in mind the more expensive unit rates on pre-pay)? Even if the property were half the size, that wouldn't halve your bills.

Rachel_123

Well firstly my old place had electric storage heaters (horrible things) and was all electric, and also badly insulated, worst rating on those scale thingys (didn't know that when I moved in) etc etc. Secondly that's what it has actually been working out at with the amount I've been topping up - I've been putting £40 a month on and I was paying £80+ on my DD previously (and then a £200 bill when I left the place). Obviously if I do owe them money then that doesn't work out anymore. I'm also using virtually no gas ATM and don't have the boiler/heating on, so not topping up the gas. Moving out soon so won't have to pay for over winter luckily.

SwanJon

Rachel_123 wrote: »

Have to live there a year before they even consider removing them. Will phone them Monday.

Different suppliers have different rules - try speaking to a few (after looking at comparison sites) to see what they can do for you.

Premier_2

Rachel_123 wrote: »

...
Got a letter through from eon today telling me I owe them £70 which I don't understand...

You are entitled to a full explanation from the supplier.

Your meters will record the amount of energy consumed. If you disagree with either the start or current meter readings, you need to advise the supplier of that.

The meter readings will be used to calculate what you owe based on the suppliers published tariff. Be aware the tariff may include other charges too such as daily standing charges.

Your account will also be credited with the total amount of credit the supplier has recorded as you having correctly purchased from authorised sources. Again, if you disagree with this, complain to the supplier.

Any difference in what you consumed and what you have paid for will be what you owe/are owed.