Key Meter or Normal Meter

LULULU1

Hi is there much difference between the cost of a Key meter and a normal meter.

Is it easy to get one fitted.

Many thanks

t0rt0ise

It's easier to get them installed than it is to get rid of them! And you lose out on the cheaper deals that the suppliers offer.. websaver9 with British Gas and so on. You lose on the direct debit discount. I don't understand why anyone who has a bank account and can set up a direct debit would opt to have a key meter. I hate it and supposedly having it gone tomorrow.. my third attempt at getting rid of it.

planemad

OK the key meters are not everyones cup of tea but they do have their pros as well as cons.
They do have a place in the market and many households opt to have them fitted.

Fitting should be no problem just speak with your supplier, I have heard some people say in the past that they only give them to you if you are having payment problem.
I have found this not to be the case.

Just read the tarriff information as most prepay meters have a standing charge that is debited from the meter daily.
You may also pay a higher price for energy using the prepayment system.
I know that Ebico do not have a standing charge and do have a fair tarriff in my area but you will have to search the market.

Hope this help

spiro

Whilst I would not have one I have to agree with planemad. There are hundreds of thousands of ppm gas and elec meters installed that are not there for debt and are solely used as a PAYG meter for whatever reason.
Whilst they dont offer the cheapest tariffs I think they stop a lot of people getting into debt because you can only use what you have paid for. Obviously some people over charge the meter in the summer months in readiness for the winter months. As supplier are introducing things like 'home vend' which means you dont even need to leave the house to top up the meter they must also believe there is a market for PAYG otherwise they would not have invested in such products.

t0rt0ise

Oh I agree there is a market for them but that doesn't mean that I understand why anyone would want one. I think in the old, old days when it was just the lights that would go out when the meter ran out it was a sensible option but nowadays with fridges, freezers, washing machines, central heating pumps and so on, it's waiting for a nightmare to happen.

wornoutmumoftwo

I have a prepayment meter, and it works well for me (no more leaving anything on and my electricity consumption is low).
WE're all electric and I used to get a £500 ill every january, plus £2-300 quarterly through the rest of the year but based on last years usage we're on about £15 a week for electric.

I top up online every thursday, have never run low and never used emergency. I know exactly how much we spend a day and prefer it to getting a monthly dd or that huge bill I used to get every january.

I am considering changing back to a credit meter, but having the ppm meter in for two years has changed our families habits, no more leaving things on for us, although I am a bit of an electricity usage obsessive.

Premier_2

LULULU1 wrote: »

Hi is there much difference between the cost of a Key meter and a normal meter.

Is it easy to get one fitted.

Many thanks

Use a comparison site to see what difference in cost is involved.

Very easy to change to a PPM if that is what you would prefer, just call your supplier who will explain everything