gas prepayment meter

willow70_2

i am not sure were to but this for advice. i currently have a prepayment gas meter i just cant afford to keep topping it up i am currently with a iva so i dont have much spare each month i am currently putting 5.00 a day on. is there anything npower could or should be doing to help me. any advice will be great

peppa-pig

have you contacted power directly and asked if there is anything they can do to help? Are you currently paying a debt through the meter as well? have you tried asking to change to a credit meter and pay direct debit?

MicheH

Hi willow70.

It's freezing right now isn't it. My gas usage last month was shocking too and much the same I expect when I do another reading at the end of this month.

Maybe you could try posting in the Gas and Electric part of MSE too http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=13

Sorry I couldn't be more of a help though.

ETA: just done a quick search on help with topping up prepayment meters. Don't know if it's reliable but it's a start for you

http://cfe.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/6460/~/i-can%E2%80%99t-afford-to-top-up-my-prepayment-meter-%E2%80%93-what-help-is-available%3F

iolanthe07

i am currently putting 5.00 a day on.

This works out at about £150 a month which seems about normal for this cold weather. It evens out over the year; why don't you ask to set up a direct debit where the payments can be averaged out?

Tupperware_Queen

you can change supplier even on prepayment. I have just moved to a property with prepayment, you have my sympathy, I am putting similar amounts on mine. I was on credit meters at my previous house, and always paid more on DD in summer, so I didn't have to worry about the winter, its something that I can imagine is hard to do on prepayment, unless you steel yourself to pay every week even if you have credit on the meter. Thats not going to help you right now, and even if you were able to change to a credit meter, they charge £50 for this, and would take a few weeks to arrange anyway. I suggest ringing Npower and seeing if there is another tariff you can go on, or if they can help in some other way, you can't be the only one who is in this situtation.

Good luck

andyf1980

I know when I looked at it for someone that worked for me, the cost of prepay was significantly higher per unit than even a standard dd tariff. I know there are administration costs for a prepay meter but still. It seems harsh to charge the people who can least afford it more:(

You didn't say how big your property is but I pay £55 a month for gas and electric on a 1 bedroom flat.

I'd definitely give n power a ring; can't hurt to ask. :A

camillecairney

please please please change from npower!! i like you was on a prepayment metre. their costs are extortionate! The usual sales ppl came to my door and i always shunned them until a really nice lady came and showed me exactly what i would be saving moving supplyer, i did and got £50 cash back as well as slashing the amount of gas and electricity i was having to put in. if you would like more details please feel free to pm me.
:money:

davidgmmafan

Ebico I believe charges same for credit and prepayment, might be worth shopping around as opposed to paying to have the meter removed.

Regards to help a lot of it is income based, given you have an IVA I'd expect you would be over the income threshold as it is quite low. However if you are in fuel poverty (10%) or more of your income going on usage it may be worth speaking to them.

Finally speak to them anyway if there is a debt on the meter, they may be able to reduce the rate this is collected at if you are in hardship. Last but not least if there is a balance less than £200 it should be possible to change supplier on prepayment.

Tupperware_Queen

hope the OP got something sorted, this thread has been on my mind cos its been so very cold here