gas and electric key meters

Legacy_user

we are using british gas card meter and northern electric key meter we are on a low income and can not afford to pay our bills direct debit or in full what would be our best option ?

MSE_Martin

Hiya ruth - if you read the article on gas or electricity prices in the articles section - it should help

Christine_4

Martin,

I am trying to find the section on Gas & electric meters, but all i can find is this section.

Pls help as i am currently paying my direct debit and am considering paying by meter, but never done this before and am not sure if this is the best thing to do.

help
christine

MSE_Martin

OK go to the main site (ie click FRONT PAGE at the top of this one)

Then you've two choices

either put 'electricity' in the search box at the top

or click the Articles icon and scroll down to "Gas & Electricity Bills - how to utillise great savings"

Christine_4

Thanks for that, I contacted British Gas, but cos I am already on Direct Debit they said it would be cheaper to stay as I am, but could put a meter in, but if we decided to change back to the other way later on, that would be hard, and alot of work and money.

Christine

MSE_Martin

Hi Christine - did you read the article. British Gas wil only give you advice about British Gas - and they may not be the cheapest supplier for you. If you read the article it will tell you how to find the cheapest

lazylins

i hate paying for things by dd i lose track of whats coming out

dag_2

Thanks for that, I contacted British Gas, but cos I am already on Direct Debit they said it would be cheaper to stay as I am, but could put a meter in, but if we decided to change back to the other way later on, that would be hard, and alot of work and money.

Can't fault their advice. I think you'll find the same is true of most other suppliers too. Like Martin says, British Gas might not be the cheapest - but dd is generally cheaper than key, no matter who your supplier is.

Key meters are designed to disconnect you automatically when you run out of credit, and reconnect you automatically when you top up. By contrast, credit meters never disconnect you at all.

Key meters are therefore much more complicated bits of gadgetry than credit meters, and have many more moving parts. They are therefore more likely to malfunction, and disconnect you when they're not supposed to. As a result, engineers have to go out and fix them more frequently, which means they have higher ongoing service costs. That's why key meter tariffs are generally much more expensive than direct debits; the cost of more frequent engineer visits is built in to the key meter tariff.

So if there's any way you can budget to stay on direct debit, then do it. Put some money aside every month. Circle the date on your calendar that they take payment each month, and circle the date a week before it each month in a different colour too. Make sure there's enough money in your bank account to cover the direct debit a week before it goes out. If there isn't, then deposit some of the money you've put aside.

Utility companies will usually let you choose your own date for direct debit payment. If you set all of them to the same date, then you only have to remember to do this once a month for all of them.

VickyA_2

We're in a rented house - moved in a couple of months ago - and the electricity used to be on a card meter (through British Gas). They charged us a "deposit" of £90 to get it converted to a normal meter, this was because we don't "currently" have a credit rating with them even though we've got gas through them. This £90 is refundable after either a) 12 months of continuous service or b) when we switch suppliers to a cheaper provider. Guess what I'm in the middle of doing - switching providers!

If you're in a rented house, check the tenancy agreement because our agreement states that we "must seek approval from the landlord" before we switch suppliers. Think that's a bit cheeky, but it's through a reputable agent in this area on their stock standard agreement. In the end it's the bad credit that follows the bill payer (tenant in this case) around and not the landlord.

loon_2

the reason why landlords state things like this is because they most likely have more than one property and have arranged some sort of deal with the company. however, the deals only usually benefit the landlord not the tenant.

as for being charged for meter changes, most companies require a 3 month period in order to get some credit history, but will do it foc.

have you checked the small print as to whether you will get your £90 so soon after having the meter removed?

VickyA_2

have you checked the small print as to whether you will get your £90 so soon after having the meter removed?

Yes, the letter that we received from British Gas stated that we would receive the £90 back after 12 months/we switched supplier.