Cost of pre-pay Gas / Electric Meters

Acc72

Hi All,

I live with my girfreind and we each pay different bills.

When we moved into our house 2 years ago there were already Gas and Electricity pre-pay fitted (we top up payments on a card at our local shop).

I am trying to convince my girlfreind that it would be much cheaper to pay for this via a monthly direct debit, but she is reluctant as the current arrangement helps with her budgeting.

Is there any way I can do a cost comparison between pre-pay and Direct Debit ?

I am not sure how much we pay for each unit of gas or electricity at the moment - how can we find this out ?


Many thanks for any help.

laura0141

Hello.

All you need to do is phone your electricity and gas suppliers and ask them. They should be able to tell you how much you're paying just now and what the monthly payment would be for the same amount of gas/electricity as well as the unit price and any standing charge for each.

Laura

taxi97w

Most tariffs are on the suppliers websites. Do a google or use an address guess.

lil_me

Not trying to stick up for her but I understand what she means, my house was on pre pay when I moved in and since then got the meters changed andpay monthly. Some of the charges are slightly cheaper but I find I use sooo much more now than I did before they were changed as I was much more aware before with the pre pay of how much I was using and when I had used more etc.

chinup_3

the difference in price is SCARY ie- meters are way way too expensive to justify in the name of convenience. they are there solely to allow debtors to the suppliers, in fact the original pre-privatised suppliers, catch up their arrears. now they make a very tidy profit ! on average for every £5 'carded in' 75p + is 'service charge;and that depends on how much the previous occupier was in debt as it wont be readjusted for you !! info enough ?!
lifes to short to be cold,surely?

taxi97w

chinup wrote:

the difference in price is SCARY ie- meters are way way too expensive to justify in the name of convenience. they are there solely to allow debtors to the suppliers, in fact the original pre-privatised suppliers, catch up their arrears. now they make a very tidy profit ! on average for every £5 'carded in' 75p + is 'service charge;and that depends on how much the previous occupier was in debt as it wont be readjusted for you !! info enough ?!
lifes to short to be cold,surely?

Fortunately Ebico don't have a service charge on their metered customers, so for me, it's much better than monthly dd.

AnnieH

We've recently changed over to pre-pay meters as we've had problems getting behind with our bills. They are a lot more expensive especially as they are taking an extra £10 out of each meter for the debt we accrued. Having said that though, we know that when it is paid off, we will not be so silly again and get into debt.

I think these meter certainly have their place in society, and I used to have them when I was on my own, as I knew exactly where I was with them ans didn't worry about bills coming through the door that I couldn't afford.

They are a lot more expensive though.

skintas_2

ok your budgetiing why not just put the money in apot or keep it in the bank for a dd, i used to have key and card, a pain esp when you forget to top up, becareful as some companies will give you a estimate price for your bill, then suddenly they will doublbe it. my gas is £66 a motn, cos i was in debt the bill is really £49 a month, that is dropping as dont have it on much any more. only for hot water and heating , not very often, and i dont use a sunbed or tumble dryer any more