Cheap Prepay Gas & Elec Article

Blunty

I'm using pre-payment cards/keys with EBICo. I live alone and reckon I spend around £60 a month on average to top up my cards (£40 gas and £20 electricity) - more in the winter, but less in the summer.
I've used the the comparison websites and none have ever found a cheaper deal. EBICo charge slightly more for each unit of gas or electricity used, but this is more than made up for by the fact that they don't levy the daily standing charges that others do. This is perfect for low users - standing charges with another supplier would equate to £142 per year.
I highly recommend EBICo.

Nada666

Blunty wrote: »

I'm using pre-payment cards/keys with EBICo. I live alone and reckon I spend around £60 a month on average to top up my cards (£40 gas and £20 electricity) - more in the winter, but less in the summer.
I've used the the comparison websites and none have ever found a cheaper deal. EBICo charge slightly more for each unit of gas or electricity used, but this is more than made up for by the fact that they don't levy the daily standing charges that others do. This is perfect for low users - standing charges with another supplier would equate to £142 per year.
I highly recommend EBICo.

Even on that usage you could save £150 per year if you got rid of your prepayment meter. Yes, Ebico provide cheap prepayment prices - but you need an enormous reason to deliberately keep prepayment meters. If you want to pay a 20% premium then that is your choice.

Chrissie8240

I own an apartment which I never lived in, since I purchased it in 2007 I have rented it out through an agency. From the end of 2009 until now I have lived abroad. I am returning to the UK to live at the end of July. I have recently been told by the agency that there is a pre-payment meter for the electricity supply to the property installed by NPower, this was not because of the last tenant, who lived there from December 2012 to 6th June 2013 but, for the previous tenants who owed money to NPower.

I called NPower on 30th June to request that this meter be exchanged for a credit meter as I wanted to take over the supply and wished to pay by direct debit. I was told that I would have to pay 60 pounds for this. When I complained and explained that although I owned the property no-one from NPower asked my permission to install a pre-payment meter I was told that instructions are taken from the person to whom the electricity is supplied. I asked if I could speak to a Manager, the Manager told me the same and when I asked what would happen if I changed suppliers I was told that it was ok with NPower if I wanted to do that but, I would still have to pay the 60 pounds.

I sent an email to helpline@npower.com on 30th June explaining that I had been an NPower customer for electricity and gas from 2004 to 2009, paying by direct debit and asked for their advice about this situation.

I received an auto reply the same day saying that they tried to respond to queries within 5 working days. I am still waiting for the response.

Does anyone know if EBICO supply in the West Midlands? They sound a very responsible company and I would like to consider them for supply.

Chrissie8240

Can anyone advise on which company to use if the property is not occupied all the time. I am planning to spend some months of the year (mainly winter) abroad and therefore won't use as much gas and electricity as 'normal' households.

Because I have not lived in the property yet and have not been in the UK for the last 5 years I have no figures to complete a comparison form on one the websites.

lstar337

Chrissie8240 wrote: »

I asked if I could speak to a Manager, the Manager told me the same and when I asked what would happen if I changed suppliers I was told that it was ok with NPower if I wanted to do that but, I would still have to pay the 60 pounds.

Not true. Switch to EDF or British Gas and they will change it for free. Then switch to whoever you like.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

The meter is npower's property, they can install a PPM if they see fit. The tenant didn't return the property in the condition they were given it, and the money could have been recovered from their deposit (although I'd imagine that ship has probably sailed).

You can go with ebico, bear in mind that because they have 0 standing charge, their unit rate is particularly high. It doesn't take much usage for them to be very uneconomical.

The UK average consumption is 13500 KWh gas and 3200 KWh elec. Probably best to use that as a starting point and guesstimate what you'll use into a price comparison site. If ebico is the best, go for it.

You'll have to ask them direct if they'll swap PPM to credit for free.

Exeter63

I am currently with Npower on a dual fuel tariff. With prepay my yearly bill is £728. As for price fixing, it is a con, EDF quoting me £102 a month on prepay compared to my current £56. Making my yearly payment £728, compared to EDF's £1,220

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Exeter63 wrote: »

I am currently with Npower on a dual fuel tariff. With prepay my yearly bill is £728. As for price fixing, it is a con, EDF quoting me £102 a month on prepay compared to my current £56. Making my yearly payment £728, compared to EDF's £1,220

It's not a quote, it's an estimate (and a bad one).

If your consumption doesn't change, DD will be cheaper than PPM every time.

Exeter63

I will never go to a normal meter, been down that path before and regretted it. 15 years ago when i moved into this property, nPower said that to setup an account would take 6 weeks, so i signed up with EDF who setup a short term supply plan.

When NPower connected me, i informed EDF to terminate my supply, paid them the balance in full. 9 months later they billed me for £900 saying that's a 12 month supply charge. It took 2 court appearances and a fine, plus £300 compensation before they scrapped the bill and final demand. I have been on prepay ever since.

Direct Debit is not prepay, that's standard metering.

PS What i have been doing for 2 years, is putting the equivalent of a years gas charge on my gas card, and 8 months on my electric key. Price rises don't affect me until i next topup the key and card.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Exeter63 wrote: »

I will never go to a normal meter, been down that path before and regretted it. 15 years ago when i moved into this property, nPower said that to setup an account would take 6 weeks, so i signed up with EDF who setup a short term supply plan.

When NPower connected me, i informed EDF to terminate my supply, paid them the balance in full. 9 months later they billed me for £900 saying that's a 12 month supply charge. It took 2 court appearances and a fine, plus £300 compensation before they scrapped the bill and final demand. I have been on prepay ever since.

Direct Debit is not prepay, that's standard metering.

PS What i have been doing for 2 years, is putting the equivalent of a years gas charge on my gas card, and 8 months on my electric key. Price rises don't affect me until i next topup the key and card.

I have no idea what your 3rd paragraph is on about. I know DD isn't prepay, PPM is prepay!

If you're happy with PPM's, great. You have clearly had a bad experience with edf.

However, this is MSE, and people should be aware that PPM is the most expensive way you can pay for energy.