Prepayment electric meter - RipOff

jonnyb1978

I have a Prepayment electric meter and am currently £40 in arrears as they they we have paid less and used more electricity. (Manweb Scottish Power).
Their fault as we can only put in the cards, not my fault they dont restset the meter!!!

Anyways a letter has come stating that the meter has been adjusted to pay off this debt. Its set at £5.00 a week but only £3.73 goes to pay off this debt. Where does the other £1.27 go to?

Also, yesterday i was on the emergancy at £1.78 left so i topped it up with £10.00. I thought the balance would have been £6.78 have re credited the emrgancy and the remaining being the balance left.
However my balance was £5.30 so again £1.48 has disappeared.

I know it is more costly to pay this way but i feel i am being totally ripped off. Seem to be putting in at least £20 a week into the meter.

Can anyone advise me on where this disappearing money goes to?
Im going to pay off the debt by phone and remove the meter but before i ring i want to get my facts straight as everytime i ring i get no sense out of anyone.

Thanks

roger56

Cann't advise on where the disappearing money goes, but take a look at Ebico
they are a fair trade, not for profit supplier with one rate for anyone regardless of payment method (ie DD, pre pay etc). They are also one of the cheapest:
http://www.ebico.co.uk/en/open/pages/gasandpoweren.php

They are well recommended on this site, checkout some of the latest posts on this thread:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=53071&page=5&highlight=Ebico

jonnyb1978

Wow thanks. Just had a look at an old gas bill. Here is a break down.

22/05/06 -09/07.06 (About a month and a half)

857 units used @ 2.464
Daily charge 84 day @11.090
Plus VAT
TOTAL £32.06

Looked on ebico website and the Total is £21.85

Thats a third in savings. Paying £38.00 monthly (although in credit a bit)
Thats £456 yearly. Hopefully i could reduce this to roughly £304. Just £25 a month and still be in credit.

roger56

1/3rd savings, great....mines a :beer:

and Ebico tarrifs are just so simple!