Meter supplier ambiguities

darbooka

We recently moved into rented accomodation where there was a prepaid electric meter before we got there. It has been OK but suddenly the elect supplier has started to contend that there were fees overdue on the electricity supply. How can there be overdue fees on the account when it's a prepaid meter, I queried? They couldn't give me an answer.
But they sent me a new meter key for topups and said not to use the old key. Does that mean they jacked up the rates on the new key??
Also, we got a letter saying that periodically they change the meter and would be coming to do it soon. Is this standard practice or should I be concerned that they are hiking the rates on the new meter?

Cardew

The rules are changing on pre-paid meters.

However basically at the time the meter is set they use the then current tariff(Price per unit). When the tariff increases you are still liable to pay the new tariff even though they haven't altered the meter. Obviously that means that you owe them the extra for the electricity used. They normally recover this extra by 'jacking up'(as you put it) the rate so that you pay back the debt and are paying the current tariff.

As you have recently moved in, you must check that they are not getting you to pay back the debt built up by the previous occupant.

Wig

You need to ask to speak to someone who CAN answer your questions. "I don't know" is not an acceptable response. You need to find out exactly what these extra charges are and what period they apply to.

I have to confess I have no experience with pre pay meters so I have no idea how they work etc. and what you can ask for by way of statements etc.


*Also note *my* recent posts you will see I replied to another one of your threads just now and you may not be aware I just bumped it up.