How do you make payments onto a prepayment meter?

1981trouble

We currently have a credit meter and pay a standing order each month onto the aco!!!! (had a run in with provider about the dd so now pay standing order so they can't change it!).

In the summer we are moving into a property with prepayment meters. Unfortunately we are on a dmp therefore will not pass a credit check I suspect to have it changed to a credit meter.

Having never had a prepayment meter, this is all a bit alien to me. Can you have a set payment set up (ie standing order) that will credit the prepayment account or do you have to physically go to the paypoint to get the credit. Everything I read online is a bit vague but suggests you can only pay cash (ie not debit card) at paypoint. I will admit, I am lazy and also not overly organised on a day to day basis so would much prefer to have the option of paying a lump sum at the start of the month onto the account and then top up if required but don't want to be carrying cash around or having to go to the paypoint all the time and don't have to be remembering to make the payments manually.

Also, we currently pay dual fuel but presume I need to split it between the two if it is prepayment metered. Can you transfer the credit between the two if you are using a lot more from gas than elec - or do i need to do some major analysis of bills before hand to try and work out what to pay on each.

HappyMJ

1981trouble wrote: »

We currently have a credit meter and pay a standing order each month onto the aco!!!! (had a run in with provider about the dd so now pay standing order so they can't change it!).

In the summer we are moving into a property with prepayment meters. Unfortunately we are on a dmp therefore will not pass a credit check I suspect to have it changed to a credit meter.

Having never had a prepayment meter, this is all a bit alien to me. Can you have a set payment set up (ie standing order) that will credit the prepayment account or do you have to physically go to the paypoint to get the credit. Everything I read online is a bit vague but suggests you can only pay cash (ie not debit card) at paypoint. I will admit, I am lazy and also not overly organised on a day to day basis so would much prefer to have the option of paying a lump sum at the start of the month onto the account and then top up if required but don't want to be carrying cash around or having to go to the paypoint all the time and don't have to be remembering to make the payments manually.

Also, we currently pay dual fuel but presume I need to split it between the two if it is prepayment metered. Can you transfer the credit between the two if you are using a lot more from gas than elec - or do i need to do some major analysis of bills before hand to try and work out what to pay on each.

You usually have to go to a Paypoint and top up. You cannot use a standing order. It is up to you how often you do it. Generally I would advise you go as often as you are paid. Paid monthly then go monthly. You can get a device from some suppliers that you plug into your computer and top-up at home.

You cannot transfer the credit form one to another. They are 2 different supplies.

1981trouble

Thanks, that just sucks then. You'd think they'd prefer getting a regular payment as it's almost guaranteed money!

Looks like I will have to be organised on pay day each month then. Ugh.

Will have a look for the computer plug in things and see which suppliers use them as that would be better than nothing I guess.

Dontknowanymore

Why would they prefer regular payments over Pay as you go? at least with a key meter you can't get into debt, and it is garunteed...
Depending on the company you can use payzone, but paypoint can be used by all, I know British gas do the home top up, not sure about anyone else.
http://www.paypoint.co.uk/locator.aspx

1981trouble

"Why would they prefer regular payments over Pay as you go? at least with a key meter you can't get into debt, and it is garunteed..."

But it would still be paid in advance and the prepayment meter would be topped up automatically and they'd have the money in their pockets not mine and a guarantee of no debt. It would be no different to topping up a payg phone on automatic top up. Just seems like they are making it harder for people - or maybe that good old common sense is forgotten from business again.

It would just make budgeting a whole lot easier for me - I know what I'm like and would be thinking oh there is loads on there no rush and then forget and run out a week before pay day or something.

Dontknowanymore

1981trouble wrote: »

"Why would they prefer regular payments over Pay as you go? at least with a key meter you can't get into debt, and it is garunteed..."

But it would still be paid in advance and the prepayment meter would be topped up automatically and they'd have the money in their pockets not mine and a guarantee of no debt. It would be no different to topping up a payg phone on automatic top up. Just seems like they are making it harder for people - or maybe that good old common sense is forgotten from business again.

It would just make budgeting a whole lot easier for me - I know what I'm like and would be thinking oh there is loads on there no rush and then forget and run out a week before pay day or something.

Well maybe it will help you on your way to budget more
Now there is a certain day every 4 weeks where I pay everything such as leccy gas rent and tv licence before I do anythin else, it's taken me a while to come up with this plan but in the long run it will leave me with more money left over on a weekly basis.
Put a reminder in your phone.
I love having a pre payment meter, just got my gas one installed yesterday, as well as knowing where I am money wise, I find it's made me think about being wasteful.
Before yesterday I would have the heating on willy nilly, now it is going on for 45 mins in the morning, then 45 mins just before the first child goes to bed.
With my electric, much to my childrens annoyance I have become very anal about lights and switches!

HappyMJ

1981trouble wrote: »

"Why would they prefer regular payments over Pay as you go? at least with a key meter you can't get into debt, and it is garunteed..."

But it would still be paid in advance and the prepayment meter would be topped up automatically and they'd have the money in their pockets not mine and a guarantee of no debt. It would be no different to topping up a payg phone on automatic top up. Just seems like they are making it harder for people - or maybe that good old common sense is forgotten from business again.

It would just make budgeting a whole lot easier for me - I know what I'm like and would be thinking oh there is loads on there no rush and then forget and run out a week before pay day or something.

You can also stop payments on a standing order and pay in arrears. They cannot change you to a prepayment meter if you miss a few standing order payments you must actually be in arrears....and no small amount of arrears. The arrears must be enough to be worth switching you to a prepayment meter...Usually £200 or more.

They do prefer direct debit and will give you a discount for it. If you pass a credit check and are willing to pay £50 or so for a meter change (although some companies will change the meter for free) then you might want to consider that.

It's just how the meter works. You have to top up the card at a shop or on a usb device then put that card in the meter so the meter knows it has credit to use.

chanz4

As above pre-pay is guaranteed payments, you will also learn to be aware of your usage more in the new property.

mattcanary

1981Trouble, I moved into a flat with a prepaymet meter already fitted back in 2010. I had been supplied by Ebico at my previous address on a credit (not prepayment) meter.

I asked to have the prepayment meters taken out (I acually called SSE - was Southern) even though I had been with Ebico (they use the same callcentre). I passed the credit check even though I had missed many payment son my loans and credit-cards. I had however been up to date on my utility bills.

If you are up to date with your utility bills, you may pass the credit check. Just a thought!

Terrylw1

Sadly, despite PPM's being convenient to stop debt, the utility sector is still a couple of decades behind on technology! Bgas seem to be pushing this forward with buying credit online, hopefully the rest will follow and then it will work just like a prepay mobile.

Utilities are dinosaurs...they're only just upgrading their 30 year old billing systems which were well out of date 10 years ago...