is it possible for pre-payment meters to be wrong?

borris78

We live in a small one bedroom flat, with four radiators. Over the past year we've paid almost £800 in gas and £600 on electric. £1400 total. This seems really excessive for a one bedroom flat.

We're on pay-as-you-go meters and the landlord refuses to change us over to normal credit billing. Is it possible that the pay-as-you-go meter could be wrong because we're at a loss why it is costing this much.

Thanks for any advice.

chanz4

do you pay a supplier or the landlord?

borris78

Hi. A supplier. British Gas for Gas and EDF for electric.

I'm guessing they both cant be wrong but 1400 seems way too high for a one bed flat.

dogshome

When you moved into this flat, did you register your occupancy and the meter readings with BG & EDF - If you did not you could well being paying for the previous occupants debt

Also, if this flat is one in a block of flats where the meters are all housed in a Service Room, have you checked that the meters you are paying for are actually the one's supplying your flat

[Deleted User]

you can check if there is debt on the electric prepay by inserting your key and going to screen "S" for total debt , and screen "T" for the weekly recovery ammount. Not sure exactly where the gas debt is on the meter, but hold down red key until it beeps and scroll through. ( by pressing red button ) to 27 (with card inserted ) to view debt. the weekly recovery rate is on there somewhere also

borris78

Hi. There's no debt on the meter. I do live in a house converted into two flats, but I wouldn't know whether my meters are hooked up correctly or not. My electric meter is in the communal hallway but my gas is in my flat.

Is it possible for prepayment meters to calculate the rates incorrectly or is that out of the question? It's gas that is the killer, I'm putting 120 a month on now it's cold.

[Deleted User]

Hi Borris, you can see the tariff set on the electric prepay I think its on screen " I " pence per kwhr, some prepays pay a set standing charge, some can do the standing charge paid built into the units on screen "H" tier one. Prices vary around the uk. as a rough guide for you, I am paying on my BG sainsburys tariff, approx 24 p tier 1 and 9.77 tier 2. ( I am sure i could get that cheaper if I switch but then I lose my smart meter function )

chanz4

your l/lord cant stop you changing to credit meters

macman

PPM's cost the same as the supplier's Standard tariff. Switching to a credit meter will save you at most about 6%.

misterbarlow

they can go faulty and I have seen several do so....
i have been to properties complaining of similar and turned off the main switch and the led was still pulsing and the meter was still taking money at a hell of a rate with no load at all..
have seen the credit on one rattle down like a stopwatch...