British gas pre-payment meter woes!

Watto30

Hello all

Hoping someone on here can offer some advice

I lived in rented house with partner for a few years until December, used Npower for gas and elec and had direct debit set at £72 a month for both (cant remember what tarriff name was), never had any problems with them and was never landed with huge bills over winter etc the yearly average was probably around the £1100 figure, used the gas for central heating and for cooking, ch was normally on a timer but occassionally put on permanent if it was really cold, boiler was quite modern. Electric use was probably average.

Just bought a similar sized house and moved in before xmas, gas and elec supplied by b.gas on prepayment meters which I seem to be topping up every 2 minutes! spoke to b.gas am getting credit meters fitted in march but they have told me that the tariff is the same - clear and simple (want credit meters as always worried about gas and elec shutting off if we are out ie defrosted freezer, and a tank of dead tropical fish!) what concerns me is that in the last 7 weeks since moving in to the house I have put nearly £300 into these meters! so have gone from £72 a month to treble that and some, has anyone else had a similar experience with these pre-payment meters as either b.gas are v.expensive or I have a leak or a knackered boiler! it just seems such a huge price difference that I need some advice as to what is the best supplier as at this rate am going to be paying over double what I was at the old house

dogshome

Recent move to house with PAYGO meters, - Did you report your residency and Meter readings to BG when you moved in, and immediately get a new key from them.

It's possible that the previous occupiers had a Credit meter debt and PAYGO meters were installed to recover the debt over time - Check the meter for debt and ask BG

Whilst BG are correct in that C/meter costs are the same as PAYGO, they haven't given the whole story - They have quoted you 'Standard' tariff costs, but with a C/meter you can change the tariff and get good discounts for D/Debit payment and Online billing

SwanJon

It's difficult to compare between houses as they will likely have differnt levels of insulation, efficiencies etc.
You'll also use more in winter than in summer -you are less likely to notice this with DD as it gets evened out throughout the year.

As above you need to check that you are not paying a balance through the meters.
On the electricity put the key in and press the blue* button to chaneg the screens - you are looking for the following letters:
F - weekly standing charge + weekly payment for balance if present
H - reading in kWh
I - p/kWh
S - balance remaining on meter (only seen with key)
T - weekly payment for balance if present (only seen with key)

For the gas meter have the card out and the screen showing the credit remaining - press and hold the red button, releasing when the screen changes. When you press the red button again the screen will change.
If the first screen you see is 27 (GD Remaining) the next shoudl be 25 or 26. If the first screen you see is 00 (Last Credit) then the numbers will go in order, but you will need to put the card in to see 24 and beyond.
The screens you need are
27 - GD remaining - the balance on the meter
25/26 - WRR (Weekly Recovery Rate) - the amount paid each week to the balance.

Collect his info and it help us see why you are topping up so much.

Watto30

Hi thanks very much for your reply, yes I informed BG in advance that I was moving in and got the new key and card and gave the readings so should hopefully not be paying off the previous owners debts but will check the meter just in case

Good to know that I can change the tariff once I get the C/meters installed as can't afford to keep paying what I currently am into the PAYGO meters!

Thanks again

Watto30

Swanjon thanks very much for your reply I will check my meters tonight using your advice