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£5 disappeared from prepayment key twixt shop and meter

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I'm in the habit of only topping up my prepayment electricity meter when the £5 emergency credit gets low. It had 61p left so I topped up at my usual shop with £5, so that I could then get another £5 emergency. However the meter still showed 61p E, and therefore wouldn't give any emergency. I took the key back to the shop but they said there was no money on it. How could this happen and what can I do? If I put more money on the key, will this wipe from the key any record of that £5?
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Comments

  • You have not topped up enough. A lot of companies have introduced a standing charge at the behest of the regulator to make tariffs more simple. Even when no cash is on the standing charge is still took daily. You have not put enough on to pay back the emergency and the charges so you need to put more money on. This cash has not been lost they have took back the cash for what there owed
  • You have not put enough on to pay back the emergency and the charges
    The meter is not paying off debt nor is there any standing charge. I had used £4.39 of the emergency, so the payment should have put me back in credit to the tune of 60p (it always seems to lose a penny whenever I do this).
  • Who is the supplier as a lot of suppliers have added standing charges very recently.
  • lstar337
    lstar337 Posts: 3,443 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 19 August 2013 at 12:52PM
    I'm in the habit of only topping up my prepayment electricity meter when the £5 emergency credit gets low. It had 61p left so I topped up at my usual shop with £5, so that I could then get another £5 emergency. However the meter still showed 61p E, and therefore wouldn't give any emergency. I took the key back to the shop but they said there was no money on it. How could this happen and what can I do? If I put more money on the key, will this wipe from the key any record of that £5?
    Sounds like a completely daft way to use your PPM.
  • ratty67
    ratty67 Posts: 228 Forumite
    You have to be at least £1 in credit in order for the emergency credit to be available next time you need it.

    Incidentally, what a silly way to use a ppm! Emergency credit is there for emergencies (ie, if you get snowed in and cannot get to the shop to top up) not for everyday use!
    Sealed Pot #418 ('09 £414.12) ('10 £550.90) ('11 £440.60)


  • ratty67 wrote: »
    Incidentally, what a silly way to use a ppm!
    lstar337 wrote: »
    Sounds like a completely daft way to use your PPM.
    It depends on how tight your cash-flow situation is. My bank has recently introduced a £6 charge just for using a day of my pre-arranged overdraft (used to be interest only). I might need that fiver to allay such a penalty.
  • I noticed how you have skipped over the fact I asked who the supplier was! Is this even a real thread is this your attempt at a joke. If its true your obviously not managing your finances correctly. Overdrafts are also there for emergency use not every week so this excuse don't wash with me. Don't use the overdraft then you will have more money for the meter.
  • lstar337
    lstar337 Posts: 3,443 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    It depends on how tight your cash-flow situation is. My bank has recently introduced a £6 charge just for using a day of my pre-arranged overdraft (used to be interest only). I might need that fiver to allay such a penalty.
    Absolute rubbish!

    Makes no difference at all.

    Get it in credit (would only take £5) then keep it in credit by topping up as you currently do.

    Using the emergency credit like you are, is pure idiocy.
  • lstar337 wrote: »
    Using the emergency credit like you are, is pure idiocy.

    100% Agreed.
  • I noticed how you have skipped over the fact I asked who the supplier was! Is this even a real thread is this your attempt at a joke. If its true your obviously not managing your finances correctly. Overdrafts are also there for emergency use not every week so this excuse don't wash with me. Don't use the overdraft then you will have more money for the meter.
    PC9GT05UPjwvUD4KPC9CT0RZPgo8L0hUTUw+AA==You were informed in the previous post that I have no SC. I found your question impertinent as it implied I was either lying or incapable of ascertaining such a thing. Having thought further about this, it's plausible that you know so little about prepayment meters that you do not realize that it's a simple matter to tap out the tariff and any charges on the display.
    I don't use my overdraft, so you are wrong (again) in your assumptions. I don't give a toss if my explanations 'wash with you'; I find your comments on this thread to be confrontational and misguided. Are you really on here to help people, or are you just a troll?
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