Gas Rip Off

michael1983l

I have just moved into a property and it has a prepayment meter installed. Now beyond the 26 pence a day I have to pay weather I use any energy or not, the gas is a rip off. I put my central heating on for an hour and it took nearly £1 worth of credit off the gas meter. How are people supposed to be able to keep warm in this country whilst organisations such as Centrica(British Gas) report profits of £7 Billion a year. It is outrageous.

PILES

michael1983l wrote: »

I have just moved into a property and it has a prepayment meter installed. Now beyond the 26 pence a day I have to pay weather I use any energy or not, the gas is a rip off. I put my central heating on for an hour and it took nearly £1 worth of credit off the gas meter. How are people supposed to be able to keep warm in this country whilst organisations such as Centrica(British Gas) report profits of £7 Billion a year. It is outrageous.

get the meter changed?

michael1983l

PILES wrote: »

get the meter changed?

It is against the law to not offer the same rates to pre payment customers as to post payment customers so the rates are the same, as confirmed by British Gas earlier on the phone.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

michael1983l wrote: »

It is against the law to not offer the same rates to pre payment customers as to post payment customers so the rates are the same, as confirmed by British Gas earlier on the phone.

Correct in a sense, but does your meter collect a previous debt as well?

The answer you are looking for has already been provided!

PILES wrote: »

get the meter changed?

michael1983l

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

Correct in a sense, but does your meter collect a previous debt as well?

The answer you are looking for has already been provided!

No it does not collect a previous debt as I had it reset. So what benefit does having the meter changed, when British Gas have told me direct that the pre payment and post payment tariffs are exactly the same?

ceh209

They have to be the same for the standard tariffs, but a post payment meter will allow you access to direct debit discounts, fixed term tariffs, dual fuel discounts etc, which you can't get with prepayment. And will make it easier to switch between suppliers.

wealdroam

michael1983l wrote: »

No it does not collect a previous debt as I had it reset. So what benefit does having the meter changed, when British Gas have told me direct that the pre payment and post payment tariffs are exactly the same?

If you want the standard tariff then no need to do anything.

If you want to take advantage of the benefits of other tariffs and payment methods available, then you need to change to a non-prepayment meter.

michael1983l

wealdroam wrote: »

If you want the standard tariff then no need to do anything.

If you want to take advantage of the benefits of other tariffs and payment methods available, then you need to change to a non-prepayment meter.

I'm not too sure erm... that they would be too happy to install a normal meter under my name

wealdroam

michael1983l wrote: »

I'm not too sure erm... that they would be too happy to install a normal meter under my name

Then you'll have to accept the standard tariff.

michael1983l

wealdroam wrote: »

Then you'll have to accept the standard tariff.

Yes I realise. It appears the suppliers circumnavigated the legislation changes by giving everyone the standard tariff but making discounts available only to post pay customers. So the legislation all turned out a bit pointless really.

I don't remember ever paying a standing charge on a supply before either but it appears to be the norm now.