Moved into new flat - Scottish power pre paymeter cost?

Scotty88_2

Hello everyone, sorry if you get this a lot but wanted to ask some more experienced people!

Basically my gf picked up the keys to new flat, 2 bed fully electric. Told was on a top up key system with Scottish power and was all sorted etc.

anyway since getting the keys she has stayed once as was with family for Christmas and has in no way used a lot of energy. She checked the meter today and had used near enough £10 in 2-3 days. Only been round to put thing in the place and had friends over for food and watched a DVD. This has got too be wrong? my mam has a electric key and uses no where near that and shes in the house a hell of a lot more.

Any advice on what to check etc? seen about previous debt but the letting agent had said all was sorted so dunno if it can be put on by way of increasing cost to us to recoup money?

Think I will be transfering to a non pre payment supplier as that is ridiculous:mad::rotfl:

Owain_Moneysaver

You cannot trust what the agent tells you (about anything).

You must contact Scottish Power and get them to close the previous tenant's account, open a new account in your name, and issue you with a reset key. They can usually do this over the phone and give you a reset code which you take with your key to a PayPoint outlet.

Depending on tariff and area you may be paying about 30p a day in standing charge; I don't know if that deducts from the stored credit daily or weekly, but that may account for sudden drops in value.

Scotty88_2

Thanks matey that's what I sort of thought myself.

Never used the key system myself and I'm working away at the minute so cant get a good look at the meter etc but know that has got to be way too much to be paying for a couple of days!

Will call them tomorrow and see what they say etc....thinking the key meter is a bit of a rip off now ha

Owain_Moneysaver

And just check the immersion heater hasn't been left on, etc.

Scotty88_2

Funny you should say that, the other half did mention there was a problem with the water and someone had been out to sort it. However she said there was 2 boilers, assuming one is an immersion heater, not too savvy with all electrical households but she turned it off and said the red light on the meter (shows high usage she says) went off so could be part of the problem!

footyguy

Scotty88 wrote: »

Hello everyone, sorry if you get this a lot but wanted to ask some more experienced people!

Basically my gf picked up the keys to new flat, 2 bed fully electric. Told was on a top up key system with Scottish power and was all sorted etc.

anyway since getting the keys she has stayed once as was with family for Christmas and has in no way used a lot of energy. She checked the meter today and had used near enough £10 in 2-3 days. Only been round to put thing in the place and had friends over for food and watched a DVD. This has got too be wrong? my mam has a electric key and uses no where near that and shes in the house a hell of a lot more.

Any advice on what to check etc? seen about previous debt but the letting agent had said all was sorted so dunno if it can be put on by way of increasing cost to us to recoup money?

Think I will be transfering to a non pre payment supplier as that is ridiculous:mad::rotfl:

You've not really provide enough information.

As you know, you need to register with the supplier yourself (despite any assurances to the contrary by third parties)

In regards the consumption, how many units of electricity have been consumed? If this is more than you expected, then that's the place to start looking into why.

If the units consumed are in line with expectation, then that is when you need to start looking at where the money has actually gone. i.e as well as the unit cost, there is usually a daily standing charge, perhaps you have a debt on the meter (especially if you have not registered with the supplier yourself), perhaps you paid back some emergency usage, etc, etc.

[Deleted User]

you can t rely on anyone , especially a letting agent. The ones I ve met are totally ignorant of the workings of a prepayment meter. They usually just hand over the last tenants key/card and leave it to the new tenant to figure out.
Check the meters for both added debt and old standing charge debts from the last tenants. On electric the important screens are " S " and " T " to show total debt and weekly repayment. These screens can only be seen with key inserted. Same for gas, card has to be inserted then go to screens 26 and 27
There may also be a build of standing charges, (approx £1.80 a week ) on screen A. This screen shows credit and debits. If flat has been vacant or last tenant not topping up much , it will build up a debt and it will take this off weekly in small amounts so your £10 top up will take a few quid off each time.

Owain_Moneysaver

Scotty88 wrote: »

Funny you should say that, the other half did mention there was a problem with the water and someone had been out to sort it. However she said there was 2 boilers, assuming one is an immersion heater, not too savvy with all electrical households but she turned it off and said the red light on the meter (shows high usage she says) went off so could be part of the problem!

Do you have storage heaters and economy 7? You probably have 2 immersion heaters (in the same hot water cylinder) and the top one will be for 'boost' and will be running on expensive peak rate electricity.