Blank Wite Cardboard PrePay Electric Cards - whats the re-sale rules governing them?

EachPenny

RichmondMann wrote: »

I cannot choose who I buy it from, the tenant in question is the only place I can purchase these cards. It seems to be an arrangement between the tenant and the landlord.

dogshome wrote: »

Chances are that the tenant selling the cards gets a profit on the cards for their trouble.

Sounds like quite a convenient arrangement for both landlord and 'agent'. Neither are likely to be happy with someone wanting to rock the boat.

dogshome wrote: »

I'm afraid the answer is NO ONE - There is no agency with the responsibility of policing private meters, and the only Ofgem notice I've seen advises tenants to go to the Small Claims Court.
To do this a tenant will have to have copies of the Landlords billing from the original supplier ! ! !

And making a wild guess, I imagine there are no receipts of any kind issued for the purchase of the cards?

Knowing your rights is one thing, exercising them is another. I'd suggest the OP treads carefully on this as whatever the law says, he is 'only' a tenant and tenancies can be ended. In a scenario (not necessarily this one) where the landlord is not having regard to the legal niceties of energy resupply, you can bet they would also not feel the need to comply with the letter of the law when it comes to eviction.

It may not be the right thing to do, but sometimes making yourself homeless to prove a point is not the best course of action.

Before doing anything else I would want to figure out how the meter works so I knew how many kWh's I was getting for my £5 and the extent to which I was being ripped off.

And possibly making a complaint/report to the appropriate authority after I've moved out.

lstar337

Sound advice above. Think about how much you want to live where you are, as you may find you are moved on quickly if you rock the boat.

Better to leave on your own terms and pursue after, than to find you have nowhere to live and little time to find and alternative.

Tread carefully.

EachPenny

The OP should also research any obligation on the landlord to supply energy on credit terms - since as the OP already owes the 'agent' £20 an interesting situation could develop if the 'agent' says that no further cards will be supplied until the OP's 'account' is returned to a zero balance.

Even now the 'agent' could be posting on this forum saying they've been 'ripped off' by a tenant who owes them £20 for electric, do they have to let them have more prepayment cards without paying?

Knowing the law is on your side is little comfort sitting in a cold dark flat.

vacheron

It could also be possible that the "appointed tenant" is not profiting directly from the sale of the cards.

It may be that the tenant has agreed to distribute the cards on the landlords behalf in return for a small rent reduction or some other benefit in kind in order to make the landlords life a little easier.

lstar337

vacheron wrote: »

It could also be possible that the "appointed tenant" is not profiting directly from the sale of the cards.

It may be that the tenant has agreed to distribute the cards on the landlords behalf in return for a small rent reduction or some other benefit in kind in order to make the landlords life a little easier.

Yes, if I were a landlord I wouldn't want to be pestered every five minutes for top up cards. Especially in all electric properties as £5 will barely last a day in winter.

Also, the landlord may not be local which would make it a PITA for both him and the tenants too.

That said, you should have a clear breakdown of unit costs, standing charges, and admin charges so you can rest happy that you are not being ripped off.

Personally I think these arrangements should be banned, and any landlord splitting up houses should be made to pay the cost of individual supplies.