British Gas - Pre Payment Issue

stevejay1982

Hi -

We had £2.80 on our gas meter, so I went and put £10 on the card and transferred it to the meter. However, the meter now seems to think there is £39 on there! Should I be worried about this? Should I call British Gas?

The account card is ours and I have used it before with no problems. The only thing I did different this time is that I forgot to turn the boiler off. It’s a back-boiler and wasn’t actually on (as in burning away!) but the pilot light was on. Would this have made a difference?

Any advice is appreciated.

Cheers.

RHYSDAD

Look. British Gas make enough money.
Keep quiet and keep warm!!!!!

stevejay1982

Hehe! That's what my mate told me.

I'm just worried that the meter might think I'm in debt! As in, the meter thinks that it has given me £20 without me paying for it... (like the £5 emergency thing that it can give if you need) and then it comes and bites me on the back-side later.

Having said that, as far as I understand, the meters can only give £5 emergency… It just makes no sense!! I guess it could just a be nice glitch...

Either way, I’m not rushing to call them just yet…

Thanks!

magoogy

did you sign up to their essentials tarriff (i think thats what it is called) - its for people on benefits - they get £30 for gas and £30 for electric every so often - the gas one goes onto your meter when you put in some more gas - ive had it 3 times so far this year.....?

stevejay1982

magoogy wrote: »

did you sign up to their essentials tarriff (i think thats what it is called) - its for people on benefits - they get £30 for gas and £30 for electric every so often - the gas one goes onto your meter when you put in some more gas - ive had it 3 times so far this year.....?

Umm... not as far as I know...

Good to hear that they can be "nice" sometimes, though. Maybe they just messed up!

Oh well. Thanks anyway.

Terrylw1

I think it's more likely they've messed up!

Keep it but might be worth having £30 lying round just incase they notice. All they can do thn is apologise and ask you for the cash back.

If you have just moved in, maybe the need to reset this top up on the meter so it doesn't happen. Usually credit are authorised via the key/card via the till but maybe that special deal is programmed on the meter until they change it. Maybe magoogey knows?

Enjoy it while you can!

DenBo_4

magoogy wrote: »

did you sign up to their essentials tarriff (i think thats what it is called) - its for people on benefits - they get £30 for gas and £30 for electric every so often - the gas one goes onto your meter when you put in some more gas - ive had it 3 times so far this year.....?

How would I be able to get this? I have a prepayment meter for gas and electric with British Gas, but they've never mentioned a special tariff for people on benefits!!

Thankyou

SwanJon

DenBo - try here
http://www.centrica.com/index.asp?pageid=1048

SteveJay - this may not be what I've seen, but there has been an issue where the system thought there was a debt on the meter and tried to take it off. If there wasn't a debt, the change ends up as credit. As the amount of gas you use is recorded on the meter reading they will find out about it eventually, but the question is will they do anything. Have you just moved in or changed supplier or had the meter reset? These seem to have been involved so far.

stevejay1982

We moved in about a month and half ago. The card is registered to us and I've used it at least twice before without any issues.

When we moved in, there was about £15 on there, so we just used that and then after put our card in to register it, then I charged it and went from there.

I guess the real question is what happens the next time I put more money on? I'm worried it might just take money off without actually registering it, which I guess in a roundabout way balances everything out. I just don't want to ring the customer service people... trying to explain stuff to them is like trying to teach quantum physics to four year olds.

This is so bloody confusing. Will keep £30 spare, though.

SwanJon

That should be it. The card that you were sent had your details on it, and picked up any old details from the meter. These were then sent back and used to send a message to adjust the meter fully to your details.
It is this message which is adding the credit.
Did you notice if you were getting the full amount for your fist two purchases? If not it could just be paying back some of what you overpaid.
I'd keep the money aside, but not worry too much. Maybe even keep £45 to cover the £15 left by the previuous tenant too.

stevejay1982

Yea, the last two times it added the full value on. Thanks anyway.

I am considering having the pre-payment meter removed because we've always had the credit method (which I prefer) and got stuck with this one because of the new house. Which is really annoying!

Any advice on whether I should change over or not? How does it actually work?

Cheers.