HELP: using SSE token meter but getting Spark bill

John00

Very odd situation.
My bro first time renting. He inherited SSE Pay as you go meter, which he was happy with.
The agency gave them a bunch of papers to fill in order to change names on the energy / water bills.
Of course they filled the papers. After that they started getting estimated electricity bills from Spark!!!
But they still top up their meter with the token!! They have top up receipts from local shop! The meter uses the top up. The meter was not changed physically and they didn't agree to change provider in the first place.

Is it even technically possible having both: token and credit?

The SSE customer service indeed confirmed that provider was changed and will take 3 weeks to change back. The estimates in the bills are completely unrealistic and not based on any meter readings, and I don't see why they would be forced to pay them. Electricity is being paid from the token!

Is it a scam?

ASavvyBuyer

It is very likely the agent got a "commission" from Spark for changing the supplier to them, without your brothers knowledge.

There are quite a few tales of that happening on this forum.

paddyandstumpy

Spark were horrendous when I rented with them supplying the utilities. Move it ASAP then consider yourself lucky

Michaelw

Unless there was an unpaid standing charge.These types of meters should have been replaced by key type but they do appear on Ebay complete with sets of cards.These allow a landlord to set their own rates and charge accordingly

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Card-Meter-Electric-Prepayment-With-250-Cards/183037453241?epid=0&hash=item2a9de1e3b9:g:RskAAOSwTA9X2o8-

pappa_golf

a company with a simular name had a salesperson that went thru external mounted meters wrote door number and meter number down and fill;ed in the blanks , those were pre paid meters

he got his commission and left the company

said company are washing there hands , nothing to do with them

John00

Thanks guys!
As I understand, the meter must belong to some kind of company? SSE told that meter belongs to them, but other companies can use it too. ???
Apparently Spark denies that the meter is token. How is it possible?
If my bro runs out of credit, it goes dark, simple as that!
Sorry what is 'unpaid standing charge'? To my understanding token only uses the top up amount on the key, the same like Pay as you go mobile sim.
Yes, I am reading Spark review and I am horrified.
But still, what to do with those bills? Ignore?

pappa_golf

most modern electric meters use a key that is "charged" at a local shop , the recept also states the company getting the money

standing charge , yes on average 27p per day which is taken off the total amout put on the meter , I think on a daily basis

The SSE customer service indeed confirmed that provider was changed and will take 3 weeks to change back.


ok , you have meter readings when you signed up , and will have a reading when you leave , write those down

House_Martin

John00 wrote: »

Very odd situation.
My bro first time renting. He inherited SSE Pay as you go meter, which he was happy with.
The agency gave them a bunch of papers to fill in order to change names on the energy / water bills.
Of course they filled the papers. After that they started getting estimated electricity bills from Spark!!!
But they still top up their meter with the token!! They have top up receipts from local shop! The meter uses the top up. The meter was not changed physically and they didn't agree to change provider in the first place.

Is it even technically possible having both: token and credit?

The SSE customer service indeed confirmed that provider was changed and will take 3 weeks to change back. The estimates in the bills are completely unrealistic and not based on any meter readings, and I don't see why they would be forced to pay them. Electricity is being paid from the token!

Is it a scam?

Spark energy are now using smart prepayment meters as well as the old key and card meters. It is possible for these new meters to work in prepay or credit meter mode if the customer stayed with Spark..
Normally smart prepays are topped up online or by text but if smart prepayment has failed or become "dumb ", by switching supplier then a token can be bought which will have a number on it so it can be topped up manually.
Spark are most probably using the Secure Liberty 100 smart meters.If a new occupier has taken over and switched to SSE then it will be in "dumb " mode and all top ups will be done by a manual top up from a number on a token.
Spark energy are quite a cheap supplier when in credit meter mode.
I work for them meter reading .They are a haphazard supplier to say the least.
They frequently send me out to check meters from people who left them 2 years ago, so this bill your bro received could be something not valid.
Prepay meters by their very nature can t usually go in arrears but there could be unpaid debts or standing charges not paid so its quite possible for a demand for payment to be legitimate.
Prepay meters can be installed to collect debts from unpaid credit meter bills and can be loaded with a weekly repay of from £3.50 to £16 a week. If the occupier does not make regular top ups then standing charges can build up .
Customers can switch suppliers with debts on prepay meters.

John00

Thank you,
the meter is the old school top up meter with the key. There are no other options on it. I have a photo.
They've just moved in, so if there is any debt, it's not theirs.
The Spark just sent them estimated bill for the first month, the estimate is of what they think 2 people will use in a month, even if it's completely wrong. No debt mentioned. They gave meter readings to Spark, but Spark claims they don't have them.
I think they just confused themselves and started sending bills by mistake.
It is quite a pain trying to deal with them as each representative is telling different story.
I hope we'll sort it out.

macman

Don't ever rely on an LA to change supplier for you, or even to take meter readings.

Michaelw

Those punch card meters cannot be updated to latest prices and require a home visit.I had one for some time between 98-02 but went to a credit meter for some time.That meter had property of EDF when fitted but I never had an EDF account at the time I only had the punch card meter removed because the Post Office stopped selling the cards.