Anyone with Ebico on pre-payment meter, PLEASE

Monasaver

Hi all
I am with Ebico since May 2007 for my leccy. They adviced me back them that They would refund me the standin charges every quarter. After not hearing from them since, call Ebico this week and they said they refund standing charges every 6 months. Not sure about that. Anyone on Ebico could tell me,please? And also, how is that, do you have to call them or they send you a cheque without you asking?
Many thanks

LadFromWales85

When I called for advise RE token meters, they told me that it wasn't possible to remove the standing charge from the meter, but they would credit that charge back on your bill. I'd imagine this would mean your account would go more and more into credit, and eventually they'd send you a cheque or you could ask for it back.

If you do find out though, let me know, as I'm considering moving to them!
Thanks

Terrylw1

I think thats an excuse from Ebico. If they couldn't remove the standing charge, every Supplier would have the same problem.

Sounds to me like they don't want to stump up for the engineers visit to remove it since they only send them out for new customers moving in where a FCC is set for a previous customer. Hence this policy saves them money with their Agents.

Don't Ebico have some policy about billing you quarterley for a year, then 6 monthly? If thats the case, maybe they just want to manage this way.

Someone else put the 6 month billing on a post a week or so a go, so maybe that person will repost it on here if it's relevant.

They will either have to refund it direct to the meter or send you a cheque. Be worth asking Ebico that one if no one comes back to you as it must be a standard procedure.

They definately can't just add it to your account as you are PP, so you would never actually get it until you closed your account.

Monasaver

Didn't say that before but I am also with Ebico for the gas in a pre-payment meter. I was paying almos £1.00 for unit when I decided to call them and give a weekly meter reading. Before that they said it wasn't possible to remove the standing charge from the meter, but surprisingly I am now not paying any standing charges for the gas. They said they would send an air message to my gas meter to change the charges, since then the standing charges had desapeared from my meter and I just pay for the units.
Don't know if that has happend to anyone, but if they could do that whit the gas, why can't they do the same with the electricity?

Monasaver

Have to say that since they send that "air message" to my gas meter I am paying a lot less than before.

Terrylw1

I really can't see why they can't do that with your electric PP.

They send requests that are added to your card/payments key which are activated when you place it in the meter.

As long as it's possible on the meter itself, if they can't do that an engineer could make the adjustment manually. Afterall Suppliers charge different standing charges so meters often need the change adding.

Seems a bit strange to me.

Cylindus

I have been with ebico for about a year now and I had to contact southern for refunds of the standing charges.

Southern Electric Prepayment Meter Team – 0845 702 3054

Southern Electric Gas Prepayment Meter Team – 0845 300 2130

I was sent a cheque for gas out of the blue but had to chase the electricity one up.

LadFromWales85

Don't think I'm gonna bother with Ebico if they are going to be dishonest when it comes to the standing charge issue.

alared

I`m with Ebico but pay quarterly by DD.
Don`t think Ebico are being dishonest,if you are owed money Southern are the ones to contact,who deal with the supply and billing for Ebico.
Always found Southern to be very helpful.

SwanJon

Terrylw1 wrote: »

I really can't see why they can't do that with your electric PP.
As long as it's possible on the meter itself, ...

The electricity PP meters (especially the older ones) can't manage a two tier pricing structure, and so will have a standing charge to balance this out for most supppliers.

Ebico don't have 2 tiers (am I right?) so they should be able to set the SC to zero, or if not zero 1p a week to make the minimum difference.
If you have a token meter then they would have to send someone round to reprogram it, but a Smartcard or a Key can be done remotely.

Gas PP meters can handle the two tiers, so don't need to have a standing charge although one is possible. This might be why the gas was able to be resolved.