PrePay Gas Recovery Rates

AndyCF

Thought I'd ask this as I want external information really not supplier specific.

On a card type of prepay gas meter, the GD 'recovery percentage' rate is or was (from two suppliers I'm aware of at least) set at 90% , this might be the machine default.

What I was looking for were 'supplier guidelines' (or rules perhaps) on what this is -permitted- to be set at, within reason. Bear in mind it is only a two digit value so 100 is not possible.

I am sure I read somewhere that it not generally permitted to set this above 90% anyway ? I could be wrong, I think its more a 'guideline for suppliers' rather than anything binding but if someone can point me towards some kind of documentation please I would appreciate that.

For complete reference we are talking about "Screen 24" or "S24" the GD Recovery Rate / % screen, not the min/max (25/26) or the allocation rate (always zero, screen 23) : , I've bolded the relevant line:

S23 Allocation Rate = Always Zero or should be

S24 GD Recovery Rate = Percentage of credit to be 'eaten' for anything outstanding, default seems to be about 90% (normal I think)

S25 Min Repay = The min credit will be 'eaten' , typically set at £5 or £10

S26 Max Repay = The max it is allowed to eat per week, regardless of how much you add to it, anything above this is given as credit usually.

As I say if someone can point me towards some kind of guidelines for suppliers perhaps on things I'd like that.

stewie_griffin

It used to be 70% but a few years ago some (all?) suppliers changed it to 99%. This is how electricity prepayment meters have always worked i.e. you have to pay anything owed to the meter before you get any credit for new usage.

AndyCF

I think (at least as far as I could gather, as the answer was slightly vague, possibly my fault) that the 99% is expected, although I was able to get the GD week rate lowered a tad to compensate. The reason I'm posting this is anyone else who finds their gas supplier has set the GD recovery at 99% should if they wish ask for the weekly rate to be lowered or the % rate to be lowered if they wish, there's no harm in asking really, at the end of the day the worst that could happen is "we can't"

Unfortunately despite confirming carefully I'd not need a new card again and the local shop could do it etc usual "message on card" I'd expected, a couple of small 'test' topups plus a zero one and no change! Something for a few days time as this gas thing is not time critical for me.