Pre Paid Electric Meter not running out

Lex068

Hi a few weeks back I had an electrics upgrade so they replaced the electric switch board. The guy told me the electric meter screen is blank and he told me it normally happens. I figured it was still working just that the information on the screen was blank. I haven’t topped up in a week and so far the electric hasn’t turned off. Has anyone experienced this? I tried to get my electric company to come and replace it but no luck arranging a date yet. 

Hasbeen

Lex068 said:

Hi a few weeks back I had an electrics upgrade so they replaced the electric switch board. The guy told me the electric meter screen is blank and he told me it normally happens. I figured it was still working just that the information on the screen was blank. I haven’t topped up in a week and so far the electric hasn’t turned off. Has anyone experienced this? I tried to get my electric company to come and replace it but no luck arranging a date yet. 

So its a prepay meter? Does it have a keypad? Have you looked at any instructions?

Lex068

Hasbeen said:

Lex068 said:

Hi a few weeks back I had an electrics upgrade so they replaced the electric switch board. The guy told me the electric meter screen is blank and he told me it normally happens. I figured it was still working just that the information on the screen was blank. I haven’t topped up in a week and so far the electric hasn’t turned off. Has anyone experienced this? I tried to get my electric company to come and replace it but no luck arranging a date yet. 

So its a prepay meter? Does it have a keypad? Have you looked at any instructions?

Hi yes sorry it is a pre payment meter. No keypad. The electrician said this has happened a few times when he changed  over circuit switch boards in other properties. Not sure why. There are no instructions. 

stewie_griffin

This happens fairly frequently to key meters when there's a power cut. Did your supplier say what will happen when they do eventually replace it as it's unlikely they'll give you free electricity.

Lex068

They haven’stewie_griffin said:

This happens fairly frequently to key meters when there's a power cut. Did your supplier say what will happen when they do eventually replace it as it's unlikely they'll give you free electricity.

They haven’t said much. I’m not having much luck with them at all. I keep emailing them trying to arrange a technician to come round. It will probably be mid April. I’m kinda concerned I will be lumped with a big bill when it’s not even my fault.

Lex068

I’ve had power cuts many times when I’ve ran out of electric and this never happened .

blackdog2220

Lex068 said:

I’ve had power cuts many times when I’ve ran out of electric and this never happened .

yes , likewise (as the meter is in a cupboard far away) however I think the difference here , is power failure to the meter as oposed to the meter simply stopping as the funding had run out 

in the first case pressing any buttons produces nothing not even a light , however when you have run out of funding , you can scroll thru the menus 

MWT

As a precaution, do put aside the money you'd normally expect to pay each week so you are covered as and when it does get sorted out.

Lex068

blackdog2220 said: 

Lex068 said:

I’ve had power cuts many times when I’ve ran out of electric and this never happened .

yes , likewise (as the meter is in a cupboard far away) however I think the difference here , is power failure to the meter as oposed to the meter simply stopping as the funding had run out 

in the first case pressing any buttons produces nothing not even a light , however when you have run out of funding , you can scroll thru the menus 

There is light just no text when pressing the button. So you unable to see how much credit is left or anything. Hopefully I won’t be charged for this period as it’s not my fault l but nothing is that lucky. I emailed the lady I was dealing with this morning and still no reply. Not a good company to deal with 

Lex068

MWT said:

As a precaution, do put aside the money you'd normally expect to pay each week so you are covered as and when it does get sorted out.

I guess so but it’s hard to save up as that’s the reason I got the meter to avoid big bills.

Gerry1

Unfortunately, by switching from a credit meter to a pre-paid one, you're probably now on a tariff that's significantly more expensive, so it will be even harder to make ends meet.

Far better to read a credit meter at least weekly, do the sums and put aside the relevant amount of money to meet the bill.