Bills keep going up and up - changing to pay as you go metre

lknights1987

Hi all

I am after some advice, please. 

Myself and my partner bought a 2 bed flat 3 years ago. When we moved into the property there was a pay as you go metre in place which we changed within a few months. We changed from OVO to e-on smart metre and set up a direct debit for £65 for gas and electricity. A year later we got the annual statement saying we own them money so we increased the direct debit to £80 per month. I have just checked my account and it shows an account balance of £800. 

We are thinking of moving to a new supplier going back to pay as you go metre. 

1. What pay as you go supplier offers the best rates?
2. If we leave e-on would we need to pay the balance in full or could this be paid over a period of time?

LippyDoodle

I think if you have pay as you go then you will pay more for your gas and electric. D/D is the cheapest way to do it. 

You need to do monthly readings for both gas and electric in order to make sure your d/d payment reflects the amount of energy you are using. If your monthly d/d doesn't cover the amount of energy you are using then you will start owing the energy company money, which is what seems to have happened to you. 

Not sure how they would want their money, so best to find out before you leave them. Even if you stay, pay off the amount as soon as you can. I'm suprise they have let you get that far in debt without them notifying you that they will be increasing your monthly d/d. 

lknights1987

LippyDoodle said:

I think if you have pay as you go then you will pay more for your gas and electric. D/D is the cheapest way to do it. 

You need to do monthly readings for both gas and electric in order to make sure your d/d payment reflects the amount of energy you are using. If your monthly d/d doesn't cover the amount of energy you are using then you will start owing the energy company money, which is what seems to have happened to you. 

Not sure how they would want their money, so best to find out before you leave them. Even if you stay, pay off the amount as soon as you can. I'm suprise they have let you get that far in debt without them notifying you that they will be increasing your monthly d/d. 

My metre readers are done automatically through the smart metre so I am told. 

Can you recommend a low-cost supplier for gas and electricity?

LippyDoodle

Oh sorry, I forget people have smart meters (I don't yet). 

Don't think you will find any low cost suppliers because of the energy crisis we are having. I think some of the order regular poster on here will be of more help to you. 

QrizB

lknights1987 said:

LippyDoodle said:

I think if you have pay as you go then you will pay more for your gas and electric. D/D is the cheapest way to do it. 

You need to do monthly readings for both gas and electric in order to make sure your d/d payment reflects the amount of energy you are using. If your monthly d/d doesn't cover the amount of energy you are using then you will start owing the energy company money, which is what seems to have happened to you. 

Not sure how they would want their money, so best to find out before you leave them. Even if you stay, pay off the amount as soon as you can. I'm suprise they have let you get that far in debt without them notifying you that they will be increasing your monthly d/d. 

My metre readers are done automatically through the smart metre so I am told. 
Can you recommend a low-cost supplier for gas and electricity?

If your readings are automatic, do you still get bills monthly? What do they say? Does your monthly DD cover that month's use? Exactly how much energy are you using, and what tariff are you on?

There aren't really any low-cost suppliers at the moment. Anyone you switch to is likely to be more expensive than the supplier you are with now.

Neil_Jones

lknights1987 said:

Hi all

I am after some advice, please. 

Myself and my partner bought a 2 bed flat 3 years ago. When we moved into the property there was a pay as you go metre in place which we changed within a few months. We changed from OVO to e-on smart metre and set up a direct debit for £65 for gas and electricity. A year later we got the annual statement saying we own them money so we increased the direct debit to £80 per month. I have just checked my account and it shows an account balance of £800. 

We are thinking of moving to a new supplier going back to pay as you go metre. 

1. What pay as you go supplier offers the best rates?
2. If we leave e-on would we need to pay the balance in full or could this be paid over a period of time?

A PAYG/Prepayment meter doesn't change the basic fact you are using more energy than you think you are.  If they are saying you still owe them £800 you are probably not going to be allowed to move until you pay it off.

I'd suggest rather than faffing around looking for a new supplier, look at why you've ended up owing £800.  Go back through the bills.  Just because it's a smart meter doesn't mean the readings were used.

Elmer_BeFuddled

lknights1987 s

My metre readers are done automatically through the smart metre so I am told.

(pedantic mode on) A metre is 100cm, 1000mm or 39.37". A meter reads usage of a supply (pedantic mode off)

tastyhog

As you have a smart meter it's easy to swap to payg, just give your supplier a call and they'll do it over the phone.

Just tell them you have problems with building debt on a credit account, your debt will be able to be paid back a small amount weekly with what you topup

You can then look around for a different supplier when already in payg mode, most will be charged at the capped rate though on payg, there's very little competition especially at the moment given how prices currently are. 

[Deleted User]

lknights1987 said:

My metre readers are done automatically through the smart metre so I am told. 

Hi,

'so you are told', do you ever check your statements or online account, maybe that''s why you're £800 in debt, because smart meter not sending readings and then having estimated bills.

Ectophile

lknights1987 said:

LippyDoodle said:

I think if you have pay as you go then you will pay more for your gas and electric. D/D is the cheapest way to do it. 

You need to do monthly readings for both gas and electric in order to make sure your d/d payment reflects the amount of energy you are using. If your monthly d/d doesn't cover the amount of energy you are using then you will start owing the energy company money, which is what seems to have happened to you. 

Not sure how they would want their money, so best to find out before you leave them. Even if you stay, pay off the amount as soon as you can. I'm suprise they have let you get that far in debt without them notifying you that they will be increasing your monthly d/d. 

My metre readers are done automatically through the smart metre so I am told. 

Can you recommend a low-cost supplier for gas and electricity?

There are no low cost suppliers of gas or electricity any more. You won't save money by switching.

PennineAcute

In the long term, you will be paying more on prepay than you would be on DD.