Credit meters and top-ups - is it possible?

Tweedledum_2

I have just spent the best part of two hours on the chatline with British Gas. I was passed between eight different advisers and cut off once and with each transfer I was sent to the back of the queue. There I would have to languish for 12 minutes each time.  At most I was 73rd in line and at the least, I was 60th in line. Apparently, there are two teams and clearly, they don't actually talk to each other.

Which? recently carried out a survey of the main energy providers and listed them in terms of how easy they were to make contact with and the satisfaction of their customers. I can confirm Which?'s findings that British Gas is the worst in terms of customer service. 

I still didn't get my main question answered. I have what's called a 'credit' meter as opposed to a pay-as-you-go or prepayment meter. What I wanted to know is if I can load my account online in advance of April 1st or even afterwards in order to make my monthly direct debit payment lower. I was told that although my usage and payments are due for a review on 16th March, my DD will remain the same as it is now and won't go up. How can that be? I never did get a straight answer as to whether I can top-up  - and if there is a limit, if I can spread the top-ups over a few days and simply make each of them smaller. I lost the will to live in the end. So I thought I'd come here and ask the sensible people for some answers. 

Mobtr

Don’t quite understand what you’re getting at. If you mean for example, your yearly usage is £1200, can you pay £600 up front & your direct debit for the remainder of the year will be £50, then don’t see why not. Will it save you money by paying a lump before 1 April, no it won’t, you’ll still be charged for your energy at the going rate as it’s used 

pochase

On a credit meter you will build a higher credit by paying additional money into the account.

Your energy cost will be deducted at the rate valid on the certain date when you use it, so no, you cannot prepay at the current cheaper rate.

Tweedledum_2

Mobtr said:

Don’t quite understand what you’re getting at. If you mean for example, your yearly usage is £1200, can you pay £600 up front & your direct debit for the remainder of the year will be £50, then don’t see why not. Will it save you money by paying a lump before 1 April, no it won’t, you’ll still be charged for your energy at the going rate as it’s used 

Sorry, I'll explain. I'm not seeking a way to get energy at the current lower rate. From what I've read, I don't think I can do that anyway. What I'm after is your first point - paying in a lump sum to bring down my monthly payments in the future. I won't be saving any money - I know that, but I'm just wanting to make my monthly payments lower in order to have a bit of wiggle room with daily expenses. I know you can do that with a pre-payment meter. However, I have a credit meter and I don't know if you are allowed to do it online with that type of meter. 

I couldn't get an answer when I tried B. Gas and I can't find an answer when googling online. It's all about the pre-pay type.

[Deleted User]

Tweedledum_2 said:

Mobtr said:

Don’t quite understand what you’re getting at. If you mean for example, your yearly usage is £1200, can you pay £600 up front & your direct debit for the remainder of the year will be £50, then don’t see why not. Will it save you money by paying a lump before 1 April, no it won’t, you’ll still be charged for your energy at the going rate as it’s used 

Sorry, I'll explain. I'm not seeking a way to get energy at the current lower rate. From what I've read, I don't think I can do that anyway. What I'm after is your first point - paying in a lump sum to bring down my monthly payments in the future. I won't be saving any money - I know that, but I'm just wanting to make my monthly payments lower in order to have a bit of wiggle room with daily expenses. I know you can do that with a pre-payment meter. However, I have a credit meter and I don't know if you are allowed to do it online with that type of meter. 

I couldn't get an answer when I tried B. Gas and I can't find an answer when googling online. It's all about the pre-pay type.

Personally, I believe that suppliers should be banned from holding excessive credit balances. Firstly, suppliers are not Banks but, more importantly, when a supplier goes bust as so many have, we all end up paying for protecting consumer credit balances. 

MWT

Tweedledum_2 said:

Mobtr said:

Don’t quite understand what you’re getting at. If you mean for example, your yearly usage is £1200, can you pay £600 up front & your direct debit for the remainder of the year will be £50, then don’t see why not. Will it save you money by paying a lump before 1 April, no it won’t, you’ll still be charged for your energy at the going rate as it’s used 

Sorry, I'll explain. I'm not seeking a way to get energy at the current lower rate. From what I've read, I don't think I can do that anyway. What I'm after is your first point - paying in a lump sum to bring down my monthly payments in the future...

It isn't a good idea, and you'd be better keep it in your bank or even in Premium Bonds and the moving it into your current account a bit at a time just before the DD is due, but if you really want to do this then check your online account, most providers allow you to make payments from there, but I am not familiar with the British Gas system...

spiro

[Deleted User] said:

Tweedledum_2 said:

Mobtr said:

Don’t quite understand what you’re getting at. If you mean for example, your yearly usage is £1200, can you pay £600 up front & your direct debit for the remainder of the year will be £50, then don’t see why not. Will it save you money by paying a lump before 1 April, no it won’t, you’ll still be charged for your energy at the going rate as it’s used 

Sorry, I'll explain. I'm not seeking a way to get energy at the current lower rate. From what I've read, I don't think I can do that anyway. What I'm after is your first point - paying in a lump sum to bring down my monthly payments in the future. I won't be saving any money - I know that, but I'm just wanting to make my monthly payments lower in order to have a bit of wiggle room with daily expenses. I know you can do that with a pre-payment meter. However, I have a credit meter and I don't know if you are allowed to do it online with that type of meter. 

I couldn't get an answer when I tried B. Gas and I can't find an answer when googling online. It's all about the pre-pay type.

Personally, I believe that suppliers should be banned from holding excessive credit balances. Firstly, suppliers are not Banks but, more importantly, when a supplier goes bust as so many have, we all end up paying for protecting consumer credit balances. 

That is why British Gas now holds all DD money in a separate account which is protected. They have  said all suppliers should be required to do this. 

t0rt0ise

Log into your account and make a payment there. You can pay what you like and it gets added to your account very quickly.