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Gas Smart Meter Help
AinsleyGreig
Posts: 2 Newbie
in Energy
I am currently with British Gas for Gas and Scottish power for Electricity, both Prepayment meters. Scottish power is a smart prepayment meter so I can top up from the comfort of my own home.
British Gas on the other hand....I used to top up online with the old Gas USB Card reader, then they stopped that service as smart meters were coming. I could top up locally until 2020 when the changed where you could top up. Now its an issue to top up as I don't drive and only the post office is available in my area which is a pain during as only during working hours. I have asked British gas for a smart meter but they just keep saying I am on a waiting list, its been that way for over a year!
With the hike in Gas prices I am running out more and more and I can't get to a location to top up so we are going for stretches without Gas. I don't have the funds to top up more and less regularly, the whole reason I use a prepayment meter is to spread the costs as a single parent. I have neighbours who uses Scottish power prepayment for both Gas and electricity and have a smart meter, so I thought changing supplier might be the best option. But Scottish power just advise that its not possible at the moment due to the high prices and staying with my current supplier is the best option.
But I don't want to switch for cost I want to switch for convenience of top up! Right now we haven't had Gas for 5 days, so no gas heating and no hot water. I can't feasibly see me being able to get to a top up location for at least another 3 days outside of the hours I am working and I am worried about pipes freezing etc! Also the electricity use is sky high as we have to use electric heaters.
Does anyone have any guidance on how I can move supplier to get a prepayment Smart meter and allow me to top up my gas online!
British Gas on the other hand....I used to top up online with the old Gas USB Card reader, then they stopped that service as smart meters were coming. I could top up locally until 2020 when the changed where you could top up. Now its an issue to top up as I don't drive and only the post office is available in my area which is a pain during as only during working hours. I have asked British gas for a smart meter but they just keep saying I am on a waiting list, its been that way for over a year!
With the hike in Gas prices I am running out more and more and I can't get to a location to top up so we are going for stretches without Gas. I don't have the funds to top up more and less regularly, the whole reason I use a prepayment meter is to spread the costs as a single parent. I have neighbours who uses Scottish power prepayment for both Gas and electricity and have a smart meter, so I thought changing supplier might be the best option. But Scottish power just advise that its not possible at the moment due to the high prices and staying with my current supplier is the best option.
But I don't want to switch for cost I want to switch for convenience of top up! Right now we haven't had Gas for 5 days, so no gas heating and no hot water. I can't feasibly see me being able to get to a top up location for at least another 3 days outside of the hours I am working and I am worried about pipes freezing etc! Also the electricity use is sky high as we have to use electric heaters.
Does anyone have any guidance on how I can move supplier to get a prepayment Smart meter and allow me to top up my gas online!
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Comments
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The moving supplier bit is easy - just call up and instigate the switch. (most aren't doing it online at the moment). Getting a SM installed though might be trickier a there are supply issues. Personally I'd give Octopus a shout.🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her0 -
Scottish Power wouldn't accept the request to switch when I contacted them unfortunately. They advised that switching wasn't possible currently.EssexHebridean said:The moving supplier bit is easy - just call up and instigate the switch. (most aren't doing it online at the moment). Getting a SM installed though might be trickier a there are supply issues. Personally I'd give Octopus a shout.0 -
Try Octopus then, and if you can find a referral code that'll be £50 credit, off to a good start.0
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Anyone like myself who is already an Octopus customer can provide a referral code. For clarity - the code offers £50 to the new customer, and £50 to the referring one. if you are interested in using a code for a switch, then drop me a DM.Spoonie_Turtle said:Try Octopus then, and if you can find a referral code that'll be £50 credit, off to a good start.
(And for further clarity - the reason I suggested Octopus previously was because I know that they, and EDF currently accept new customers with a minimum of fuss, and I wouldn't recommend EDF to anyone bar my worst enemy!)
SP were also telling porkies - they can perfectly well accept a switch to them at the moment, they are just choosing not to. On the other hand they are also a company I'd not recommend to anyone bar... so make of that what you will!🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her1 -
Yes, my wording 'find' there was in deference to forum rules of not being allowed to share our own. (Although if I've misunderstood and we are allowed to share via PM I would be very happy to be corrected.)EssexHebridean said:
Anyone like myself who is already an Octopus customer can provide a referral code.Spoonie_Turtle said:Try Octopus then, and if you can find a referral code that'll be £50 credit, off to a good start.1 -
If someone chooses to DM someone else asking for a referral code I can't see that breaking any rules.Spoonie_Turtle said:
Yes, my wording 'find' there was in deference to forum rules of not being allowed to share our own. (Although if I've misunderstood and we are allowed to share via PM I would be very happy to be corrected.)EssexHebridean said:
Anyone like myself who is already an Octopus customer can provide a referral code.Spoonie_Turtle said:Try Octopus then, and if you can find a referral code that'll be £50 credit, off to a good start.
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her0 -
Plenty of happy Octopus customers on the forums. They usually answer the phone fairly quickly too
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Solar PV 5.25kWp SW facing (14 x 375) Lux 3.6kw hybrid inverter installed Mar 22 and 9.6kw Pylontech battery
Daikin 8kW ASHP installed Jan 25
Octopus Cosy/Fixed Outgoing1 -
I switched my electricity to Octopus in early November and the smart meter was installed within a month.No free lunch, and no free laptop1
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The customers do?Alnat1 said:Plenty of happy Octopus customers on the forums. They usually answer the phone fairly quickly too 1
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