To stick with a prepay meter?

[LovingLife0]

Even though I’ve been living in my current house for five years, we’ve never got around to changing our pay as you go meters (gas and electricity) to a direct debit smart meter.

We currently pay 100-150 for gas and electricity combined for a 3-bed house (2 adults, 2 children). Compared to some of the rates other people are saying they’re currently paying on direct debit, this seems on the lower end.

AIBU to keep my prepay meter or will I regret it in April when prices hike?

price per unit will be more than those on DD pay.

Bave you seen prices per unit offered on DDs now? It's not a fact anymore

But yeah on the rest

The fixed rate quotes take into account the projected rises so of course they are more than you are paying now! DD gives the lowest unit charge. That’s just how it is.

100% sticking with mine. Elec only no gas. Have put as much on as I can before the price rise. like someone else said if I know we’ve used more than normal for that point in the month we cut back on usage.

Make sure to see post by Beesknee. I had no idea (now I am thinking how dummy that was logically) that it's about the key, not meter.🤦
So top up meter AND the key after as well. DH is laughing because I keep mumbling about stupid😂

If I was you and of course if you can afford it I word load up you meter with credit. Usually around £250 + load you key with the maximum usually around £99. That may be differant with your energy supplier. It locks in the current rate. Unless your on a smart meter then it wont make a difference

I love our prepay meter. We just set up a monthly payment per month via the app and enter meter readings each week (only by choice). It isn't as expensive as everyone says.

We use £12 a month for gas (all the hot water Inc showers) and £1.85 per day on electricity. Obviously it'll increase with price hikes.

We have built up loads of credit too. :) prepay isn't the big scary monster it used to be...

If you load up the key does the credit stay there indefinitely?
(although don’t know if I can trust myself to not lose the key!)

It should do

Most of them are smart meter and app based now. So no key to worry about x

And no trips to the shop. Just debit card and app.

We last topped up in march and it's still there. I agree. It should do

Sticking with mine, both for gas and electric. I've paid the same amount every month since I got them (£50 pcm on each), have built up quite a bit of credit on both which is mine to use and not the company's to keep. Also , because I'm able to see how much I have spent every day (as opposed to how many KWh, which confuses me), I find it easier to keep track of how much I am spending each day.

Yes it does. I had mine put in several years ago and have never lost any credit that I have built up.

@LovingLife0

I have prepay meters too, and will absolutely be sticking with them. I like to be in control, and even though some people claim that you pay more, my bills are less than ever since having them. Maybe because I am more conscious of what I spend. I don't know.

I wonder how people are topping up with £250 a time? The most you can put on a key is £49. Are people just putting £49 on, then paying for it, then handing it back to the cashier and doing the same thing 5-6 times over? I put £49 at a time on the electric key, and it always lasted about 5 weeks, but since the rise in April, the £49 now lasts 4 weeks. So I am currently using around £12.25 a week on electric (was about £9.80 a week.)

I topped up with £49 on the gas meter in early May - 4 months ago - and it has £1.30 on it tonight. So the gas has cost about £12.50 a month since early May. Will be more in winter! Not sure how much with the rise. Before all the rises it was about £40 a month in winter.

@PleaseGiveMeJustALittleMoreTime you just stand by that till and do x transaction. We normally used to top up for 2 months at the time and they just did 2 transactions

That's very helpful. Thanks @Bubblebubblebah I will give it a go with the electric when I top up next week and put 2 X £49 on. Need to top the gas tomorrow but will just put the one £49 for now!

I've always had prepayment but I've just been moved onto British Gas from Nabuh and they have changed me onto direct debit. I'm not setting up a dd with them though. I'll pay £200 per month as its the maximum I can afford and I'll deal with any accumulated debt in the spring.

Does anyone know average price of DD fix units from august this year? I've seen from 60p to68 electricity prices, is that the most common?

Dig this out to see if any of you did quick calculations now with the new cap announced?

I will still top up before to fill up few months, it will still save a bit (as long as my calculations were correct). These are winter unit usage approx. But glad to see it's actually just a smallish difference! Must be good news for quite a few people!