Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Absolutely fuming! To think this is a scam?

36 replies

fifithom · 30/09/2022 19:30

I am on a prepaid meter. I have £35 in my account and went to the shop tonight and put in £300 on my electricity key before higher rates kick in tomorrow. It had to get out through £50 in separate transactions.

Got home and put the key in the meter. It reads 'token accepted' yet the balance remained at £35. I tried several times, cleaned the key etc. No luck.

Phone electricity company, they're shut. Will only deal with emergency's. Go back to the shop (I have all the receipts thankfully) and on their end everything has went through. Money definitely taken out of my bank.

They phoned their manager who said I need to contact my electricity company (can't do until Monday) and then if electricity are claiming a problem at their end then I need to go in and speak to the manager who will call 'pay point' and see what's went on.

Luckily I have enough to see me through until Monday but im assuming since I didn't get it on in time for tomorrow that I will be charged a higher rate.

Im really upset and think it's a bit coincidental that this is the only time I've had issues topping up and it just so happens to be the night before prices are hiked.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
fifithom · 30/09/2022 19:48

Anyone else having same problem?

OP posts:
Carrieonmywaywardsun · 30/09/2022 19:54

Maybe the system is crashed, lots of people will be doing the same thing

Original poster
fifithom · 30/09/2022 19:57

Carrieonmywaywardsun · 30/09/2022 19:54

Maybe the system is crashed, lots of people will be doing the same thing

It's not acceptable whether their bloody system has crashed or not. Not my problem much like this crisis doesn't seem to be much of theirs. I put in my money, I expect it to be in.

OP posts:
DontTrustThisPoster · 30/09/2022 19:59

If it’s a prepaid meter it’s billed as it’s used, you have credited the meter but it will be taken at the rate set by the companies. So for example today your £35 would be used at say 26p pkw but tomorrow it will be say 36p pkw. Crediting the meter doesn’t lock in the prices as they were when you topped up unfortunately.

Original poster
fifithom · 30/09/2022 20:01

DontTrustThisPoster · 30/09/2022 19:59

If it’s a prepaid meter it’s billed as it’s used, you have credited the meter but it will be taken at the rate set by the companies. So for example today your £35 would be used at say 26p pkw but tomorrow it will be say 36p pkw. Crediting the meter doesn’t lock in the prices as they were when you topped up unfortunately.

It does in this instance. This has been heavily advertised.

OP posts:
UnderCoverFieldAgent · 30/09/2022 20:01

I’m on a FB forum for people discussing energy and the rises. Apparently even if you top up right before, you’ll still be charged at the new rates anyway so it won’t make a lot of difference. It’s called Energy Support and Advice (U.K.) if you’re interested. The mod is called Gemma and she’s really helpful.

Erber · 30/09/2022 20:02

Apologies as I haven't had a top up meter for 10 years now, but surely you would be charged the higher rates from tomorrow anyway, as you would be charged when you use the electricity rather than when you top up, and your balance will be reduced as you use it?

As for the balance issue, definitely query that when they're open again. Would your meter show a balance in hundreds? Ie its not limited to 2 numbers, then 2 after the decimal place, like 00.00? Again it's been so long since I has one and I've never topped up £100+ at once. The only other thing I could think of is if you have any debt, but even then people I've known to have debt have told me it comes off as a percentage, so just a little every time they top up. Definitely keep all receipts and proof and I hope you get this sorted quickly.

Hugasauras · 30/09/2022 20:02

Can't they only 'handle' £250 of credit? Someone on an energy group had similar and that was why. Sadly I can't remember the solution!

Original poster
fifithom · 30/09/2022 20:04

Hugasauras · 30/09/2022 20:02

Can't they only 'handle' £250 of credit? Someone on an energy group had similar and that was why. Sadly I can't remember the solution!

I'm actually not sure, haven't topped up that much before so possibly. I know I will get the money or electricity one way or another but it's really frustrating.

OP posts:
Hugasauras · 30/09/2022 20:05

And yes you'll get charged the higher rate regardless as it gets charged at time of use. So don't worry about that aspect as it makes no difference.

DontTrustThisPoster · 30/09/2022 20:06

I think that last time the energy prices went up, lots of people tried this trick. But this time the energy companies are savvy to it and if you do a quick Google they have said it won’t work for the October rises and they were concerned people would be putting too much on their meters and forgoing other expenses etc. just what I’ve read I could be wrong 🤷🏼‍♀️

Hugasauras · 30/09/2022 20:06

Ah I've found the post now. Are you with Bulb? That poster was and had to get another key or something?

InCheesusWeTrust · 30/09/2022 20:07

Is it a dummy one? They can only take 250. You will need to get to emergency for it to take something. We had the same. As long as it's on your key, it will be the price like on the day you topped up

Original poster
fifithom · 30/09/2022 20:09

Hugasauras · 30/09/2022 20:06

Ah I've found the post now. Are you with Bulb? That poster was and had to get another key or something?

I am with bulb!

OP posts:
Bytrgrewd · 30/09/2022 20:09

Hugasauras · 30/09/2022 20:05

And yes you'll get charged the higher rate regardless as it gets charged at time of use. So don't worry about that aspect as it makes no difference.

Sets to higher rate when you first top up after 1 Oct

Hugasauras · 30/09/2022 20:12

fifithom · 30/09/2022 20:09

I am with bulb!

Show quote history

This is an extract:
'Bulb said was because I already had £30 on the meter, they will return it on a new key when meter gets to zero.'

JayPritchet · 30/09/2022 20:13

I have a pre payment meter and there's a £250 limit on mine.

flourella · 30/09/2022 20:13

The advice on this is really inconsistent; I don't know if it's different for different suppliers or what. I have a pre-payment meter with Eon and have only just run out of credit that I put on at the end of March this year. For the 6 months since then, the balance has been counting down at the rates set in October 2021. I took photos of the meter screen showing the standing charge and price per kWh both before and after topping up this week, so I know I've only just moved on to the April 2022 prices. I'll still be paying those rates tomorrow.

Really sorry for your situation OP. I'd be so upset if even a £10 top up didn't go on and I couldn't get through to anyone straight away to sort it out.

InCheesusWeTrust · 30/09/2022 20:15

@flourella it's because some people have smart meters and some have dummy ones. There is no way dummy ones can have rate changed by the company automatically like smart ones. I think that's what's causing the will it/won't it work miscommunications. I am still on ore april rates too

Hugasauras · 30/09/2022 20:15

Ah it depends if you have a traditional meter or not.

flourella · 30/09/2022 20:18

I think that last time the energy prices went up, lots of people tried this trick. But this time the energy companies are savvy to it and if you do a quick Google they have said it won’t work for the October rises

The letter I got from Eon (Eon Next now; no idea what the difference is!) makes a point of saying that the meter will update with the first top up after 1st October. So if a customer did put a lot of money on the meter in the run up to this increase, they will pay the April rates for however long, until they add more credit. Again, might be different for different suppliers.

ScurryfungeMaster · 30/09/2022 20:21

Can you input the code from your receipt into the meter? My sister in law had the same problem as you before with the credit not going on to her meter and the energy company told her to put the code into the meter manually. I found this which isn't from bulb but it tells you what do Link

1dontunderstand · 30/09/2022 20:21

www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/prepay-top-up-trick/

it won’t work if you have a smart meter

flourella · 30/09/2022 20:22

@InCheesusWeTrust Yes, probably some people are talking about it definitely not being the case with smart meters. It's so long since eon took the hint that I didn't want one that I've sort of forgotten they're a thing!

WhoWants2Know · 30/09/2022 20:26

I have just filled up my meter on April's rates and will avoid topping up as long as possible.

Apparently the vouchers they will send out for £66/£67 to make up the £400 "loan" have to be used within 3 months. But I think I can fit at least 3 of those on my key before I eventually have to plug the thing in.