Page 2 | Absolutely fuming! To think this is a scam?

fifithom · 2022-09-30T18:30:22+00:00

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?

torquewench · 30/09/2022 20:26

I don't think that's how it works OP. I'm on DD and I'm over £800 on credit, but its not going to cover the cost of power going forward at the same price as when I paid the DDs.

InCheesusWeTrust · 30/09/2022 20:26

Yeah. Smart meters can be accessed remotely @flourella so it wouldn't work. Mine is so dumb even i can barely access it😂
Ha at the taking the hint. We just laughed on another thread about increase in DON'T MISS OUT GET YOUR SMART METER APPOINTMENT NOW! thing

InCheesusWeTrust · 30/09/2022 20:27

torquewench · 30/09/2022 20:26

I don't think that's how it works OP. I'm on DD and I'm over £800 on credit, but its not going to cover the cost of power going forward at the same price as when I paid the DDs.

It's different on ore payment

runlittlemonster · 30/09/2022 21:11

Why are you on a pre payment meter, aren’t they more expensive?
Why did you leave it til tonight top up,
are you trying to get power for October onwards on pre October prices?

Limmonia · 30/09/2022 21:14

Argh what a nightmare. It's been a few years since I worked with pp meters at one of the big 6 but the rules don't change, it depends on the meter you have.

The old style meters would update a new price on the next top up after the increase as it's programmed via the vendor (which has been common knowledge for years so I'm assuming this is what you've been told). This gets you cheaper rates for longer. The smart meters can be read and updated from the office so the new rates would be sent to it remotely to start from 1st Oct regardless of when you last and next top up, so you'd be on the new rates the same as anyone on a regular meter. It's a shame as was the only plus of being on a pp meter, they've always been on a higher standing charge rate and mostly higher charges historically so they're shafted even more now.

There is a limit to the amount that can be programmed to a key/card and this should be common knowledge amongst staff who top them up so they're in the wrong for taking it. You should have been told to top up £250 and get that on the meter before going back and topping up anything extra. We would usually give a code to take back to the place to put on your key, we'd never speak to them direct, however I'm not sure if the smart meters have been upgraded to allow top ups to come direct from the office yet. If in doubt tell them you're vulnerable, have children, anything you think is relevant to getting this sorted asap as there are different avenues of urgency.

Good luck!

Calandor · 01/10/2022 13:37

runlittlemonster · 30/09/2022 21:11

Why are you on a pre payment meter, aren’t they more expensive?
Why did you leave it til tonight top up,
are you trying to get power for October onwards on pre October prices?

Yes, obviously that what she tried to do

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 01/10/2022 13:46

Calandor · 01/10/2022 13:37

Yes, obviously that what she tried to do

Show quote history

& perfectly legit & sensible too!

WhoWants2Know · 01/10/2022 15:15

Yep, I did exactly that in April and the same again this week to avoid today's price hike. The only perk of having an old prepayment meter.

But OP should have been warned that her meter can only hold £250. I'm not sure how to get around that, and I suspect the energy providers are experiencing a very high call volume.

InCheesusWeTrust · 01/10/2022 15:19

I eould just wait when OP gets into emergency and try to top up. We overloaded last time just by few quid, so needed to go fiver under. Maybe it takes they key then. Off to google!

Bytrgrewd · 01/10/2022 15:51

Limmonia · 30/09/2022 21:14

Argh what a nightmare. It's been a few years since I worked with pp meters at one of the big 6 but the rules don't change, it depends on the meter you have.

The old style meters would update a new price on the next top up after the increase as it's programmed via the vendor (which has been common knowledge for years so I'm assuming this is what you've been told). This gets you cheaper rates for longer. The smart meters can be read and updated from the office so the new rates would be sent to it remotely to start from 1st Oct regardless of when you last and next top up, so you'd be on the new rates the same as anyone on a regular meter. It's a shame as was the only plus of being on a pp meter, they've always been on a higher standing charge rate and mostly higher charges historically so they're shafted even more now.

There is a limit to the amount that can be programmed to a key/card and this should be common knowledge amongst staff who top them up so they're in the wrong for taking it. You should have been told to top up £250 and get that on the meter before going back and topping up anything extra. We would usually give a code to take back to the place to put on your key, we'd never speak to them direct, however I'm not sure if the smart meters have been upgraded to allow top ups to come direct from the office yet. If in doubt tell them you're vulnerable, have children, anything you think is relevant to getting this sorted asap as there are different avenues of urgency.

Good luck!

What a lovely helpful post

InCheesusWeTrust · 01/10/2022 16:01

Back from google. Since you are with bulb your key should only hold 255!
help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360016128312-How-much-can-I-top-up-my-prepayment-meter-
Are you 100% certain you have 300 on? If it's 255 then it's really no problem, just go fiver into emergency.