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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I shouldn't have to put my toddlers to bed in two jumpers and have to boil the kettle to fill a warm bath?

55 replies

AmIWhatAndWhy · 11/11/2008 21:08

I'm getting bloody fed up. Our prepayment meter is now costing us £50 a week for gas, and we rarely use it. I'm certain there's a problem with the meter but nobody comes out to see it. You can bet if they expected we were being undercharged they'd be out in a flash.

So yet again our meter has run out after topping up by £20 yesterday so I had to do a kettle bath for the DC and I'll just have to be unwashed.

I know gas prices are high but this is just shite.

OP posts:
DaisyMooSteiner · 11/11/2008 21:10

£50 a week?!!! That's got to be wrong - insist somebody comes out to check the meter PDQ.

AnarchyAunt · 11/11/2008 21:11

Are you sure there isn't a gas leak somewhere?

sweetkitty · 11/11/2008 21:12

That's shocking theres no way it should cost that much.

We are £34 a month for gas, it's bloody cold up here so it's on a fair bit and thats for hot water too.

I would kick up a right stink and I hope you get a nice big cheque for all the money they will owe you.

Original poster
AmIWhatAndWhy · 11/11/2008 21:14

I've been through this before a couple of weeks ago, we had someone out as we were concerned there was a leak. The meter was fine, then they sent a new card in the post and it's started draining money again.

OP posts:
PerkinWarbeck · 11/11/2008 21:14

gosh - much sympathy. we recently moved into a rented place with a prepayment meter. I naively assumed £20 gas would last about a week - it went in 2-3 days. We managed to get a normal meter installed - I don't supposed there is any chance you can take this up with your gas supplier if you are struggling?

PerkinWarbeck · 11/11/2008 21:15

pre-payment customers pay heaps more per unit of gas. it's so unfair .

PeaMcLean · 11/11/2008 21:16

£50 a week for gas??? I can see it's prepayment but that sounds madness.

Seriously hope you get it sorted, there's got to be something wrong with that.

Jun · 11/11/2008 21:18

It's been in the news a bit recently, saying how unfair it is that using a prepayment meter bars you from getting the best prices.

Not sure what to advise, if you get no joy from the gas co how about your MP?

DaisyMooSteiner · 11/11/2008 21:18

You need to make sure every gas appliance is turned off completely and see if the meter is still going round/flashing. If it is, then there must be a problem.

Original poster
AmIWhatAndWhy · 11/11/2008 21:19

We would have to pay to get a normal meter and be billed. It's so frustrating, but they claim that as the prepay meter was requested in the first place it would put them out to change it.

I think I'll phone energy watch tomorrow as npower are doing naff all about our complaints. I know it's more expensive, but there is no possible way we spent all that since yesterday.

OP posts:
AnarchyAunt · 11/11/2008 21:20

Try what DaisyMoo says.

And maybe check they are not charging you for a debt that a previous tenant/owner ran up?

And then switch to Ebico, who charge the same unit price for prepay/direct debit/quarterly bill customers. Much much fairer

luminarphrases · 11/11/2008 21:21

we are on a pre-payment meter and spend £20 a month in summer, £40 in winter. that is gas cooker, two showers every day for us and baths for dd, plus a reasonble amount of heating. it is a two-bed terrace though?

PerkinWarbeck · 11/11/2008 21:21

ok, I know there are lots of complaints about British Gas on here. But they changed the meter at our new rental property from pre-payment to normal without any charge. Could you call BG and see if they would do the same for you if you switch to them?

PeaMcLean · 11/11/2008 21:21

DaisyMoo's suggestion very sensible.

And then try one appliance at a time? Like, just the heating, then just the cooker. Wonder if it could be one of those?

luminarphrases · 11/11/2008 21:22

actually if its n-power, then i'm not suprised tbh. when we moved in here it was on n-power and looking back, we were probably getting through that much. switched straight away when we realised.

snorkle · 11/11/2008 21:24

Take a look at ebico They supply gas (and electricity) to prepay customers at the same price as to everyone else. Compare the price you would pay with them to what you are paying with your current supplier - I suspect you could make a substantial saving.

Original poster
AmIWhatAndWhy · 11/11/2008 21:30

luminar we have gas hob but electric oven, brand new energy efficient boiler but have to treat heating as a luxury. We are in a smallish two bed split level flat.

OP posts:
kitbit · 11/11/2008 21:32

Check that a previous debt is not clocked up on your meter and being charged bit by bit to your card. That happened to us once - previous tenant owed about 300 quid and they'd set the card to pay back the debt by charging more than the current rate for gas. We got the money back when we kicked up a stink.

nametaken · 11/11/2008 21:33

yeah do what Daisy suggests.

Excuse me for being thick, but are you lot saying that when you buy gas through a meter, you pay more?

glitterball · 11/11/2008 21:37

if you can change from prepayment to a normal meter do, thats such a lot to be paying & i thought mine was expensive

i'm in a 3 bed house, & stuck with a pre-payment meter as house is rented; i only have the hot water on for about 3 hours a day total(elec oven & hob) & that still works out to about £30 a month - i know thats nothing compared to what you pay, but i still feel its a lot given i havent even put the heating on yet!

nametaken · 11/11/2008 21:42

I just googled and it says you do pay more if you're on a meter. I never knew that. It's outrageous that the poorest people then, are paying the most for their gas. Is that even legal?

This is why I hate capitalism .

Still the OP can put her kids to bed with 2 jumpers on and as long as the shareholders get their annual bonuses, that's OK.

OP - is it because you are in arrears, or did the house come with a prepayment meter.

luminarphrases · 11/11/2008 21:45

that really doesn't sound right then, as i imagine you'd actually use less than us and similar sized properties? are you sure that they aren't taking off debt for previous person?

you do pay more with a pre-payment meter (shocking isn't it, seeing as mostly people are in dire straits when they have to be installed?). we can change but have so far chosen not to as we both fear that we would go mad and have it on all the time!

luminarphrases · 11/11/2008 21:46

kind of xposted with nametaken, there, but yup. its absolutely disgusting.

pollyblue · 11/11/2008 21:46

N-power are vile. A friend had a problem with their gas supply costing a stupid amount of money and the argument ran on with n-power for over a year before it was sorted out - turned out they had also been paying for their neighbours gas......

Original poster
AmIWhatAndWhy · 11/11/2008 21:48

It's shite isn't it?

The flat came with the meter, we can't afford the massive cost to change it. I'll look into ebico, they seem to have a good company philosophy.

I've got washing on the airers that's been drying since sunday, I'm going to have to dry DS's jeans and waterproof coat with my hairdryer tonight ready for preschool tomorrow. It makes me so angry.

OP posts:
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