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Original poster

aHHHH bl**dy Powergen - and does anyone have a pre-pay meter??

43 replies

HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 26/01/2006 12:01

OK - so, Powergen being Powergen last year we weren't paying enough on our monthly direct debit to cover the cost of the electricty (and gas) used. However, they despite us querying the fact that our amount owing was going up and up and up, they said we could leave the monthly payment as it was. Before Christmas they suddenly decided that, "actually no - we want you to pay off what you owe - about £400 at the time", they wanted all, or at least half or they'd cut us off.

We came up with an agreement to pay a bit extra each month - and they sent us a payment card for each one. End of December we duly payed what we'd promised. then we get a letter last week - we want our money. cue a phone call to them (within the last 7 days), where DH spoke to them and agreed to pay half the balance off over the next 3 months (£70 a month for both gas and electricity -although we don't owe as much on the gas).

The guy comes round to check the meter today and tell us there's a problem with the bill. I tell him I know - but that DH has spoken to them and they've agreed to a bit each month. Cue very long 3/4 way conversation between DH (who's on the way to work so had to pull over), me, the guy at Powergen (as the bloke who came doesn't actually work for them) and the bloke in the house.

Turns out apparently the conversation with DH "cut off suddenly" (they apparently listened to it) and there was no record of an agreement. We've had to (reluctantly) agree to have a pre-pay meter fitted at a cost of £26 a WEEK (until the balance is payed off) or they'd cut us off.

Needless to say DH is livid, and I'm p*ssed off and want to scream.

If we can come up with half the balance owed (balance now about £470 - so about £235 - hahaha) in the next 2 weeks we can cancel the pre-pay meter and continue as normal.

DH is now going to have to waste time when he should be working (didn't work yesterday as he didn't have money for petrol LOL) calling Powergen direct to find out what the hell is going on. I was going to make the payments today, but wasn't sure whether I got paid tomorrow or Monday, so held off as didn't want to be left with no money for the shopping - glad I didn't know

OP posts:
Kelly1978 · 26/01/2006 12:15

I had a prepayment meter when I was on income support and got behind. It was a nightmare tbh, if I didn't watch it it would run out unexpectedly and it took loads of credit for debt, which never seemed to be regular amounts and I hcouldn't keep track of it. I'd hassle them again.

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 26/01/2006 12:23

oh don't worry DH will be hassling them. If they'd said straight out in December "look we need half the money at least or you'll have to go pre-payment" (which we really don't want to do) it wouldn't be so bad - but they keep changing their story and of course now we don't know where we are.

£26 a week is over £100 a month!

OP posts:
Kelly1978 · 26/01/2006 12:26

i know and it bloody ridiculous. The y way it works, you have soemthign like £2 emergancy if you run out. So if I went over it would take that £2 then take a couple of quid for the debt then I'd be left with something stupid like £0.50p for the meter. I never understood how it worked it out - but would top up small amounts so it had to give me soem credit on the meter. Otherwise I could put £20 on there and still only be left with a few pounds of electric. Tell them you can't afford it, they cant take money u don't have. Could you pretend to be unemployed or soemthing?

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 26/01/2006 12:30

Apparently the ammount we'd need to pay each week would go down once we'd cleared the balance owed. But by my reckoning with our £70 a month payments just for the balance clearance they'll have their money a lot quicker with the way they originally said we could do it than this way.

OP posts:
mumfor1sttime · 26/01/2006 12:32

Bloody energy companies, hate them, they are all just as bad as each other.

I would hassle them to NOT have the meter, you do not want to have to fork out that much money each money, and they shouldnt expect you to. Try Energy watch - an advice centre. www.energywatch.org.uk

I had a meter, you pay as you go so to speak. Buying cards to put into the machine. I had an electric one a few years ago, and would put in £5 a week.This would last a week, if it did run out we would press the emergency button on the machine which would give us £5 more credit (this had to be put back).

I cant see how they can cut you off if you are offering to pay some of the money, and especially as it is partly their fault for not increasing your monthly payments!

Kelly1978 · 26/01/2006 12:34

have you got any record of the original payment agreement? Is there anyone senior you can talk to? It seems very wierd that they changed it to a method that will take them lnger if you were paying regularly. It will take longer too, especially if you don't top up large amounts and ur meter is anythign like mine was. I never argued in my case, cos I didn't realise how bad a meter was going to be.

mumfor1sttime · 26/01/2006 12:35

The emergency rate on the meter is 'spent' at a quicker rate. This is because you have 'borrowed' the money.
We rarely used the emergency rate, perhaps on a Sunday night or bank hols when shops are shut, so couldnt get a top up.
Always keep a couple of quid on there to fall back on.

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 26/01/2006 12:37

well they sent us the payment cards (because guess what they don't take Visa Electron over the phone......) so we could make the payments. They never sent us anything in writing with it though. And of course, very conviniently, apparently DH's conversation with them other day "cut off suddenly".... so they don't have a recording of it either

OP posts:
Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 26/01/2006 12:38

how much would you say you spent a week on your Electricity? We've got a 3 bedroom Victorian terrace, computer, dishwasher, TV, electric oven etc etc and four of us here...

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mumfor1sttime · 26/01/2006 12:40

They are making me mad reading this, so I can only imagine how angry you are!

I would tell them to increase my monthly payments to cover the debt.
Surely it will cost them to have the new meter fitted!?

mumfor1sttime · 26/01/2006 12:42

Our electric and gas with powergen is £35 month together. We have an elec cooker, 2 bed house, central heating, computer, 2 tvs.

Pfer · 26/01/2006 12:46

HRH - I hate Powergen too. Was paying £41pcm for both gas and elec with Scottish power changed to Powergen last October, apparently we are now using £113pcm on elec alone, they want to increase my dd from £34pcm to £133. Ha! Bouncy bouncy bouncy!! Just not that much spare every month to pay that.

We've done a meter reading over the last week for elec and based on that we use about £35pcm on elec. 2 bed semi. Powergen told me the other day the average on a 3 bed semi per month is £40 EACH, so £80 total. Seems an awaful lot to me.

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 26/01/2006 12:52

well just had a call from DH - we think we've worked out where the problem was from the call last week,

Instead of putting down on their computer "pay half over the next three months" - the stupid bloke apparently put down "pay half NOW and the other half over the next three months"

OP posts:
Pfer · 26/01/2006 12:52

W**kers!

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 26/01/2006 13:26

hmm - that's tame compared to what I'm calling them at the moment.

OP posts:
Bozza · 26/01/2006 13:51

Keep on at them qofq to sort it out.

And for your interest we have a new 4 bed detached and pay £53/month for both.

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 26/01/2006 15:26

oh don't worry we shall do Bozza - if they think we'll just sit down and 'accept' what they're saying they think wrong.

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Kelly1978 · 26/01/2006 15:47

good luck, hope you get it sorted.

kalex · 26/01/2006 17:57

QofQ, write to Energywatch, and copy in the COE & Chairman, if that doesn't put a rocket up their a**e nothing will.

The problem with a prepayment meter is you pay more per unit, and propably a higher std charge coz they are more expensive for the leccy company to keep.

And you can't change to a better/ cheaper supplier whilst there is a debt on a PP meter.

DO SOMETHING NOW!

mememum · 26/01/2006 18:11

I hate powergen too!!! I had a bill the other day for £830! I phoned them and asked why we suddenly owed that as we paid £46 per month. They said it was a computer error and they would send a revised bill. Phew I thought! Received the revised bill on monday. It is now £800! I've refused to pay it and have switched to n-power. GRRR at electricity companies!!

freshstart · 26/01/2006 18:11

You know what I would do? Go on uswitch. Change energy suppliers so someone else is managing your supply then write powergen a letter offering a reasonable monthly installment to pay off the debt with them.

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 26/01/2006 18:12

I thought you could't swap providers when you still owed outstanding money with your old one???

OP posts:
freshstart · 26/01/2006 18:15

Ive owed my other companies money each time I have moved. They send you a final bill.

In fact have just left powergen under similiar circumstances - they wanted £120 a month from £60.

Moved to london energy at 60 a month and cancelled powergen DD. They can have a reasonable offer from me and thats it. They calculated my payments incorrectly then expected me to stump up too.

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 26/01/2006 18:17

hmmm might tell that to DH when he gets in - we wanted to switch from Powergen anyhow - but weren't sure what would happen with the money we owed......

OP posts:
freshstart · 26/01/2006 18:54

its the other company that approach powergen so you wouldnt even have to say anything