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
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

arghghhghg does anyone have a prepayment meter for gas and elec?

56 replies

pecka · 04/08/2006 14:36

I have F**ked up with my gas and electricity after ongoing battle with powergen that in the end TBH I have been too confused over so have ignored.

Time has run out tho and a warrant has been served so need to pay £400 by monday or have a prepayment meter fitted.

DO NOT have this money so looks like meter will be inevitable?

Is it REALLY expensive?

OP posts:
HRHQueenOfQuotes · 04/08/2006 15:20

misdee - it can be with Powergen - one of of our debts alone they wanted us to pay £26 a WEEK on it, can't remember the figure they gave us for the other one - but something equally rediculous - it worked out at over £60 a month more than we could actually afford to pay them - and also meant it would take a MUCH longer time to pay the debt off.

Original poster
pecka · 04/08/2006 15:21

Ive got butterflies

Shall I ring back and ask how much would be taken off for debt?

OP posts:
misdee · 04/08/2006 15:22

ask them again how much they want you to pay each week. we are with npower.

HRHQueenOfQuotes · 04/08/2006 15:22

definitely ring back on the number they've given to find out exactly how much you'll be expected to pay each week (on both gas and electric), and how much of that will be the debt amoung.

SpaceCadet · 04/08/2006 15:24

pecka did you look at my link?

Original poster
pecka · 04/08/2006 15:25

on phone now

10 per week on gas and elec off the debt

OP posts:
Original poster
pecka · 04/08/2006 15:26

spacey, will look now but dont feel confident enough of the details to go to energywatch
]
im crap

OP posts:
misdee · 04/08/2006 15:26

is that do-able?

Original poster
pecka · 04/08/2006 15:27

thats 20 per week on debt (10 on each)

OP posts:
HRHQueenOfQuotes · 04/08/2006 15:27

and how much do they expect you'll have to pay to cover your actually gas and electric usage?

Original poster
pecka · 04/08/2006 15:28

ohhhh i dont know

he was so crap

feel like crying i said how much will i have to pay on elec and gas he said i dont have the prices here but its not too much more than you have been paying

WTF??

OP posts:
HRHQueenOfQuotes · 04/08/2006 15:31

so £80 a month on debt alone!

Based on the £75 a month you've said you can pay I'd say that's not do-able.....

Call Powergen (on their normal 0800 number) and ask to speak to someone in the credit department - be as honest as you possibly can be with them, tell them that all you can pay is the £75 a month - if they expect more they can't have it. tell them when you have extra money you'll put extra towards paying off the debt. Drop in the stuff about letter next to you ready to be sent off to CEO, Chairman, Energywatch etc etc ( managed to drop Watchdog in there as well as I was so stressed out LOL). DON'T agree to them calling you back - it'll give them time to formulate their arguments, stick to your guns.

Original poster
pecka · 04/08/2006 15:32

i know i sound pathetic but i really dont feel assertive enough to fight this.

OP posts:
Original poster
pecka · 04/08/2006 15:33

makes me angry at DH as he has always just left me to get on with running everything to do with money, utilities etc and im not very good at it TBH

OP posts:
HRHQueenOfQuotes · 04/08/2006 15:34

can you afford to pay £80 a month ON TOP of the cost of the gas and electricity you'll be using???? If not then you've got to find it somewhere inside you to fight it. Don't let them walk over you.

Original poster
pecka · 04/08/2006 15:35

but if they insist on the meter going in they know that i will HAVE to find the money to put in it. Cant not have power and heating i have 2 children and im a childminder FFS!! They must know that i will have to just go without food or something

OP posts:
HRHQueenOfQuotes · 04/08/2006 15:39

Just call them - the worst they can say is no - and you'll have to find the money somehow - but if you don't call you'll kick yourself later for not fighting them as far as you possibly could.

Original poster
pecka · 04/08/2006 15:43

ok.....so Ill ring the 0800 number and say "I would like to avoid a prepayment meter, I cant afford 80 a month on top of our useage charges. Is there anything else you can do?"

yeah?

OP posts:
magnolia1 · 04/08/2006 15:45

I am with British Gas both gas and electric. We have a 3 bed house with a family of 6. In winter its £10 a week on gas and £15 a week on elec. In summer its about £5-7 on gas and £10 on elec. Hope that helps :-)

Original poster
pecka · 04/08/2006 15:48

magnolia is this with a prepayment meter?

OP posts:
magnolia1 · 04/08/2006 15:48

Sorry didnt read properly. We had this and with a family of 4 kids 1 under 5 I explained I could not afford nore than £2 a week off the debt on top of the actual charges for the usage. They agreed. They cannot force you to have a pre payment meter if it will mean you cannot afford to put money on it. If you have a child under 5 they cannot cut off your supply.

magnolia1 · 04/08/2006 15:48

Yes it is but thats not with debt now its all paid off.

HRHQueenOfQuotes · 04/08/2006 15:49

yes - basically - put in a few bits about letters, CEO, Chairman, EnergyWatch etc etc, and ask if you could speak to someone in the Credit Department.

Then tell them (truthfully - no point in saying a figure that's unrealistic) how much you can afford to pay each month, ask if they'll send you a payment card so you can make your payments that you agree using it - and also you'll be able to put extra money in when you have it.

(when can you make the first payment BTW - if you can make a payment ASAP that could help too)

Put your foot down, tell them you can't afford what they want you to pay on the prepayment meter - but try not to get emotional (doesn't often help).

Is there any chance you could be able to pay a larger sum off at the end of this month? Say the 1/2 they're actually wanting on Monday??? If so make it clear to them.

And Good luck!

HRHQueenOfQuotes · 04/08/2006 15:51

magnolia - I take it your debt wans't too big - at just £8 a month! £8 a month with ours would take years!!

magnolia1 · 04/08/2006 16:08

No it was about £200 and did take a while but finally gone