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What happens when my emergency electric runs out?

99 replies

NewNameForPrivacy · 21/08/2015 19:12

I have a pay as you go electricity meter with British Gas. Ran out of credit 2 days ago and popped the key in to give me £5 emergency credit. I thought this would be more than enough to last til payday on Monday.

Well, halfway through cooking dinner there the daft meter starts bleeping. 98p remaining. No idea if electricity costs more per Kwh if in emergency? I have had the washing machine and cooker on loads the past few days doing batch cooking etc.

I'm usually right on top of things like this. I have a budget spreadsheet accounting for every penny coming in and out each month. But this week I've had to use the electric money to get my daughter a new pair of school shoes from Asda. We bought a pair 2 weeks ago using a gift voucher from Clarks. But she came home on Tuesday with massive blisters. Then spent another £5 from my electric fund on the train to return the shoes to Clarks who said they couldn't exchange due to me not having proof of purchase! Argh. Anyway that's another story i suppose.

I've got plenty of food in and things. I have dinners tomorrow and Sunday that I'm going to need the (electric) cooker for. But asides from that, we won't be using much electric. My daughter has uniform washed and ready for Mon, i have a work outfit ready too so won't need the washing machine back on this weekend. I'll make sure we're out during the day so we won't use the lights, telly etc (please don't rain!) So it's really only the cooker and keeping the fridgefreezer running that ill need electricity for. Oh, and to charge my phone in the evening. And to switch the boiler on for hot water for a wash and to clean dishes. Ahhhh 98p wont last will it? i heard it costs more when you're in debt on the meter?

Not enough call allowance left to phone British Gas to see if they can do anything. Not sure they'd be able to do anything anyway. I've sent them an email just now though but doubt I'll hear anything til Monday. By which time ill have topped up anyway!

Not in a position to ask/borrow. Please don't mistake this thread as a begging thread. I would never accept anything offered by strangers over the web.

Have sold everything i had that was sellable over the summer to do days out and things over the summer with my daughter. Have her old (NEW fgs)clarks shoes on my local selling page just now but doubt they'll shift as my daughter has really really narrow feet and they're a funny width. Although the Asda non-specified width shoes i bought her a few days ago seem to be much more comfortable! Fuming at Clarks right now.

This has turned into a really muddled and panicked post! Does anybody know what happens when the meter hits 0? Really worried all my fridgefreezer stuff will get ruined if the electric cuts out before Mon. My daughter keeps asking to switch the big light on as the sun is going down. Keep having to say no because it's broken. What a shambles.

OP posts:
PausingFlatly · 21/08/2015 21:52

Good night, and good luck with it all.

Gunpowder · 21/08/2015 21:56

I'm sure the librarian won't mind. Good luck.

Gunpowder · 21/08/2015 21:57

That was meant to be a nice good luck btw, not a snippy one. Smile

WhimsicalWinnifred · 21/08/2015 21:58

Who is your bank? Some banks have all Mondays transactions go through on a Saturday. I'm with Natwest and I believe it happens with Barclays.

It doesn't happen with my wages because my work seem to have a system where someone clicks go in the morning but it does with child benefit.

If you're in Northampton I will lend it to you by hand.

We have a meter. It's a pain. As everyone else has said they don't turn off after different times at night. I don't know about Sundays. I don't think this is due to anything as complex as candles causing night fires... It's because shops aren't open.

DP used to never top up the electric if it ran out at night. He'd say it was saving money. Confused

PausingFlatly · 21/08/2015 22:16

Wait, you get a gas bill and have a combi boiler?

So you are heating your water with gas, not electricity?

I know someone said a combi boiler uses electricity, but surely it will only be for the control system and therefore the tiniest amount? (Generally it's the act of heating or cooling that uses almost all the power.)

If your boiler uses gas, then you're fine to use it until the power actually does go off. In fact it's far better to use the gas than the kettle, which will of course use electricity to do the actual heating. The only refinement might be to avoid using lots of short bursts, if it's using an electric spark to light the gas each time.

However, if your hot water heater is electric, then you will use less electricity by using the kettle to partially boil exactly the amount of hot water you need, rather than using the hot water heater.

This is because the pipe-run from boiler to tap (and within boiler) will be left full of wasted hot water each time you turn the tap off. (The water will cool between times you run the tap, and the electricity used to heat that water wasted.)

Good luck!

lavent · 21/08/2015 22:20

I used to live in a country where the power went off all the time and sometimes no generator.

Keep fridge / freezer doors closed as much as possible.

It's not ideal but have a wash mid morning with cold water & sponge / facecloth in the sink. Don't attempt first thing though unless very brave Shock Your daughter will be fine for a couple of days with clean hands and face.

Another one saying accept help though - everyone needs a helping hand sometimes.

Electrolux · 21/08/2015 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PausingFlatly · 21/08/2015 22:31

Yes, but for pumping water round the central heating.

The water through the hot-water-tap side of things is pushed by the mains pressure, just as it is out of the cold water tap. No pumping involved.

But it may use a tiny bit of electricity to spark the gas each time, unless the OP has a gas pilot light continually burning (which she might).

suitsyousir79 · 21/08/2015 22:39

I know it wont help you immediately but if you can, switch your gas and electricity supplier to ebico. we have a prepay meter and they are the cheapest by far, as they do not have a daily standing charge like everyone else. we use less than £10 a week in a 4 bed house with three people in it. well worth investigating.

coolaschmoola · 21/08/2015 22:39

Young daughter, decent weather forecast for the weekend....? Paddling pool or water fight will be enough to keep her clean.

Don't know what it is with kids... My dd complains if her bath isn't quite warm enough but will happily sit and splash in a paddling pool filled with cold water from the outside tap!

chocolatespiders · 22/08/2015 09:10

You may find a plug point in the library to charge your phone.

specialsubject · 22/08/2015 09:56

just to add a minor item; 0800 numbers are now free on mobiles, this has just changed. So when you are powered up again, get a list of all the companies you need to contact as most of them will have 0800 numbers. Look on saynoto0870.com

prepay electricity should not be pricier, and it is not pricier on emergency credit. You do have the right to change suppliers and shop around, so again once the crisis is over look into that.

whattodohatethis · 22/08/2015 10:09

Op - electric won't go off after 8pm or on a Sunday.
The 98p you have left should last until then, if you can be careful with the electric and just get it to last until 8pm then you will be fine.
98p should definitely last until then
(I have a meter with British gas)

whattodohatethis · 22/08/2015 10:11

Ah just seen that there is 85p. Even still, that will last. Easier said than done, but try not to worry.
After 8pm today they won't cut you off until 9am on Monday even if it runs out

SavoyCabbage · 22/08/2015 10:19

Tell us about the shoes.

Was,it a clarks shop?
When did you buy them?
Did you pay cash?
What did they say?

You should be able to get the money back. They are fitted shoes and she can't wear them. And they are clarks brand so it should hardly matter where they were bought!

If you know when you bought them (date and rough time) they should be able to find the transaction.

PrimalLass · 22/08/2015 10:33

OP - would you let us tweet Clarks with a link to this thread?

mummypig3 · 22/08/2015 11:40

She bought the clarks shoes with a gift voucher but didn't keep the receipt. Hope your ok op

HarrietSchulenberg · 22/08/2015 13:49

Re the shoes:
a) OP already said it cost her £5 to get the train to get back to the shoe shop, which she clearly doesn't have. So even if Clarks would refund her, she can't get to the shop to arrange it.

b) Shops are not obliged to refund without a receipt unless the goods are faulty, which they are not. They just don't fit, which isn't actually a fault.

The shoes are neither here nor there, it's really more about getting OP through the weekend by using as little electricity as possible. It appears as if she's doing all the right things and I'm sure she'll make it. Hang on in there, OP, Monday's not that far away.

NewNameForPrivacy · 22/08/2015 17:54

Hi again. Thanks ever so much for the advice and messages, everyone. Some really great tips that I've been using today. Unfortunately it's been very rainy and windy so we've not managed to get out.

Called British Gas and, like someone said upthread, they said that they operate friendly credit or something like that. Meaning it wont go off until 9am the next morning or on a Sun. But that's only for meters made after 2008. Have no idea how old mine is. I moved here 2007 and its not been changed since then. So definitely an old meter.

Down to 34p just now. If i can make it last til this time tomorrow, then hopefully my fridge and freezer stuff won't be ruined as i can top up from 7am Monday.

Ive spent all week phoning and messaging Clarks after being refused an exchange when i went to the shop. They just keep sending and saying a stock reply advising me to return the shoes to the store with proof of purchase. Which i don't have. Theyre not faulty. Theyre just hurting her feet. Im not able to afford another train ticket to get me back to the shop anyway before Mon.

Think i just need to chalk this one up to experience and remember to keep receipts in future. Im so annoyed though. Wasted a 40pound voucher on them and theyre totally useless. But it's my fault not keeping receipt and assuming theyd be fine. She was fitted instore though and measured which is why I'm doubly angry. They were sold to us with me being told by sales person they fit fine! Argh. Getting angry again. Im trying to let it go but still clearly very bitter.

Anyway thanks again for the advice and info regarding boiler and tariffs. Good to k ow electricity isnt more expensive on key meter than a standard bill.

Plenty in for dinner so having cheese wraps and cold meat etc. Trying to use as much fridge stuff as i can before it winds up getting ruined.

Wish this meter had a mute button. Stupid thing has been going off every few mins since last night!

OP posts:
PausingFlatly · 22/08/2015 20:14

Glad to hear you're holding up.

How infuriating about the shoes, on all fronts. Thanks

PrimalLass · 22/08/2015 20:41

If Clarks 'fitted' the shoes and they don't fit, then they are faulty IMO. Or at least not fit for purpose. I'll tweet them with a link to this if you say it's ok.

PrimalLass · 22/08/2015 20:44

I never knew this:

"Thawed or partially thawed food in the freezer may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below. Partial thawing and refreezing may affect the quality of some food, but the food will be safe to eat."

I've always assumed it has to be cooked and eaten if it defrosted just a liitle.

beccamummymay · 11/06/2016 11:12

Hi im new to this but I'm curious as to what happend with your electric? As iv just heard mine bleep and no money till monday! I have a 6month old baby and I'm a single mum with no family who I'm in contact with. I'm usual able to manage but like you I had a unexpected expence as iv just moved into my own flat so iv had things to buy to live.
Does any one have any advise? I'm not looking for a lecture on budgetting as I'm usually very good with this.
Any advice appriceieted though :)

sarahharry38 · 15/07/2017 23:28

Dose anyone know if I have run out of emergency credit on my electric I've also had my bag stolen so I'm not able to access any funds will my pay-as-you-go metre run out on a Sunday

Bobbins43 · 16/07/2017 21:15

Get in touch with British Gas. They will organise a temporary top up you can collect from your local shop/top up point.

HTH

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