Pre-pay meter users 'due rebate

[buzby]

For any change to their existing metering, it is right and proper for any change to their installation to be paid for by them - nobody else benefits or is affeced by the change.

 

Neither you are I are privvy what 'profits' are made from these meters - certainly they cost a lot more to install (supply cost) and the back office infrastructure required to operate the crediting mechanism, but all this is immaterial. If the consumer reqires a change then THEY pay for it - the 'profit' argument is spurious, and in much the same way thse firms try to lay off the additional charges because we don;t pay by their 'preferred' payment methods.

 

It was YOU who suggested comparison firms that might supply the information without any commission backhander. I was unaware of any and asked oyu to give me an exaple, as you can't I just have to assume my worst fears confirmed, that these 'resources' should be treated with suspicion - and as long as caggers realise this, (That EVERYTHING has a price), it holds true for 'free' advice or meter swaps. Someone pays.

[kia]

u put what i was gonna say into words martin on1y u put it much better than i cou1d have done thank u and in answer to your first point i dont owe anything to them anymore debt sett1ed no 1etter either to te11 me this just im not paying anything back anymore but i sha11 phone up n power thank u martin once again xxkia

[MARTIN3030]

NP;)

[littlefatbudha]

just thought i would add my link instead of butting in, please have a look.

My meter states i owe £40 emergency and i have to pay £0.48 per day standing charge for the privilige of the meter

Gas prepay meter says i owe £40.98

[MilkTrayMan]

On what basis would there be an obligation for the Utility Company to provide account and transaction data without seeking any fee ?

Notwithstanding the requirements, as per a properly constituted S.A.R., for release of the information held...

 

BBC NEWS | Business | Timetable set for 'fairer' bills

 

...Ofgem has laid down stipulations with regards billing etc to be implemented by 12/09.

It has also said that peeps may switch between energy suppliers even if they have a debt of no more than £200 from 01/10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

...I agree with MTM here,we need to create a database of info that can assist everyone and determine the overcharge levels-which are obviously going to vary from one supplier to another.

Quite MARTIN3030.

 

With winter soon upon us, has anyone made any progress on this important + VERY topical issue yet?

 

BBC NEWS | Business | Fuel poverty 'continues to rise'

 

...The above link suggests that 4.6million UK households are currently enduring fuel poverty, which is hardly an insignificant number.

 

 

 

 

[MARTIN3030]

I have some stuff in file but just cant get round to looking at it.

I was reading these GOV proposals earlier this week.

They reckon fuel poverty is now rife as you say-isnt it now 25% of households ?

 

The need to make a social Tariff compulsery for all is long overdue-EON still dont offer it.

The warm front etc are ok for pensioners but do nothing for the rest.

I dont know if anoyone else on a PPM with Eon has had anything off them,but I got a letter a few weeks ago saying they had made a mistakeand future credits would reflect it-they did not explain in detail.

The problem is with these keycards and keys is that they can make changes when you top up-since its done automatically via the chip on the KEY/Card.

I have noticed both my Gas and Electricity top ups are lasting far less lately despite not using anymore.

My Gas card was set to take a couple of quid a week in arrears and it used to show on the meter-but now I have noticed it just takes 50p or so and the Gas only lasts half as long.

I have no arrears on my Electric key meter but yet it seems to be taking 20% more credit-and is still showing a standing charge of £2.70 per week there which they are supposed to have waived.

Reading these things is no easy feat-but I will have to make time to check

Its not as simple to do as with an in credit meter-I think I will have to run all the credit down on both and monitor it from there-with what I am topping up with against units used.

Digressing again............................

[MilkTrayMan]

I have some stuff in file but just cant get round to looking at it...

The art of delegation is a most wonderous thing MARTIN3030.

There is no riddle wrapped up in an enigma, just paper tigers abound.

I'm sure that peeps can't expect U to do everything by yourself?

[disputer]

Someone needs to take a complaint through to the Ombudsman for assessment and this will set up a precedent as it will start to cause waves as the Ombudsman will need to liaise with Ofgem over this to work out a strategy.

[kia]

yep this is true xxkia

[MARTIN3030]

Someone needs to take a complaint through to the Ombudsman for assessment and this will set up a precedent as it will start to cause waves as the Ombudsman will need to liaise with Ofgem over this to work out a strategy.

 

 

It would need a super complaint to OFGEM-which I recall energy watch doing a few years ago.

OFGEM aready have the clout and powers-they are after all the regulators dont forget.

They are just a little too conservative in using them.

[disputer]

Energy watch was disbanded last year in October and replaced by Consumer Focus whose primary objective is towards vulnerable consumers and secondary is towards improved service standards for consumers. I am meeting their person in charge of energy services next week so will ask the question and if anything worth reporting back I will post on here.

[MARTIN3030]

Good-look forward to reading about it.

[dx100uk]

Energy watch was disbanded last year in October and replaced by Consumer Focus whose primary objective is towards vulnerable consumers and secondary is towards improved service standards for consumers. I am meeting their person in charge of energy services next week so will ask the question and if anything worth reporting back I will post on here.

 

 

and?

 

dx

[jannypots]

That IS fantastic news! I've been on a prepayment meter for roughly 14 years, have ALWAYS said that I'm paying over the odds! I couldn't get anyone to listen, plus I live in a poorly insulated, sub zero, substandard Housing association house. I call my meter the beast as it is constantly hungry for more. I spend on average £20 a week JUST for gas, in the Winter. And trying to get any sense out of the energy companies, all they say is complete jargon, learnt parrot fashion, posed with a REAL problem, they are completely stumped! It is completely immoral to prey on the less financially advantaged as those fat cats at the top with their luxury yachts in Marbella! But then we must keep paying for those business lunches somehow!!

[jannypots]

well why can't profits be filtered from the top to the masses below, for the benefit of all, instead of ALWAYS from the bottom, is this a case of "let them eat cake"?

[indebtstudent]

If you've been on a prepayment meter for 14 years they why not ask to have it removed? I believe most companies would do it free of charge as you've been paying regularly.

[kia]

If you've been on a prepayment meter for 14 years they why not ask to have it removed? I believe most companies would do it free of charge as you've been paying regularly.

we tried this they charge to take them out a so ca11ed deposit u get back in 12 months if u keep up the bi11s which isnt bad if u got it but i didnt have it :(xxxkia

[caro]

Which supplier is this kia and how much deposit did they want?

[kia]

scottish power and i think it was something 1ike 120 pounds but that was a year ago never tried again since it might be on a thread somewhere i11 go 1ook see if i can find it cos sure i put it too see if i cou1d get out of it was to1d them was un1ike1y cos they a11 charge it wi11 go 1ook on my user cp see whats there xxkia

[kia]

found this caro was an answer i had then to the question

 

I'm just speaking to my sis she works Scottish power they charge anything up to £140 but you can change company's any time

phone around to see how much the other suppliers will charge you to put in a dry meter if you move to them

 

 

xxkia

[indebtstudent]

Just wondering if there's any value in going to the Ombudsmen with this. Sure the OP can change companies, in this situation I know NPower would change the meter provided the person had been paying for 12 months. So that's one option, it would take a year but you wouldn't have to shell out any money.

 

However it does seem unfair to me that the policies differ so much, given that a referral to the ombudsmen would cost them much time, effort and money I'd consider that course of action. This is particularly so if they still charge a premium for prepayment meters. They are effectively forcing you to stay on a more expensive tariff IF that is the case.

 

Finally any vulnerability? Any young children? Any old people? Anyone chronically sick? If you have any of the above then I think they have to fit a credit meter.

 

Good luck

 

Ps I genuinly don't know which companies do charge a premium and which don't I think its about 50/50 among the big six.

[newton]

:D

 

and just when we all thought the utility company SNITCHES AND GRASSES had all but taken over the forums slowly but surely rendering them useless with flaming etc etc

 

Along comes a pearl and changes the direction yet again

 

I for sure will be making full use of this for the benefits of the 60 odd flats that come under our directorship, all of whom are on PREPAY meters and all of whom are struggling financially

 

(HE...HE.....HE.... rolls off the floor ......rubbing hands in glee)

[caro]

Hi Newton.

 

I see you've started a few threads asking questions about utilities. It would be good if you could start a thread on this of your situation and how you get on with claiming.

 

You mention a directorship - is this some kind of management company for a block of flats or something?

[elie1977]

Please find a template below of the energy claim letter?

Request letterenergy company.pdf

Edited February 27, 2010 by elie1977

[hillards]

I'm just wondering why there's been no 'news' on this topic for a while. If it was determined that al PPM customers were being ripped off I would have hoped to see some success stories of reclaiming the overpayments.

 

I've just about finished an 18 month issue with npopwer for my electric meter (http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/utilities-gas-electricity-water/170363-hillards-npower-pre-payment.html) and I'm looking to change supplier, already discussing this with new company. I wouldn't want to lose out on a potential claim if this is a rebate that is still due to me.

 

A few weeks ago I got my latest gas bill, showing I was in credit - on a PPM. So, I called, gave them an up to date reading and said they would repay if the credit was true. Not heard a peep out of them since. This thread reminded me, must give them a call and follow that up.