Is it better to get prepay electric/gas meters in?

[Deleted]

Anyone using prepay Gas electric meters.

Need some advice whether I should go down that path as I am really struggling to pay two large bills quarterly. I have read online that it works out more expensive. Is it really.
My last electric/gas bill was £300 which I don't understand because I am the only one here, unless its all the battery charging I am doing

Basically just need to know what would be best, staying with a quarterly bill or switching to a meter.

All advice is welcome.

[fred]

Prepay meters are always more expensive.

The cheapest option is normaly to pay by monthly direct debit.
We just switched from Atlantic Electric & Gas (who gave us back a monthly payment every 12 months!) to Sainsbury's - if Uswitch and Which websites are correct, we'll be saving over £100 a year.

The beauty of the direct debit, is they take a bit every month, so we don't get hit with a quarterly bill, and they recalculate it every 6 or 12 months.

The other thing is, most folk don't realise, but British Gas is probably the most expensive company to get Gas from - shop around and maybe change your supplier, as well as looking into Direct Debit.

[Karma]

What Fred said

Many people do like the prepayment meters as they do help people budget but it is the most expensive way to pay for fuel. Direct Debit spreads the cost over the year, so you pay a bit more in the Summer to help cover the Winter costs.

Go and see CAB and make sure you are getting everything you're entitled to. Certain groups of people got £130 rebate on their Electricity bills in March, it didn't happen automatically, you needed to get in touch with your electricity supplier to apply.

Make sure your home is well insulated, there are various schemes around the country where you can get this done for free, again CAB would know.

Make sure all your lightbulbs are energy saving, some fuel companies give them away free to people on certain benefits.

Make sure everything that's not in use is switched off at the mains

[Jen]

Absolutely, stay away from the pre pay! Monthy DD is usually the cheapest, but make sure you're giving them regular meter readings and look into getting both gas and leccy from the same company as this often works out cheaper. The comparison websites should be able to help you out there.

Also loads of stuff you can do to reduce bills, although it can involve an initial outlay. Switching to LED *everything* (TVs, bulbs etc.) has made a huge difference to our leccy bills, frinstance. Getting power strips/plugs with a remote control off button also a big game changer - I read somewhere that 10% of our leccy bills can be down to standby lights! Never leave any kind of charger plugged in, they keep drawing energy. And heating is almost always the most energy-heavy thing you can do, so boil the kettle less often etc. I'm pretty sure there are heaps of sites with more helpful tips too

[Deleted]

Thanks all.

They are due to install the new meters early next month, I will phone up and tell them not to bother.
All my lights are energy saving and the only things I leave on is the bt hub - telephone and a clock radio., I think I will go down the monthly payment option.

Thanks again for the wonderful concise replies, AAEC is definitely the people's forum.

[Skwoddy]

I had a terrible time with Npower and their promise to calculate my payments based on meter readings, 24 months had passed between the two last calculations and I had been grossly underpaying my electric monthly direct debit, they approached me with a massive bill, I promptly told them to shove it as they werent doing as promised in the contract and would welcome seeing them in court, after they told me they couldnt access the property to read the meters I reminded them it was on the outside of the house, precisely where THEY had fitted it. They wiped the bill and I switched to E-On DD,

Keep an eye on your meter readings and direct debits

[collie2011]

Get on Uswitch and make sure you have the cheapest deal. It's easy to do and can save you a lot. I switched in November and saved £150 a year

[pixiguru]

I have prepayment meters in. I quite like them. At out flat we were paying £120 a month on electric. There was no gas. Now in the house with gas/electric no risk of debt and much cheaper bills! You use less when you see it ticking down.

[Mev]

You are looking at almost 40% increase if using prepaid meters over monthly direct debit.

[Karma]

May 24, 2013 18:23:08 GMT Mev said:

You are looking at almost 40% increase if using prepaid meters over monthly direct debit.

Pre Pay meters are a bug bear of mine 
It's the poorest people that use them, yet they end up paying more  ???

If you pay your bills quarterly or by DD you are getting free credit.  People on PP meters are paying in advance for their fuel and being charged more for it  ???

It's a disgrace and something that government should be doing something about!

[Super-Shiny]

Pre Pay is deffo a big No No

[dannyw14]

ours costs about £25 a week for 3 of us, that's just electricity

[Karma]

May 24, 2013 18:57:10 GMT dannyw14 said:

ours costs about £25 a week for 3 of us, that's just electricity

is that on a PP meter?

[dannyw14]

oh sorry yeah it is, it's in a shared house, the gas is paid by the landlord.

[Deleted]

Danny I am only liking your post because I have click like on the others and didn't want you to feel left out.

You have convinced me to cancel the arrangement of installing new meters. I will phone up tomorrow morning or Monday to say leave it the way it is. I will just have to pay monthly and really keep sending my readings to them online.
I was just saying the same to a neighbour about why do poor people pay more for having prepay meters in.I'm still scratching my head.
I didn't know it be 40% more, wow.

Thanks again for all your replies. I am totally convinced.