Pre-Pay service electronic keys?

Don?t know.

However, my daughter could only get prepayment, (Expensive per unit I believe), until my Brother in law (Who is a reseller Of utilities) was able to get her a credit meter (same physical meter I believe).

Whether he could do this for any customer, or just did it as a one of for her, I don?t know.

Other resellers are available.

does it cut her off at zero, or have a bit of leeway?

That much credit would run the FF alone for about a week

I thought that when pre-payment meters run out of credit, they (possibly with a button press) will allow emergency use (used to be about £5 worth) which is paid back when the next top-up is done?

Hmmm, just looked at Bulb and they list various types of meters, all of which require inserting the pre-payment card as part of enabling the emergency credit facility - which may not work if your daughter's card isn't paired to the meter!

Surely they have a 24hr emergency line of some sort?

SteveW

I understand there was a sort of reserve on a previous solution of about £5 but she's not sure if it's the case atm (and can't find out till Monday).

Understood, but I suggested she still try to avoid all other non-essentials till she can get it resolved. I've said she'll be ok with lights (all LED) and even the router / laptop if needed but her phone / data would be better for now.

Luckily they have gas hot water and hob so can boil water and cook stuff.

It was really more about what might have gone wrong with the key payment system?

Cheers, T i m

Hmm, she and I have discussed this very thing, specifically because of the suggestion that the unit cost was less.

Might it also depend on the landlord?

Understood. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

I think they have seen / used that before, but not sure if it's in place atm? ;-(

Ah, quite. ;-(

You would have thought.

"How can I contact you How can I contact you - There are a number of ways to get in contact with us from social media to a good old fashioned phone call.

Email - snipped-for-privacy@bulb.co.uk Community - community.bulb.co.uk Live chat - To chat with us, click on the blue circle in the bottom right of your screen. Telephone - 0300 30 30 635

What are your opening hours We're all in the office between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday. Our community is available 24 hours seven days a week, so if you need help at 2am on New Years Eve then that's your best bet."

I've just registered on their forum and asked some questions there. Could be a handy place for other related questions for the future etc.

Cheers, T i m

Don't suppose many here are used to credit token meters, last time I had one it was 50p's in the gas meter as a student in the mid-eighties.

There may have been some who have had dealings with them, even if not their own?

;-)

The only time I've come across such things is in holiday chalets. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

There is usually an emergency button that will give a small credit in the event of you running out. You still have to pay as it will be deducted from the next credit added. I think you can only use it once before adding credit.

the LL may tell you that it does

he will be lying

tim

If she got the receipt then it worked.

Probably not.

Yes.

I think it may do.

I think so.

When I got a new key (they actually sent me to the shop with a reference number) I got the key which they updated on the payment terminal with the ref number, then I went home and keyed-in to the meter, then I took the key back to the shop and got some credit.

It might be worth (and probably won't do any harm) taking the key to the shop again and asking them to put it in the terminal, then back to the meter ...

She can also try Power Cuts on 105 and reporting loss of supply due to faulty meter. They might refer it back to the Bulb or they might come and legitimately bypass the meter to put her back on supply temporarily.

Owain

With regard to the freezer, maybe a neighbour has an extension lead and that can be used. It should only cost her the price of a drink and use an extension cable. Be fine for a couple of days till its sorted. Brian

I have heard that yes (and believe daughter is aware of it).

Make sense.

That also makes sense. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

On Sun, 7 Jul 2019 07:22:57 -0700 (PDT), snipped-for-privacy@gowanhill.com wrote: <snips>

Ok. ;-)

Hmm, I was thinking on the lines of yer Nectar card when they can put points on *and* tell you the points that are on there and what they are worth?

Ok. ;-)

There may be more to it that what I first understood. It turns out daughter has successfully used the Bulb key a couple of times so it's not the initial 'registering' thing I first considered / reported to be a cause.

It turns out that in her absence, the 'flatmate' had used the old BG key and whilst it didn't do anything credit wise, it may explain why the meter is now not talking to the key? ;-(

It might be what she will have to do in the morning with Bulb CS but over the phone (the TAG code thing)?

I think she's going to try to call Bulb first thing tomorrow, they might suggest that etc.

She is down to ~70p tonight (from £1.16, not £1.60 last night) and has been out all day herself.

Cheers, T i m

Good idea Brian ... ;-)

Cheers, T i m

I wasn't aware of the 20.44p/day standing charge. ;-(

All sorted now though after Bulb c/s sent her a code that she gave to the PayPoint shop and they re-synched the key. Credit then added to meter with no probs.

That got me thinking about getting her a wireless energy monitor thing, even if only their current usage, rather than anything that would indicate the costs etc?

Cheers, T i m

Better would be to put the property onto a standard credit tariff.

Apart from anything else it will save the executor accounting for cash to pay for the top-ups.

NB Bulb is "pay in advance" on credit tariffs too.

Owain

That was one of my thoughts. ~20p day standing charge and ~13.6p/kWh is that bad?

Ok.

Ok, thanks, I'll get her to look into it.

Cheers, T i m

Actually no, the key meters are cheaper for the power co to use than the old coin or card payment meters, and they're under pressure to be seen to not exploit vulnerable people. Also, electricity tariffs are now capped, so prepay isn't really any more expensive than most standard variable tariffs.

British Gas standard tariff on direct debit is 18.321p per kWh, 23.523p per day, so you're quite a lot cheaper than that If that's what you're paying on Bulb Prepay. Bulb don't list a prepay tariff on their site. Maybe it's the same as DD.

The drawback is the credit running out when the property is unoccupied (which I assume a probate property is) and the freezer flooding, etc.

The account should also be in the name of The Executor of... rather than your daughter, as it's the estate that's liable, not your daughter.

Owain