charmaine1984,

The 39p charge will be your standing charge. A few charged every day whether or not you use energy or not. 39p seems pretty high for a standing charge and so I'd make sure you get this looked into.

That charge is adding £142.35 on to your bills every year.

In terms of different types of product i.e. fixed, online etc...., these are not always available to customers with a prepayment meter and so don't worry about these for the time being.

A prepayment meter was originally designed to help low income customers budget more efficiently.

They act as a "pay as you go" mobile phone in that you pay for exactly what you use and require a top-up when the credit runs out.

Due to the maintenance costs incurred by the supplier on these meters, they carry higher than standard costs. This is due to the energy supplier having to manually update the meter if/when they change their prices. This means sending an agent round to your house to change the unit costs programmed in.

If they don't do this, the customer will continue to be charged the older rates and can therefore over or under pay for their energy.

Undoubtedly, these meter types are not the best and do limit your options as a consumer. My advice, to those who can, would be to move to a standard "credit meter". Here you can manage your account online and select energy tariff from a greater range of products that offer much more competitive prices.

In relation to the debt, if BG say there isn't any debt on the account, then the meter should be deducting the same amount. To quickly clarify, energy debt will have been a result of the meter not being updated with new prices as explained above. This will have meant prices increased but the meter wasn't updated quick enough.

Eitherway, where this debt arises for other suppliers, British Gas are one of 3 suppliers who do not "back charge" i.e. they do not punish the customer if they, as a supplier, are unable to update the meter when prices change. Therefore, there can be no debt.

I hope you're following so far!? ;o)

Ultimately, my advice would be:

Change meter if possible and ask to be put on a standard "credit meter". If this is possible, apply for an "online" account and pay by monthly direct debit = cheapest prices and easy management online.

If not, stay on the prepayment meter but consider looking at a company called "EBICo". They are very competitive for prepayment tariffs.

Sorry if i've gone on one a bit. I tend to go off on a tangent sometimes but try and keep it simple and to the point...with a bit of background to help along the way. ;o)

Any questions let me know.

hi,

I have been told that this sum is very high as it works out to over 80 pounds a month just for gas. In my old home my gas was 45pounds a month. Also there is just myself and my partner in a small house. I have just got home from being away for the night and i am out of gas again even though i topped up ten pounds last night and turned the heating off. Why would this happen?

I know that usually dual fuel in cheaper but when i did my comparison on this site scottish power were cheaper than edf(my current supplier for electric) . I checked my quote and it was definatly 274 gbp cheaper than what iam paying now. However i have just done another quote and they have now dropped the saving by half but still with scottish power. Which means i would not have dual fuel. I don t want to change my electric supplier as my rates are good.

I know that landlords cant stop you changing but i would rather stay in their good books.

I would say £20-£40 per week is low but is this just for Gas or Electricity too ?

To start with - I would check whether you are on a Dual Fuel account (ie Gas and Electricity from the same supplier) - this will save you more - and then look to changing suppliers (Scottish Power offer the best cash back for duel fuel customers - via MSM.COM)

I believe that you are entitled to change your meter - it has nothing to do with your landlord - can anyone else confirm this ?

Check http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/consumer_affairs/gas_supply.htm#meters for the rules

Don't believe the figures of saving £274 per year - but you will save some by transferring to a DUAL FUEL account - plus the £40 (?) cashback

I have lived in my house for 8 months now and have noticed that iam spending between 20-40 pounds a week on gas. I have a pre payment meter which i know is more expensive anyway but i rent my house and my landlord will not let me change it. I am currently with British gas and i called them to find out why it is so expensive. I never really got an answer out of the guy. He informed me that at 2am every morning iam charged 39p when i asked what for he started talking what seemed like double dutch so i said thank you and put the phone down no further forward. I currently have my electricity with edf who iam very pleased with however when i compared on this site they offered less discount that scottish power even though i would have both gas and electric with them. I have read every page on your website but just seem more confused. People are talking about different tarriffs and fixed rates but i have never been offered any of these. Also everytime i put money on my gas meter it takes off different amounts each time for "debt". I asked what this was about and he checked there was no outstanding debt on the account which there was nt but could nt explain why this was happening. I feel he may have bben playing on the fact i know nothing about Gas or electricity except it keeps me warm and costs a fortune. Can you help me as Scottish Power have quoted me 274 pounds less a year but when i read the reviews people seem to have nothing but trouble with them. I would appreciate any advice you could give me.

Many Thanks

Charmaine.

ps my postcode is KT16 if this helps.