Do You Pay for You Electric Using Key Meter ?
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I still use a key meter to pay for my electric. I know it’s more expensive than having a bill but there is now way I would be able to pay a huge bill once every 3 months. My main problem is that there seem to be fewer and few places to get electric on my key.
I must admit I don't understand why you would do this if it is more expensive. You don't have to pay a big 3 monthly bill. Surely if you paid by direct debit monthly and had a smart meter, which is free, you would save quite a bit.
Of course you must do what is best for you but as you have posted this topic I hope you don't mind me giving my opinion.
Leannexxx doesn't make sense does it, when it costs more for folk who can't afford it, they would sooner them go without energy than enable them to get it by a cheaper method.
However my comment was made because the OP said she couldnt afford 3 monthly bills so I inferred from that she could if she wanted. If folk were allowed to be billed they could put the money they would have spent on a meter in a piggy bank.
Lynibis all opinions are welcome. With a key meter I can go to the shop and just put £5 or £10 on the key whenever I have a spare £5 or £10. I’m pretty much living hand to mouth at the moment and pay what I can when I can. I’m just about keeping my head above water and have no debt, so this way works for me for now. I am looking at getting a smart meter at some point next year.
My father in law had prepaid key. I remember he topped it up in his local Co-op. He didn’t have a choice as the meter had been installed.
Some of them you can top up online or by an app on your phone or tablet. Get in touch with your energy provider and ask them if you are finding it difficult to find places to top up maybe?
emmabeckz good idea thank you. I did try topping up online a few months ago but the app didn’t work unless there was a smart meter…. Maybe my electric company have updated. I will look online this evening 
I'm with ultilta, it's not a key just a swipe card you use at a post office ect.. to put money on, I use the app so no need to go to shop to top up, you just pay through the app, it's not any dearer and there is No standing charge, I believe ultilta is the only energy company who do not charge a standard charge fee for pre payment metres, Npower was 80p a day, that why I ditched them and changed to ultilta
martinlufc5637 oooh thank you ! I will look into changing companies. I was with bulb but they have been taken over by another company, I forget who but will look this evening.
martinlufc5637 yup my dad is with them never had a issue I think the emergency credit is good to and if it's bank holiday it stays on till the next working day he couldn't do that with eon
Leannexxx I cannot fault them at all, app is really good and we save a massive £586 a year due to not having standing charges on both gas and electric meter"s, compared to Eon & Npower
martinlufc5637 agree with you my dad has been with them for years we didn't know bout them till someone was doing door to door so glad he changed when he did
martinlufc5637 But surely the unit price would be higher if you're not paying a standing charge?
TheChimp my brother is with the same company utilita and his tariff is exactly the same as mine and he doesn't have prepayment meters
Most local stores still do tops ups near me, I'm avoiding having a smart meter for as long as possible as I've heard so many horror stories.
Check out octopus energy as they are quite good for the price of standing charge I believe.
Midnightflower I’ve checked out who I’m with and it is octopus. They are better than I thought to be honest. I’m the same as you on the smart meter. I’ve heard loads of awful stories about them.
Jerseydrew I remember my mum putting 50ps in the meter when I was growing up. I loved it when the man came to empty it as mum got a rebate and gave me and my brother and sister 50p each to spend
reannsgran it was a ball ache. I'm still on pound notes where I am. I used to have to go to the bank for for pound coins
No, I pay monthly. It used to be quarterly but Its been monthly for along time now. The trouble Is I got to go next door to read the meter as thats where It Is. I live In an old Victorian building. If It was any other means like a key or a card It wouldn't be possible as the meter Is way above the door. All the meters are to be truthful.
I switched to Utility Warehouse .They're great.Keys are sooo expensive and you run out at crucial times!
When we bought our first house it had a key meter. We got it changed as soon as possible as it was costing us a fortune and that was 8 years ago when it's wasn't as expensive. We are with Octopus and use the app to give meter readings and check our usage. Check if you can pay via the app. We pay once a month via direct debit, same amount every month. Sometimes in the summer (if we can afford to) we make overpayments so there is some extra credit for the winter and that is done via the app. We've had a smart meter for years and never had any problems.
Yes, im in rented, have no choice but to use key and card for gas and electric, gas is 60p a day standing charge, and electric is 40p, they say the standing charge is for maintenance of meter ect, that's just bs, they change the battery in my meters once every 5 years and that's it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Total rip off
slightfoot mines the same !!! I got a shock last winter when I came to use the gas central heating ! I don’t use gas for anything else so it wasn’t used all summer come Oct/Nov when I topped it up or so I thought, I still had negative balance !!! I didn’t realise there was a standing charge til then.
I remember having a token meter when I got my first flat. If I was living on my own again I'd prefer this as I could see how much electric I had left. I would never have a smart meter heard too many have caught fire. Plus I'm sure in the middle of the night energy companies will add money on that you have suppose to have used as always trying to con you out of money.
KAW18 ooh blimey I haven’t heard anything about smart meters catching fire !! That’s put me off even trying to get one !!! Maybe better the devil you know and stick to what I have !!!
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