Electric Key meters

[Cockney_si]

Anyone out there use electric Key meters to pay as you go with your electricity supplier?

Are these a rip-off and are you forever having to top them up?

Are you forever having to top up or work out how much it would be to boil a kettle or if you could get to the top of the landing at night before the power runs out?

Many thanks to anyone that can help.

[hugnie21]

I used to have one, I don't think they're a rip off but I had night storage heaters which used a lot of electricity. I used to top up �30 a month on average for my one bed flat in the winter, and it lasted about twice as long in summer. If it ran out completely there was an emergency �5 on there so I was never actually stuck without power.

[glenis]

key meters are the most expensive way to buy electricity ,i would advise you to change them ( if your landlord will let you )then pay using direct debit which is the cheapest way to pay

[leelapops]

I prefer to pay DD, si, but I have been screwed so many times by companies faffing me about (all their fault not mine, and cost me a fortune in 0870 phone calls). So we have a prepay meter with a key, and it's reasonable. As we have gas heating and boiler, we don't use so much, but we used to have really inefficient electric heaters in our old flat that just ate electric right up!

They aren't that bad, they don't just drop from �1 to nothing, leaving you in the dark!

I would advise, if you're getting a key meter, to ALWAYS keep receipts. And take frequent meter readings (as you would with a credit meter anyway) so they can't try and rob you.

x

[pikk]

We used to have a key meter & put on �12-15 per week, now we dont have one & when our 1st bill came in we worked it out & it works out to be around �6-9 per week!
Alot of difference there & alot of saved money

[joanne713]

i have key meter for both gas and electric. i pay �40 a month on both of them, a small fortune i think you will agree.

[bigmamma]

Hi Cockney _si , I have recently changed from pre-pay meters , both gas and electric , to credit meters as both meters were swallowing money too fast . Also it was getting practically hard to keep topping them up. :-)