Pre-payment electricity meters

[Coldicote]

I believe many people have pre-payment electricity meters and I had thought that meant putting coins into the meter. I now hear there are other ways of topping them up with credit. Can someone explain how it works please? I'm asking because I've heard there are fraudsters at work calling at people's homes and cheating them out of money.

[sherrardk]

Hi - you get a card or a key and have to take it to a shop that does Pay Point and get it topped up and then you have to put it into your meter.

[bibblebub]

Last year where I live, meters that take pre-paid cards were installed. These cards are only available at the offices of the property management company that look after the building.

[Coldicote]

I'm told that criminals offer cut-price energy to those with pre-payment meters and the number of customers affected has reached about 114,000 according to a report by Energy UK, but so far I've been unable to find that report on the internet.

[Coldicote]

Found it - don't buy meter top-ups at the doorstep! The more people who are aware of this scam the better. Thank you for your replies.

http://www.energy-uk....-ups-at-doorstep.html