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Pay as you go Gas Meter

  • 28-10-2011 11:40PM
    #1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 15,857 ✭✭✭✭


    Just had Bord Gais install a new "Pay as you go" gas meter.

    Its a simple bit of kit,that works off a top up card.

    You go to a shop,top up the card by any amount up to 50 euro,stick the card into the meter.

    The meter reads the card and amount on it,and the meter then gives you that value in gas.

    Got the meter installed for free too.

    Its a great way to manage the gas usage and keep tabs on the gas and money too.

    Pic of the meter and card to follow.:)


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭JohnnieK


    There's loads of them around. There a pain in the bum if you are trying to commission a boiler and you find out there's little or no credit left on the reserve:D.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,409 ✭✭✭sullzz


    paddy147 wrote: »
    Just had Bord Gais install a new "Pay as you go" gas meter.

    Its a simple bit of kit,that works off a top up card.

    You go to a shop,top up the card by any amount up to 50 euro,stick the card into the meter.

    The meter reads the card and amount on it,and the meter then gives you that value in gas.

    Got the meter installed for free too.

    Its a great way to manage the gas usage and keep tabs on the gas and money too.

    Pic of the meter and card to follow.:)

    Great way to budget but what happens when you get snowed in and cant get to the shop to top up the card or you manage to make your way through the snow to the shop and the machine is out of order ....... No heat????


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,492 ✭✭✭roy rodgers


    sullzz wrote: »
    Great way to budget but what happens when you get snowed in and cant get to the shop to top up the card or you manage to make your way through the snow to the shop and the machine is out of order ....... No heat????[/QUOT



    2205u6-1.jpg
    Or buy one of these for just in case.:D:D:D:D:D


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 15,857 ✭✭✭✭paddy147


    sullzz wrote: »
    Great way to budget but what happens when you get snowed in and cant get to the shop to top up the card or you manage to make your way through the snow to the shop and the machine is out of order ....... No heat????[/QUOT



    2205u6-1.jpg


    The shop is about 60 yards down the road from me,and theres also such a thing called legs and using them to walk to said shop.;):D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 696 ✭✭✭wush06


    Hi does anybody have any links from where you can get these from thanks.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,409 ✭✭✭sullzz


    paddy147 wrote: »


    The shop is about 60 yards down the road from me,and theres also such a thing called legs and using them to walk to said shop.;):D



    Legs ???? Oh yeah they are them things that ill be stretching out on the recliner with my laptop resting on them paying my gas bill on line while your using yours to battle through the wind rain and snow to get to the shop to top up your card ;):D:p:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,409 ✭✭✭sullzz


    wush06 wrote: »
    Hi does anybody have any links from where you can get these from thanks.

    Bord gais , they are offering them to people who are having trouble paying their bill , i think the usually cost about €330 , but they are doing it for free at the moment


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 902 ✭✭✭DoneDL


    But isn`t the gas more expensive due to administation costs, resets etc, or does it differ from the UK model.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,409 ✭✭✭sullzz


    They are offering this free to people who are in arrears , if you take them up on their offer , when you top up your card , lets say by €20 they take a fraction of what you owe them off that€20 and so on until the balance of your outstanding bill is cleared , i know these are fitted in most council estates , halting sites and would be great for landlords renting out a house where there is a risk he could be left stuck with a huge bill , or for someone who cannot manage their money well , but other than that i feel it would be such an incovienience , run out of credit , no heat and in my case with a combi boiler it also means no hot water .
    I got rid of my pay as you go phone years ago because i got sick of running out of credit at the most inconvienient times .


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    sullzz wrote: »
    I got rid of my pay as you go phone years ago because i got sick of running out of credit at the most inconvienient times .

    As someone who is a better gasman than businessman:), I have been the proud owner of Prepayment meter in the past, running out of credit isn't problem as you get a small amount of emergency gas giving time to put money on the card, the real problem is if the meter doesn't take the credit or if it locks out and requires resetting by a engineer.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 696 ✭✭✭wush06


    sullzz wrote: »
    Bord gais , they are offering them to people who are having trouble paying their bill , i think the usually cost about €330 , but they are doing it for free at the moment

    Paddy147 can you confirm that this is the case. Or pm me if you don't mind.
    Thanks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,262 ✭✭✭✭Joey the lips


    If you have had one of this installed then you most likely have credit issues with board gais. With due respect I would not be advertising i have one of these. The principle is simple.

    One third goes off your arrers and two thirds for fuel.

    They are not a ready to go system.

    As you may know i do a lot of community work and believe me these are not the way to go.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17 warmglow


    joey is assuming you have issues with credit - that is only one such function of these meters

    bord gais networks are now happy to give these meters to anyone who wants them - they charge a higher price per unit of gas plus you are prepaying for gas - the old way you were getting credit from gas company

    win win all the way for gas board ,

    they used to be used solely for people in arrears and rental accomadation but now they have a much wider function , effectively a cash generating one


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,262 ✭✭✭✭Joey the lips


    warmglow wrote: »
    joey is assuming you have issues with credit - that is only one such function of these meters

    bord gais networks are now happy to give these meters to anyone who wants them - they charge a higher price per unit of gas plus you are prepaying for gas - the old way you were getting credit from gas company

    win win all the way for gas board ,

    they used to be used solely for people in arrears and rental accomadation but now they have a much wider function , effectively a cash generating one

    This is not correct... Unless you know something that the rest of the country does not. They will not install these meters unless they have to. Like i said already if they did i would know about it.

    Additionally

    1, They wont fit them to apartments.
    2. They wont fit them without a letter from your landlord if renting. Meaning your landlord knows your in arrers
    3. They wont fit them for economy 7


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17 warmglow


    This is not correct... Unless you know something that the rest of the country does not. They will not install these meters unless they have to. Like i said already if they did i would know7

    joey this is correct , I have done this on behalf of a number of my customers . ring networks , that's the deal in south Dublin .

    why would you have to know if this was available ? who or what are you or do you have a connection to networks ?


    as I said its a cash generating source for them now , perfect business sense - prepay and charge higher per unit .

    as a matter of fact , my mother had one of these meters in there original form years ago , not with a credit issue , she wanted to better control her bills on a pension so it was for budget measures , suited her at the time .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,632 ✭✭✭heinbloed


    Interesting.

    How does it work to change the supplier when being hooked to board gais' meter ?
    Would a new client be accepted at all with such a credit record ?

    Or is it Board Gais Grid and not Board Gas Supply who owns the pre-pay meter?

    Would one have to change the meter if changing to another suplier?

    And what costs are involved to get out the pre-paid Board Gais system to another (pre-paid) supplier? The old pre-pay meter out. the line disconnected, reconnected and a new pre-paid meter in? This could cost a thousand Euros - if necessary at all.

    @ Paddy147:

    Who not using your heat pump ( the "solar system working at night") for heating? To expensive? Why gas ?
    Sure the standing charges for a gas connection on their own would pay for bottled gas for cooking and baking? Or for the electricity.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17 warmglow


    http://www.bordgais.ie/networks/index.jsp?p=348&n=724

    the software in them can and is used for debt recovery but the meter is also installed in non debt recovery situations

    I have taken the next part from the commission for energy regulation criteria document

    Prepayment meters have, up to now, been used to allow customers with payment arrears to continue consuming gas while gradually repaying their arrears.  Understandably, these meters have had a social stigma attached to them.  However there are positive reasons to use prepaid gas.  Customer who are paid weekly or fortnighly prefer to pay their bills at the same frequency.  Credit meter customers are billed every two months and, although suppliers may offer monthly budget payments by direct debit, this option is open only to customers with a current bank account.  Many low-income consumers do not have bank accounts. A sizable proportion of mobile phone users now prefer to avail of the prepaid option in order to control their usage and to avoid bills and the build-up of debt, despite paying a higher tariff than a user with a credit account.  There is no social stigma attached to this method of payment for mobile phone use, nor should there be.
     
    The service by which customers charge up their gas cards is provided by Paypoint at a number of retail outlets such as newsagents, grocery shops and service stations. The gas card is charged up by the retailer and the terminal records the meter reading held on the card. The payment amount and meter reading are sent to the supplier in a daily file download and the payments are sent directly to the supplier’s bank account.


    http://www.cer.ie/cerdocs/cer06181.doc

    I await your apology


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17 warmglow


    @heinbloed

    none of my customers have had them taken out yet so I can't answer you with any fact but I will try to find out

    I was told by an engineer from emerald that although the meters are now free there is a charge to take them out if thats required but that's only 2nd hand news

    don't know about changing suppliers but I will ask about it Monday


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,492 ✭✭✭roy rodgers


    I have to agree with warmglow joey. I has seen these perpay meters installed on new installations all you have to do is ask for one..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,632 ✭✭✭heinbloed


    Thanks, warmglow !


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,262 ✭✭✭✭Joey the lips


    That is new information to me and excuse me if i offended. The interesting thing is i now have to find out why they have not been giving them out when we asked for them. Thanks it seems you know something that a lot of us did not.

    I have read the documents and i still cannot see how "you can just get them" but its interesting.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17 warmglow


    Thanks it seems you know something that a lot of us did not.

    I have read the documents and i still cannot see how "you can just get them" but its interesting.

    no the information is available to anyone . that CER document was published in 2006 .

    if you want one ring bord gais networks for yourself , not a client or person in debt , as stated before its two separate things debt arrears and conscious budgeting .


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 15,857 ✭✭✭✭paddy147


    wush06 wrote: »
    Paddy147 can you confirm that this is the case. Or pm me if you don't mind.
    Thanks.


    Bord Gais are installing these metere for FREE.

    All you have to do is ring them up and request a "pay as you go" meter to be installed,

    Bord Gais will then arrange a date and time with you,for an engineer to call out and remove the old meter and install a new meter.

    My old meter was inside the house,so it was very and is very handy to have it changed over to the pay as you go meter.

    There is 10 euro worth of emergency credit pre installed onto the card,and the 1st time you top up the card,you need to top up by 20 euro,so that the meter takes back the 10 euro worth of emergency credit.

    This will also mean that people will be much more energy conscious and money conscious too,which in this day and age,can only be a good thing.

    Regards.:)

    PS-Pics to follow,seem to have lost my camera and am still loking for it.D;oh.:D


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 15,857 ✭✭✭✭paddy147


    heinbloed wrote: »
    Interesting.

    How does it work to change the supplier when being hooked to board gais' meter ?
    Would a new client be accepted at all with such a credit record ?

    Or is it Board Gais Grid and not Board Gas Supply who owns the pre-pay meter?

    Would one have to change the meter if changing to another suplier?

    And what costs are involved to get out the pre-paid Board Gais system to another (pre-paid) supplier? The old pre-pay meter out. the line disconnected, reconnected and a new pre-paid meter in? This could cost a thousand Euros - if necessary at all.

    @ Paddy147:

    Who not using your heat pump ( the "solar system working at night") for heating? To expensive? Why gas ?
    Sure the standing charges for a gas connection on their own would pay for bottled gas for cooking and baking? Or for the electricity.


    Heinbloed,-Theres a good few people here on this forum that may have more than 1 house or property.
    So how do you know exactly which house/property this meter is for??
    Answer is you dont.


    Regards.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17 warmglow


    hey paddy 147

    your old meter was inside yes ? did they locate the new one outside for you for free ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,262 ✭✭✭✭Joey the lips


    paddy its not necessary for you to prove anything and just incase you have not noticed Warmglow has been banned, not because of the comments but because he is a duplicate account of a previously banned account by me for bullying. I needed to deal with this the way i did to test this.

    Thanks again.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 15,857 ✭✭✭✭paddy147


    paddy its not necessary for you to prove anything and just incase you have not noticed Warmglow has been banned, not because of the comments but because he is a duplicate account of a previously banned account by me for bullying. I needed to deal with this the way i did to test this.

    Thanks again.



    Thanks Joey for the support.

    Ive no problem in posting pics,to show others what the meter looks like and how easy it is to use.

    So here they are (at last).........


    Some pics,as promised.

    Hope this helps.:)


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 15,857 ✭✭✭✭paddy147


    sullzz wrote: »
    paddy147 wrote: »



    Legs ???? Oh yeah they are them things that ill be stretching out on the recliner with my laptop resting on them paying my gas bill on line while your using yours to battle through the wind rain and snow to get to the shop to top up your card ;):D:p:)


    Yep,all the fresh air and excercise by walking to the shop is really bad for the human body and mind,isnt it.;):)

    In all seriousness,I posted this thread to make others,who may be landlords,or who maybe having difficulty in paying their gas bills,aware of this "pay as you go" gas meter and thats its available for free to the public now.

    Ring up Bord Gais and request 1 installed for free.Its that simple and easy.

    The normal instalation price would be around the 375 euro mark,so having it installed for free,is a good deal

    It might help out some people here.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    I would advise that prepayment meters should only be fitted when there is a reason i.e debt management or for landlords to control gas usage, the reason for this is your adding technology to a very simplistic measuring device, the technology can fail leaving you without.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,262 ✭✭✭✭Joey the lips


    Just spoke to bord gais on this today. As i said i have a few people that might be interested in it. I asked a couple of simple questions.

    1. How is the unit charge calculated.

    The unit charge is calculated at the point of loading up the card. ie the card knows that at this time 10 euro gets 10 units but next time 10 euro might get 11 units. You pay no more or less than the current unit charge that the standard customer is on.ie you dont pay a premium.Smart card i thought!

    2. What is the charge to have this installed.

    Free of charge to all customers not in arrers an agreement will have to be reached with arrers customers.

    3. How do you switch to another provider with this system.

    You dont. You must have the card machine removed.

    4. How much is it to have the card machine removed

    219.41 euro


    I then spoke to ESB and asked if the system was universal. They said no. Infact they said at the moment they have no intention to introduce a meter system to people not in arrers because they have the easy pay system for doing this. If you do manage to get the ESB to install this then you have to pay 79.45 for the privaliage.

    The contradiction of this system is something i will be raising myself with the minister for energy, the energy regulator(if they listen) and the minister for social welfare.

    To sum up the 3 primary criteria you must meet to have any of these is

    1. You must be a home owner or have the landlords consent.

    2. You must not be on an easy pay system or energy saver night rate

    3. You must not live in an apartment.


    personally. I would be more comfortable joining my local Credit union budget plan but each to there own.


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