Pre-payment Card Fraud

Doorstep meter credit is a scam!

Only buy credit for your pre-pay electricity meter from official outlets such as the Post Office, PayPoint or Payzone, or you’ll end up paying twice.

If anyone offers you energy top-ups on the doorstep, they are trying to involve you in criminal activity.

Don’t be fooled. Energy companies can identify homes using electricity… but not paying for it.

Pre-payment card fraud – FAQs

What is the fraud that is taking place?

Criminals gangs are offering electricity top-up on the doorstep, illegally, to people with electricity prepayment meters. This is a scam which will end up with the customer paying twice for their electricity.

What do I do if I am an electricity customer and think I may have been affected?

Contact your electricity supplier. (See a list of suppliers here), or you can call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06

What type of meters are involved?

Only electricity prepayment meters. Customers with a prepayment meter use  a special “key” to top-up with credit . They then insert the key in the meter and that is how they pay for the electricity they use.  About 3.5 million people in Britain use electricity pre-payment meters. Gas meters are not affected.

How should I buy top-up for my electricity meter?

Only buy electricity top-up from official outlets such as shops and garages offering   PayPoint or Payzone , or at Post Offices. NEVER buy electricity top-up on the doorstep. Electricity companies never sell top-up door-to-door, only through official outlets.

Which energy companies and which parts of the country are affected by the crime?

All the leading energy suppliers are affected and the crime is widespread across Britain, with hotspots in the London area and in the Midlands.

What are energy companies doing to stop the fraud?

Energy companies have began an intensive programme of work to track down the criminals and stamp out the problem. This involves liaising with police to stop the criminals, and launching a massive communications programme to contact customers who may  be affected.

What happens to customers affected?

Customers always have to pay their electricity supplier for the electricity they use. Customers who have bought energy sold by criminals will end up paying twice as the crime can be detected.  Only the criminal benefits from this fraud.