I have got the keys today for a new (rental) property.
The property has a card meter, the services are supplied by Eon, I phoned them to find out what I needed to do about the supply, never having had a prepayment meter. I was told I had to go and get a key from a supplier, give them a code then come back and put the key in the meter, then go to any paypoint outlet to put credit on the key.
OK, so where are the outlets, outlet A is 4 miles away, outlet B 7 miles away, A- £4 return bus fare and B - £3.50, both probably a good hour return trip, thats without going for the card, buses run every hour, that's a potential 3 hours.
I phone a friend who I know is close to B but they have to wait an hour until Eon say the number is active - outlet B doesn't do the cards, my friend phones back, I phone Eon (did I mention I only have a mobile phone as no landline in yet?) and ask them why I was sent somewhere 7 miles away that didn't do cards, "Don't know" comes back the reply "outlet B isn't on our list" here's some others, he gives me 4 other alternatives, none on a bus route, the nearest 3 miles , the one I went to didn't have any keys.
Now imagine I am on low income, disability benefits, elderly or have 4 young kids all on school holiday, how do I cope with this?
As it happens I have a car, kids are grown up and I've taken a couple days off work BUT this is the most pathetic, archaic, frustrating, annoying load of garbage I have ever come across in my life and to think these people (and me now) pay at a premium rate for the privilege!!!!!
.......oh and I can't change the meter until I've lived there for 12 months, who is the supplier at my current home? - Eon of course!!!!!
Well done if you managed to get to the end of it, apologies for wasting so much of your life!
RANT OVER
The property has a card meter, the services are supplied by Eon, I phoned them to find out what I needed to do about the supply, never having had a prepayment meter. I was told I had to go and get a key from a supplier, give them a code then come back and put the key in the meter, then go to any paypoint outlet to put credit on the key.
OK, so where are the outlets, outlet A is 4 miles away, outlet B 7 miles away, A- £4 return bus fare and B - £3.50, both probably a good hour return trip, thats without going for the card, buses run every hour, that's a potential 3 hours.
I phone a friend who I know is close to B but they have to wait an hour until Eon say the number is active - outlet B doesn't do the cards, my friend phones back, I phone Eon (did I mention I only have a mobile phone as no landline in yet?) and ask them why I was sent somewhere 7 miles away that didn't do cards, "Don't know" comes back the reply "outlet B isn't on our list" here's some others, he gives me 4 other alternatives, none on a bus route, the nearest 3 miles , the one I went to didn't have any keys.
Now imagine I am on low income, disability benefits, elderly or have 4 young kids all on school holiday, how do I cope with this?
As it happens I have a car, kids are grown up and I've taken a couple days off work BUT this is the most pathetic, archaic, frustrating, annoying load of garbage I have ever come across in my life and to think these people (and me now) pay at a premium rate for the privilege!!!!!
.......oh and I can't change the meter until I've lived there for 12 months, who is the supplier at my current home? - Eon of course!!!!!
Well done if you managed to get to the end of it, apologies for wasting so much of your life!
RANT OVER