Can I still use a new Gas Meter Card (traditional PAYG meter), if it wasn't activated at the shop with the TAG code?

I know that, what I mean is that they didn’t manage to do anything at all on the shops end but the staff just gave up and just handed me the card regardless.

Could I just put it into my meter, despite the fact that the shop didn’t manage to do anything on their end with it or the TAG code, and get it to associate with my meter or am I forced to have to wait?

So follow up, just got off the phone again and the woman I just spoke to insisted that the previous code should have worked and that for OVO Gas cards it is in fact a 7 digit code and not an 8 digit one like both the website, and other posts on this forum claim when getting a replacement?


 

Been told I have to wait another 3 hours before I can go round and try, but they said they’d place a call back to me in about 3.5 hours to check if it worked or not, they also said that the card the shop gave me, may be the issue as its one that says “SSE part of the OVO Family” card and not one that only has OVO on it.

So after now having gone through 4 different cards over the last few days, as either the cards/TAG codes just aren’t working, they’re finally sending someone out from emergency team to top it up  or something sometime in next 3 hours ish.

I’m starting to thinking the meter its self is the issue, as I'm not convinced its location in the outside under stairs cubby which is regularly damp/wet is helping things.

Had the hassle with SSE (pre ovo switch) for over 3 years trying to get smart meters installed, but due to property access issues, its one building separated into 3 different sets of flats, and one of the residents either works  odd hours or just plain refuses to ever answer the door, so that unfortunately isn’t doable as have had at least 10 different  engineers attend after retelling this problem every time smart meters are brought up

They show up and after trying to get an answer for 10 min they go , Ahh yea we wont install them on safety grounds as wed have to cut off the entire building and would need access to each flat on the property to make sure that everything was successfully turned back on, and as guy at the very top won’t answer/is never in they can’t do it.


Anyway had a call back about 30 min ago re-booking emergency team sometime in this “next 3 hours” this evening, as something didnt go through the first time, and at the end I was told to expect a call from the people themselves confirming it in about 10/15 min and that if I didn’t answer they wouldn’t attend this evening… and as you can guess, have yet to receive said confirmation call 30 min later.… so now am worried its going to be yet another day of nothing.

I’ve lived here for like 9 years and I have never actually seen or met the guy myself, heard him enter/leave at like 3/4am on a couple of occasions.  And no idea if he’s aware of that.

From what i gathered talking to engineers previously, I think the safety issues is less the shutting down of the power to the building and more them being able to make sure it was turned back on safely, thus why never had smart meters installed.


Anyway just had emergency team guy/engineer arrive and yep meter is buggered and needs replacing as it didn’t even recognise his service card, so got to wait on a call tomorrow morning (or chasing up again if heard nothing by 12) yay ….

Hey @tom_j_davey1 

Let us know how things go today.

@Blastoise186 you are most definitely correct in that they will need to turn the supply off, all be it for a small amount of time.

Do keep us updated Tom.

A lot of hardware stores and builders yards have them - they’re cheap and easy to get.

Do you need a hand to locate one of these boxes? I’m happy to do a quick search for you. Your DNO/Gas Transporter can then assist with the installation if memory serves.

You can do it either before or after. If you ask nicely, it may be possible to do it at the same time - but I don’t know for sure.

Maybe your landlord should pay me for my time helping you out as well. You might not have had to come here otherwise. :)

Let’s see… If I did 1p for every Point… That’d cost them over 70,000p or £7,000! XD

You should definitely talk to Citizens Advice Bureau about that. Landlords are obligated to assist with keeping the property in a good state of repair and it sounds like your landlord is breaching that requirement.

That’s good. Keep hold of the old cards for now. If OVO is satisfied the credit was never transferred to the meter, then there’s a 100% chance you’ll get that refund. I think they’ll either give it to you in cash (or more likely cheque) or as a voucher code to apply to the new meter - this wouldn’t add a debt to it, just a credit via Remote Token Issue.