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giro1991
Rank 2
December 22, 2025
Solved

How do I redeem a tag code?

  • December 22, 2025
  • 26 replies
  • 804 views

I contacted OVO chat Sat 13th Dec to explain the folloWing;

Credit applied on pre-pay key did not register in the pre-pay meter, I was prompted by agent for picture of receipt and  meter readings, at that time I was using public wifi (not at house) so could not provide the latter.

The following Monday I resumed the correspondence and discovered I had received a TAG CODE Saturday regardless and that supposedly I had missed a call from OVO also.

The email states:

I understand you're concerned about your Top up of £40.00 that did not register your electricity meter.

I tried calling you so that we can discuss this, and we have recieved the proof of payment.

Here is the Tag code that you going to use in one hour from the hour to pick up the amount of £40.00 at the local shop

TAG CODE: 4*** ***9 .

 

HoW do I  reclaim this credit? There are no instructions.

The  chat agents took far too long in bouncing messages, one even said 3/4minutes is normal per message!!!

 

    Best answer by Blastoise186

    Updated on 05/01/26 by Abby_OVO

     

    I’m gonna give PayPoint a call myself this morning, but I did find some other instructions that MAY help on a PayPoint One Terminal.

    In the PayPoint One manual, there is a specific sub-menu that staff often overlook. Ask the user to tell the retailer to look for this:

    1. Press the PayPoint (P) button.

    2. Type the 8-digit RTI number and press Enter.

    3. A screen should appear with options. The retailer must select "3 = Key Issue" (or similar "Issue Key" wording). In some cases, other options may be more appropriate but 3 = Key Issue should be used first.

    4. Only then should they insert the key.

    To make things more fun, in some cases the order is different:

    On some PayPoint One firmware versions, the menu names have changed slightly to be more "user-friendly" (which usually makes them more confusing). You’ll want to ask the shopkeeper to look for:

    1. PayPoint (P) Button

    2. E-Money

    3. Local Services → Electricity RTI (sometimes listed as "TAG Code").

    This works for redeeming credit codes as well as issuing new keys.

    It’s a stupid system, but alas there’s not really much OVO can do about it unfortunately. And neither can PayPoint - they’re pretty modern these days but the Traditional PAYG Meter infrastructure it connects to is a dinosaur (blame Transco for example!) and is under maintenance only/no further development status.

    Kudos to a local shopkeeper for showing me his terminal and giving me access to the help videos. You know who you are!

     

    Happy new year.

     

    The correct procedure is:

    1. Press the PayPoint (P) button.

    2. Type the 8-digit RTI number and press Enter.

    3. Select "3 = Key Issue" (or similar "Issue Key" wording).

    4. Insert the key.
      (in this case, two further screens were prompted, with green confirm  buttons on each)

     

     

    26 replies

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    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    January 2, 2026

    Hehehe, it’s not easy!

    I did find some real rabbit warren stuff though… Man this stuff is interesting…

    For example… I found this regarding the key colours...

    Colour Supplier Status
    Blue (OVO Brand) OVO Energy The standard key for OVO legacy meters.
    Blue (SSE Logo) SSE / OVO Still very common. Since OVO bought SSE, these are interchangeable with OVO keys.
    Light Blue EDF Energy Standard EDF key. Often has the EDF orange logo on it.
    Dark Blue / Red nPower (E.ON Next) Legacy nPower keys are often blue with a red plastic "sleeve" or cap.
    Orange British Gas The most recognizable. They almost always use orange for electric keys.
    Green Scottish Power Their legacy keys are usually a vibrant green.
    Purple / Dark Blue Utilita Often have a distinct purple or very dark blue branding.
    Yellow E (Energy) One of the smaller prepay specialists often uses yellow keys.
    Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
    G
    Rank 2
    giro1991Author
    Rank 2
    January 2, 2026

    Happy new year.

     

    The correct procedure is:

    1. Press the PayPoint (P) button.

    2. Type the 8-digit RTI number and press Enter.

    3. Select "3 = Key Issue" (or similar "Issue Key" wording).

    4. Insert the key.
      (in this case, two further screens were prompted, with green confirm  buttons on each)

     

    The title of this thread has been changed by the moderator and implies the shop keeper was at fault; that is not true, the title ought to be: How to redeem TAG CODE?

     

    In any case why can OVO not issue QR codes for this procedure? a more elegant way surely.

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      January 2, 2026

      Not possible for Electric Keys or Gas Cards unfortunately - that part of the infrastructure is a dinosaur from the 1990’s and is beyond OVO or PayPoint control - they never designed that part.

      We’re talking ancient servers shoved in the corner of a datacentre that hardly anyone touches anymore. That’s how old this stuff is.

      Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
      G
      Rank 2
      giro1991Author
      Rank 2
      January 2, 2026

      thatchers basement?

      Can you kindly change the thread title to better reflect the scenario.
      Thanks for your help.

      G

      Blastoise186
      Super User
      Blastoise186Super User
      Super User
      January 4, 2026

      I can ask the Forum Moderators about the thread title, but I can’t change it myself as I don’t have that power.

      Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
      Abby_OVO
      Community Manager
      Abby_OVO
      Community Manager
      January 5, 2026

      Hey ​@Blastoise186 ​@giro1991 

       

      I’ve updated the title in line with that updated information, thanks both.

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        OVO (S) Gas Limited is part of OVO Group Ltd