When to use a prepaid energy card
Huggg's prepaid energy cards are digital prepaid Mastercards, restricted to use with utility providers (energy, water and off-grid fuel suppliers). They come in three products: Energy Card, Water Card, and Heating Oil Card. The cards cannot be used at supermarkets, general retailers or for other purchases. They're the right product for any recipient who pays for their utilities online or by phone, and work for:
Energy bills: direct debit, standing order or ad hoc payments to any UK gas or electricity supplier
Water bills: any UK water supplier
Online meter top-ups: where the recipient can top up their prepayment meter via their supplier's website
Off-grid suppliers: heating oil, LPG, coal
Prepaid energy cards are used online or by phone. They cannot be used in person at a shop or till. If your recipient tops up a meter at a shop, send a PayPoint or Post Office energy voucher instead. If you're not sure which is right, send OneLink Energy. See: Which energy voucher should I send? for a full comparison.
For more on specific use cases, see also: Water: what you need to know before sending and Heating oil and off-grid energy: what you need to know before sending.
Before you start: KYB
Prepaid energy cards are regulated prepaid debit card products. Sending any of them requires a Know Your Business (KYB) check on your organisation. A single KYB covers all of Huggg's prepaid energy cards (Energy Card, Water Card, Heating Oil Card).
If your organisation hasn't yet completed KYB, email us at disbursements@huggg.me to start the process. KYB takes 3 to 5 working days to process.
Fees
Prepaid energy card fees include issuance, cancellation and other charges. For an up-to-date breakdown, email us at disbursements@huggg.me.
Pre-send checklist
Before you send a prepaid energy card, confirm:
Your organisation has completed KYB
Your recipient is able to use online or phone payment. They will not be able to use the card in person
Your recipient hasn't already received the maximum allowed: 3 active cards at a time and £500 in total in the past 12 months. Above the £500 threshold, an Enhanced ID Check on the recipient is required (with an additional processing fee)
Your recipient understands the card expires at the end of the month shown
What to know
Utility providers only. Prepaid energy cards can only be used to pay energy, water and off-grid fuel suppliers. They cannot be used at supermarkets, general retailers, or for any other purchase. For other recipient needs, send a different voucher type.
Online or phone only. Prepaid energy cards cannot be used in person at a shop or till. Your recipient pays their provider through the provider's online portal or phone payment service.
3 active cards maximum per recipient. A single recipient can hold up to three active prepaid energy cards at one time. The limit is shared across the three products.
£500 / 12 months annual cap. A recipient can receive up to £500 in prepaid energy cards in any rolling 12-month period as standard. To exceed this, an Enhanced ID Check on the recipient is required, which incurs an additional processing fee. Email disbursements@huggg.me to discuss.
End-of-month expiry. The card expires at the end of the month shown on the card. Your recipient should be encouraged to use it before then.
Heating oil tip. If your recipient is using their card for heating oil, paying by phone is recommended for split payments. Online suppliers only accept the order if it is at or below the card balance.
Common issues and what to do
Issue | What to do |
Recipient can't use online or phone | Send a PayPoint or Post Office voucher instead (in-store redemption), depending on which network covers their provider. |
Recipient already has 3 active cards | A new card cannot be issued until one of the active cards expires or is fully spent. |
Recipient has had over £500 in prepaid energy cards in the past 12 months | An Enhanced ID Check on the recipient is required before a further card can be issued. This incurs an additional processing fee. Email disbursements@huggg.me to discuss. |
Recipient's provider doesn't accept card payments | Most UK energy and water suppliers accept card payments online or by phone. If your recipient's provider doesn't, email support@huggg.me and we'll help. |
Card is approaching expiry and isn't fully used | Cards cannot be extended past the end of the month shown. Encourage your recipient to use the full balance before the expiry date. |
How your recipient uses the card
Recipients open their link, generate the card, and use the card details to pay their provider online or by phone. For full recipient instructions, see How do I get my prepaid card? and How do I use my prepaid card to pay my bill?
Still need help?
For KYB or fees, email disbursements@huggg.me. For anything else, email support@huggg.me and we'll help.