£1
Minimum top up
At Payzone or Post Office
1 hour
Credit delay
Before it reaches the meter
0330 100 0303
Top up number
Mon–Fri 8am–8pm
Where can I top up my British Gas key or card?
British Gas pay-as-you-go customers can top up at Payzone outlets or any Post Office counter. For traditional (non-smart) prepayment meters, these two in-person channels remain the only way to add credit. Both take a couple of minutes and accept cash or card.
Once you've topped up your card or key, you must transfer the credit to the meter. Insert the card or key into the electricity meter and credit transfers automatically; for a gas meter, press and hold the A button until the new balance appears on screen.
Top up at Payzone
Since 1 January 2020, Payzone has been the exclusive British Gas prepayment partner, replacing PayPoint. Payzone terminals sit in newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets and petrol stations - look for the Payzone logo in the window. You can find your nearest outlet using the store locator on the Payzone website.
At the till, hand over your key or card, tell the cashier how much you want to add and pay in cash or by card. Keep the receipt: it contains the Vend Code you'll need if the credit doesn't reach the meter automatically.
Top up at the Post Office
Every Post Office counter in the UK processes British Gas top-ups. Bring your card or key, tell the clerk how much you want to load and pay. You'll receive a printed receipt with a Vend Code - keep it safe in case you need to enter the credit manually later.
Why did British Gas leave PayPoint?
On 1 January 2020 British Gas ended its contract with PayPoint and moved to Payzone. The switch cut around 15,000 accessible locations overnight and briefly pushed the minimum top-up from £1 to £5 - a decision later reversed after Ofgem pressure. British Gas later paid £1.48 million in compensation to affected prepayment customers.
Power cut right now?
Can't top up because the power's out?
A power cut is not a top-up or meter problem, and your supplier can't fix it: your local network operator does. Call 105 free, 24/7, then report it on the live UK map so engineers and neighbours can see it.
British Gas smart meter top up
If you have a British Gas smart meter in prepayment mode, you can top up without leaving home. There are four channels: your online account, as a guest online, the British Gas app, or over the phone. Each one credits your meter within an hour, and none of them require a visit to a shop.
Top up online
Via your online account is the fastest route. Sign in to British Gas, open the Top Up tab, choose an amount and pay by debit card. You can save your card details so future top-ups take two clicks. Struggling to sign in? Our British Gas login guide covers the reset and registration steps.
As a guest, you top up without logging in but you'll need your Smart Card Number (SCN), printed on the Smart Card or in the welcome pack left by the engineer when your meter was installed.
Top up with the British Gas app
The British Gas app (iOS and Android) is the most convenient option for day-to-day top-ups. It supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, so you don't need your card on you, and it shows your current balance and usage in the same screen.
Top up by phone
Call 0330 100 0303 any time - the automated line handles card payments 24/7. Say "top up" at the prompt and have your customer reference number (starts with 85) and debit or credit card ready. For complex queries, agents are available Monday to Friday 8am–8pm and Saturday 8am–6pm.
Activating a new top-up card or key
A brand-new British Gas card or key must be activated before it can carry credit. Slot it into the meter and leave it there for about one minute, then remove it. The card is now paired with your meter and ready to use at Payzone or the Post Office.
Struggling with bills? British Gas offers several support schemes, including the Warm Home Discount and the British Gas Energy Trust, which can write off arrears for eligible households.
Lost or broken card? How to request a replacement
Replacement British Gas cards and keys are free. You have two options: order one by post (allow three working days after calling the pay-as-you-go team), or collect one from a Payzone outlet. Gas cards are issued on the spot; for an electricity key, call the prepayment team first, get a reference number and wait at least 30 minutes before picking up the replacement.
Whichever route you choose, remember to activate the new card or key in your meter before trying to top up (see the section above).
British Gas top up not working? Vend Codes and error codes
Credit usually reaches a British Gas meter within one hour of payment. If it hasn't appeared after that, you can enter the payment manually using the Vend Code - the 20, 40 or 60-digit number printed on your Payzone or Post Office receipt. Never throw top-up receipts away until the credit has landed.
Enter a Vend Code on a gas meter
- Press A to wake the screen.
- Press A twice more to reach the credit entry option.
- Press B, then A to begin entering the Vend Code.
- Press B to move back a digit.
- Press and hold B to submit the code.
Enter a Vend Code on an electricity meter
- Press and hold A and B together.
- Use A to enter each digit, B to move forward.
- Press and hold B to move back.
- Press and hold A to submit the code.
Enter a Vend Code on a Smart Energy Monitor
- From the menu, select Gas Prepay or Elec Prepay.
- Select Add vend code.
- Use −/+ to enter each digit, next/del to move forward.
- Press and hold next/del to move back.
- Press next/del to submit the code.
Common error codes
If your card or key isn't reading, there's often just dust on the contacts - wipe it with a clean, dry cloth and reinsert. If an error code still appears, use the tables below to diagnose the problem.
| Electricity meter code | What to do |
|---|---|
| D1, D5 | Likely dust on the key - wipe clean and reinsert. Call British Gas if it persists. |
| E, D2, D3, D4, D6, D7, D8, D9 | Call the pay-as-you-go team on 0330 100 0303 immediately. |
Meter codes valid across all British Gas prepayment electricity meters.
| Gas meter message | What to do |
|---|---|
| Call help, Card Pass, Battery, Battery Fail?, ----, M***** | Meter fault - contact British Gas. |
| Invalid Card, Card not accepted, Card fail, Please wait | Wipe the card. If the message clears the card was dusty; if it stays, the card or meter is faulty. |
| Blank screen | Press A. If still blank, call the prepayment team. |
Have your meter serial number ready (starts with S or F, under the screen) before you call.
Need other ways to reach the supplier? Our British Gas contact page lists live chat, email and departmental numbers.
British Gas top up - frequently asked questions
Further reading on British Gas and prepayment
Want to compare what British Gas charges against the rest of the market, or move away from prepayment altogether? These guides are the logical next steps.
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