Latest news with #prepayment
BBC News
12-08-2025
- Health
- BBC News
New online portal for Isle of Man pre-paid prescriptions
Patients who require regular prescriptions for medication can now buy pre-payment certificates the new system, patients can download the documents digitally on a phone or tablet, print them off, or request a paper certificates are typically used by those who receive regular or multiple prescriptions, to limit the overall cost of the medication by paying for £54 for six months or £19 for Care said the online facility would "streamline" the administration process for patients by making the paperwork available by email. If paid for on an individual basis, each item on an Isle of Man prescription costs £3.85, with elastic hosiery rising to £ pre-paid certificates allow the charges for regular prescriptions to be applying online will need to provide their NHS number, with "pop-up sessions" set to be held across the island to help people get to grips with accessing the new applications remain available for those without access to the internet, with payments accepted over the phone or by post. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
CNA
07-08-2025
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Stock take today: Trump's 100% levy on chips jolts markets
CNA938 Rewind - Near 6-fold rise in prepayment losses for beauty consumers in first half of 2025 Beauty industry consumers lost over $108,000 in the first half of this year after paying in advance for services that were never delivered. This represents a 464% increase – or a near six-fold rise – from $19,000 during the same period last year. Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng find out why consumers are still falling victim to prepayment losses and what more can be done to protect them, with Mr Linus Ng, Member, CASE Central Committee and Chairperson, CASE Consumer Education Committee.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ARCHERWILL INVESTMENTS INC. ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO HOLDINGS IN MTL CANNABIS CORP.
TORONTO, Aug. 1, 2025 /CNW/ - On July 31, 2025, MTL Cannabis Corp. (CSE: MTLC) ("MTL Cannabis") voluntarily prepaid to Archerwill Investments Inc. ("Archerwill") all of the outstanding principal amount of the amended and restated 8.00% secured convertible debenture dated as of July 22, 2022, as amended by the amending agreement dated as of June 28, 2023, issued by MTL Cannabis to Archerwill in the principal amount of $6,500,000 due August 5, 2025 (the "Convertible Debenture"), plus all accrued and unpaid interest, in the aggregate amount of $8,316,830.21 (the "Voluntary Prepayment") and, in connection therewith, issued to Archerwill 14,466,568 warrants exercisable for 14,466,568 Common Shares at any time from time to time until August 5, 2027 at an exercise price of $0.5749, subject to adjustment from time to time (the "Prepayment Warrants"). Between December 17, 2024 and January 28, 2025, a joint actor of Archerwill acquired 512,500 common shares ("Common Shares") of MTL Cannabis at an average trade price of $0.330 per share, for aggregative proceeds of $169,502.38. As of the date of its previously filed early warning report dated December 18, 2024, Archerwill and its joint actor beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over 374,067 Common Shares, the Convertible Debenture in aggregate principal amount of approximately $5,250,000 (following repayment of principal of approximately $1,250,000 by MTL Cannabis) which was convertible into approximately 13,866,096 Common Shares, and 3,907,623 warrants exercisable for 3,907,623 Common Shares. Archerwill and its joint actor beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over approximately 10.7% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares (assuming Archerwill's conversion and exercise in full of all securities it held in MTL Cannabis but no other conversions of outstanding securities of MTL Cannabis, but accounting for the issuance of anti-dilution securities issuable to former Montreal Cannabis Medical Inc. ("MCMI") shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Issuer's acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of MCMI completed in two tranches on August 30, 2022 and July 31, 2023 (the "MTL Transaction")). Archerwill and its joint actor now beneficially own or exercise control or direction over 616,567 Common Shares and 18,374,191 warrants exercisable for 18,374,191 Common Shares. Archerwill and its joint actor beneficially own or exercise control or direction over approximately 11.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares (assuming Archerwill's conversion and exercise in full of all securities it holds in MTL Cannabis but no other conversions of outstanding securities of MTL Cannabis, but accounting for the issuance of anti-dilution securities issuable to former MCMI shareholders pursuant to the terms of the MTL Transaction). As a result of the Voluntary Prepayment and the issuance of the Prepayment Warrants, Archerwill and its joint actor's total percentage holding in the Issuer did not change. Presently, Archerwill and its joint actor have no intention of acquiring any securities of MTL Cannabis. Archerwill or its joint actor may acquire ownership of or control over further securities of MTL Cannabis in the future depending upon market circumstances. Increase or decrease in ownership of securities of MTL Cannabis will depend on numerous conditions, including the price of the Common Shares and general market conditions. The head office of MTL Cannabis is located at 1773 Bayly Street, Pickering, ON, L1W 2Y7. An early warning report relating to this transaction will be filed on the System for Electronic Data Analysis and Retrieval + ("SEDAR+") under MTL Cannabis's profile and can be viewed at SOURCE Archerwill Investments Inc. View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio
Zawya
26-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Standard Transfer Specification (STS) Webinar Now Available On-Demand to Empower Utilities with Smart Metering Solutions
ESI Africa, in collaboration with the STS Association, is excited to announce that the recent webinar, 'STS – The Evolution into Smart Metering,' is now available on-demand. This insightful session provides utilities, municipalities, and energy professionals with a comprehensive guide to leveraging the Standard Transfer Specification (STS) for efficient and interoperable prepayment metering. The webinar explores the globally accepted STS ecosystem, a South African-developed technology powering over 70 million smart meters worldwide. Key discussions include the benefits of the Key Management Centre, implementation strategies, and the interoperability of STS-compliant systems, enabling municipalities to work seamlessly with multiple vendors while ensuring secure transactions. Riccardo Pucci, Marketing Manager at the STS Association, emphasized the consumer and utility benefits of prepaid smart meters: 'STS enables energy conservation by empowering consumers to monitor usage in real-time, enhances revenue flexibility by reducing billing disputes, and boosts operational efficiency by eliminating manual meter readings.' Franco Pucci, Technical Consultant, highlighted STS's 25-year track record and its adaptability to modern technology, with access to 1,350 metering products for scalable solutions. The STS Association also offers extensive training resources, including user guides, manuals, and customizable in-person or online sessions, available through their website. The on-demand webinar includes expert commentary on audience poll results, addressing key challenges in prepayment systems, making it a valuable resource for utilities seeking practical solutions. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vuka Group. For more information, contact: ESI Africa at info@ for training and resources About ESI Africa: ESI Africa is the leading platform for African energy and sector coupling news, insights and webinars, connecting industry stakeholders with innovative solutions. About STS Association: The STS Association promotes the adoption of the Standard Transfer Specification, ensuring interoperable, secure, and scalable prepayment metering solutions globally.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Prepayment meter customers issued summer warning to avoid shock energy bills
MILLIONS of households using prepayment meters have been issued a summer warning to dodge surprise energy bills this autumn. More than four million customers who rely on these meters to pay for their energy in advance are being advised to keep their meters topped up during the warmer months. 1 Citizens Advice warns that failing to do so could lead to unexpected deductions from their credit due to daily "standing charges" that continue to accrue, even when energy isn't being used. In a recent post on X, the charity warned: "If you use a prepayment meter, keep topping up your gas account over the summer months. "Make sure you're adding enough to cover your daily standing charges so you're not hit with an unexpected bill this winter." The problem arises when people switch off their heating and use less energy during the warmer months, assuming they can stop topping up. However, standing charges still build up daily, even if no credit is added. These fees, currently 32.67p per day for gas and 53.8p for electricity, cover the costs of keeping the energy network running, including maintaining wires, pipes, and cables, as well as staffing and office expenses. "If you turn off your gas central heating and stop topping up your gas meter over the summer months, then these charges will be waiting when you next top up," Citizens Advice said. This means a significant portion of any future top-up will be immediately swallowed up by accumulated standing charges, leaving customers with less energy than expected and forcing them to top up again sooner. Citizens Advice said: "To avoid being stung by unexpected payments this winter, make sure you're adding credit to your meter throughout the summer so your standing charges are covered." Keep in mind that the standing charge you pay can vary based on your energy supplier, tariff, and where you live. You can check the exact amount on your most recent bill or through your online account. Can I avoid the standing charge? MOST suppliers slap you with the charge, but there is one exception. Utilita, which only serves prepayment meter customers, has ditched it altogether. Instead, the company integrates the cost into its gas and electricity rates. Utilita operates a two-rate system. The first rate, which is slightly higher, covers standing charge costs. Once 2kWh is consumed (and standing charge costs are covered), customers automatically switch to a cheaper rate for the rest of the day. But this alternative might not suit everyone, particularly those who do not want to prepay for their energy. According to industry association Energy UK and watchdog Ofgem, eliminating the standing charge altogether isn't a straightforward solution. A spokesperson for Energy UK said: "If you were to switch these costs to the 'per unit' charges, then those customers disadvantaged by the current system, such as low usage households, would benefit. "But other customers, who might be more reliant on energy or have a less well-insulated home, could end up paying significantly more." CHANGE ON THE HORIZON Millions of households will be able to access "no standing charge" energy tariffs at all suppliers from this winter. Charlotte Friel, from Ofgem, said last week: "We're looking closely at how these tariffs will work in practice, but everyone will need to carefully consider which option best suits their needs. "The costs included in the standing charge ultimately have to be paid. But while they may not save everyone money, they will give people a choice, and greater control over their bills." The regulator first announced the shake-up to energy rules in December last year but it confirmed firms will have to offer the tariffs to customers in time for winter back in February. It also announced a consultation on how the new tariffs would work. What energy bill help is available? There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by. If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter. This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period. If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal. Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills. But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances. For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000. British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund. You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund. EDF, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too. Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR). The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill. Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling. Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
