Ideal Prepaid SA Reviews 9

It is hard to imagine a company more uninterested in its clients than Ideal Prepaid. First, when you try to recharge through the website, it blocks your attempts to pay them due to "excessive recharge activity". Then, when you try a different route by transferring money into their accounts, they take your money, but they don't send you a token. After that, no-one answers the phone in the call centre. On the rare occasion that they do answer, they acknowledge that their website blocks people for no good reason, but they also acknowledge that no-one in senior management is interested in fixing the problem. They just don't care. And just wait for your meter to stop working over a long weekend. You'll be without water forever.

The rates through Ideal Prepaid are determined by the landlord. With all these excise charges and other fees it knocks my usage up to R5/unit. This is exploitation and I was told to take it up with my landlord. Well, she gets a kickback from Ideal Prepaid. It is daylight robbery! I don't use even 350 units a month, I have a gas stove and no electric kettle and my geyser is on for 1 -2 hours per day. I thought excise charges were for high usage users but it seems you get charged no matter what. The flat rate is higher than the municipal rate of 0-600 units. If you live in a complex, check with previous tenants before you sign the lease. I'm paying 40% than my sister who lives in a house.

I would like to thank an agent Mike Senna, he went out of this way, in helping me to receive my tokens, his service was absolutely good 10/10. These are the kind off agents companies need, good, helpful and making sure the client is happy.

The call centre agents give different answers as to what is needed for change of ownership. Very confusing.

I recently moved into a rented apartment and was placed on a prepaid electricity meter run by Ideal Prepaid (Meter No: 07101978703). I was shocked to find I’m being charged R4.87 per kWh, even at the start of the month — far above the standard Ekurhuleni municipal rate of around R2.67–R3.37 per kWh for Block 1.

On 1 July 2025, I bought R250 of electricity and only received 38.4 units (kWh). That includes R35 lost to fees, meaning I paid R6.50+ per unit overall. Meanwhile, friends and family on municipal meters get nearly double the units for the same amount.

I’ve emailed Ideal Prepaid for clarity and have received no proper explanation for:

Why I’m not on a block tariff

Why I’m charged a flat, high rate

Who approved this pricing structure

This feels exploitative — especially during a time when South Africans are struggling with high living costs. Prepaid systems should not be used to overcharge tenants or profit off electricity resales. I will also be lodging a formal complaint with NERSA.

I do not recommend Ideal Prepaid, and I urge others to check their tariffs carefully before accepting a private prepaid meter system.

I'm am only here because I have been without electricity for two days now.

I bought electrical units but the box won't accept the token it displays failed after I dial them in.

Now I have used over R50 of airtime trying to get this sorted. I've been asking all call centre agents to call me back but nothing thus far 2 days later...

The other day I had 3.96 kws left but the power shut of😁. Ayy I don't know I don't even want to know at the moment as I am so fed up

Everyone says buy beginning of the month but with Ideal Prepaid beginning middle end of the month is all the same price per unit.its absolutely crazy

Unfortunately it depends who you are and the connections the property administrator have with Ideal. Had a bad review recently and things have deteriorated further. Azure the culprit unregistered and have all the say how Ideal performs. Whatever you say Ideal with do obviously when they get their 10% plus admin fee. All welcome. No restrictions for electricity tarrifs but by-laws for water tarrifs in sectional titles. Laws in conscience need to be in place as Villa D Luca do as they please and Azure Merville and Ideal oblige.

Lowest prices on meters and the best service by far in the industry.