Wanna get off the meter....

tonycree

ok
I'm on a meter
I'm about £250 in debt
I know I pay more than those not on a meter
How do I get myself off the meter to the cheaper method?

SwanJon

First you'll need to clear the debt. As it is summer, if you are using less could you put more towards the balance? Call them up, make a payment and they can take it off the meter.

Once the balance is clear ask your supplier what you have to do to change it back. It'll probably be a security deposit.
If they won't help, speak to toher suppliers and see what they offer you.

Plushchris

Pretty much as Swanjon said.

I would add that most of the companies will carry out a credit check on you if you are changing from a prepayment meter. If there is a history of debt on the meter they will almost certainly ask for a deposit. Make it clear with the company if this is a deposit or a charge as I've heard some companies say its a deposit that you dont get back (that'll be a charge then)

kellynmatt

I enquired with Scottish power today! They charge a £120 security deposit per machine if you have been with them less than a year. This is refundable after a year.

Premier_2

Alternatively, switch to Ebico who don't charge extra for their pre-payment customers.

But you will need to settle the existing debt before the current supplier allows you to leave.

Night-owl_6

tonycree wrote: »

ok
I'm on a meter
I'm about £250 in debt
I know I pay more than those not on a meter
How do I get myself off the meter to the cheaper method?

Companies dont make you pay off your outstanding balance first, so I have to correct what others have said as I know someone who had a £800 bill and they let them repay it at £5 off there key balance on a pre paid meter a week.
Secondly, contact your supplier, they can waiver any install fees if you have really trouble paying.
Personally I couldnt stand having a pre paid meter, the supply going off in the middle of the night and no where to recharge the card, or having to go out at 4am to recharge it while its raining out.

The standard fee for install is around £80 but this can depend a little on supplier

SwanJon

Night-owl wrote: »

Companies dont make you pay off your outstanding balance first, so I have to correct what others have said as I know someone who had a £800 bill and they let them repay it at £5 off there key balance on a pre paid meter a week.

That means that paid off the debt on the prepayment meter.

If you owe a company money due to past difficultuies with quarterly bills, they're not going to take the PP meter out (which guarentees the debt is paid off an no new debt builds up) and let you build up more debt and maybe not pay your old debt on a quarterly meter.

While they often waive the exhange fee they will usually ask for a security deposit if you have struggled with quaterly meters in the past. If you have trouble paying a security deposit, are you likely to have trouble paying your bills?

They will also block you changing supplier if you have a balance that is more than 28 days old.

BexTech

Premier wrote: »

Alternatively, switch to Ebico who don't charge extra for their pre-payment customers.

But you will need to settle the existing debt before the current supplier allows you to leave.

Although eBico is cheapest for pre-payment customers, if you have a regular credit meter and pay by DD then there are cheaper providers.

tonycree

they now say that it's a £1000
just discovered that they did not put a new meter on my old night (economy) meter and that looks as tho' it's been spinning out of control, unread and unchecked...
who's to blame ??

spiro

tonycree wrote: »

they now say that it's a £1000
just discovered that they did not put a new meter on my old night (economy) meter and that looks as tho' it's been spinning out of control, unread and unchecked...
who's to blame ??

If you have 2 meters (1 credit & 1 prepay) and they have not been billing you for both then under the Energy Retail Association Billing Code of Practice they can only back bill you 12 months.