Changing from a Pre-payment meter:do with current supplier before a switch?

Hobbin_Rood

Hi there,

I need to switch my supplies and quick, what with all these energy hikes. Intend to go down the capped route as I'm on a very tight budget.

Thing is, my gas is on a pre-payment meter. So, I need to switch to a normal meter and then go for the cheapest capped rate (I'm guessing even if there are any capped pre-payment rates, they'll be poor anyway).

But I'm sure I read on here it's much less hassle to change meters through your current supplier and then change package than to do a switch of supply and type of meter at the same time - and there may even be a charge with some suppliers to change meter types as a new customer. Can anyone confirm for me?

In the meantime I suppose I could just switch my electricity (normal meter at standard rate, quarterly paper bill at present) and then do the gas later, but then that rules out duel fuel deals no?

I've read on my current suppliers paperwork that they'll change meters within 10 working days. Hope all the other companies don't hike prices or change/remove their capped rates within that time. Should have done this ages ago anyway!!

Cheers,
Hobbin Rood.

EDIT: I suppose the easiest thing would be to switch to the best deal available through my current supplier (Scottish Power for both gas & elec) and then they'll change the gas pre-payment meter anyway. I believe they do a 1 year capped rate at the moment. This I'll look into....

Joyful

The first thing to ask is if Scottish Power will credit vet you. If you fail they may ask for a deposit. As you have one normal meter it's possible they might not need to credit vet you.

Hobbin_Rood

Joyful wrote: »

The first thing to ask is if Scottish Power will credit vet you. If you fail they may ask for a deposit. As you have one normal meter it's possible they might not need to credit vet you.

So do you mean that even if I stick with Scottish Power and simply want to change the pre-payment meter with them, I may still have to be credit checked or supply a deposit?

My electricity bill is fully paid and up to date...I'm going to phone them just now.

Hobbin_Rood

After looking at Scottish Power's website to calculate the prices for it's Fixed Price 2009 offer and confirming it's a tiny bit cheaper than my current deals with them (ie Pre-payment for Gas and Standard domestic quarterly paper billing for Elec) I decided to go for it.

Factoring in the suspected price hikes and the savings for going properly dual fuel / online billing I was happy to change..

This was at 13:20 and I just noticed the customer service centre for current customers shuts at 13:00. Tried to get through on the "Quote" number for new customers but no answer after 50 mins.

Then tried to do online, but it doesn't recognise the pre-payment gas account, only the elec. So, I decided to switch the electricity account and I suppose I'll now have to wait until Monday to get my pre-payment gas account changed. Just hope it's not too late.

Thought I'd try again on the freephone number for new customers but still no answer - placed in a queue with seemingly no progress. They probably couldn't help knowing my luck anyway.

Ah well, as long as they can't cancel the fixed price deal for elec I've applied for online (it said it can take 3 days to go through) then at least I've got that.

Hobbin_Rood

Pah,

Called Scottish Power this morning to change that pre-payment meter. It says on their agreement they'll do this within 10 working days. Guess when the first person can come out? Right on the 10th working day from today - Mon 11th Aug. (I take it they don't include today).

Until then, they won't/can't change the package for gas. So I do have fixed price on the electric but need to play a waiting game on the gas.

The prices will no doubt go up within that time. Damn, should've done this ages ago! At least the ball's rolling now though.

They can only send an engineer out during office hours too - I'm going to see if a friend can wait in for me. If not, will have to try and get an afternoon off.

Update - when they booked the appointment they only said 8am-1pm or 12pm-5pm. So I just went with the 12pm-5pm. This means I can't even just take an afternoon off as I could only finish at 12pm and then still have to travel home. Would have to get someone to wait in (doubtful) or take a full day off.

Came off the phone and checked - on their standards of service it says that should you request a change of meter, they WILL do it within 10 working days. Surely it's up to them to be able to give you a reasonable time for the appointment.

And it also says:
If you need to arrange an appointment, we will always try to offer you a morning appointment between 8am and 1pm or an afternoon appointment between 12 noon and 5pm.
We can offer a more specific two-hour time band, (or in some circumstances an evening appointment between 5pm and 8pm) on request.
We do everything we can to keep an appointment. However, if we fail to keep an agreed appointment we will pay you £20.

--

I was never even offered the option of a two hour time slot or an evening. When I called back to try and change it, got a different person and they say that an appointment doesn't show up on the system for one or two days. So it can't be amended just now.

Also, the girl said it wasn't 2 hour time-slot but 4. I read the section from the Standards of Service, and asked her to check. She said, no I would go with that then. But you'll need to call back tomorrow or perhaps the day after when it should be on the system and we can see if that can be offered.

Qute annoying that you need to devote 5 hours to wait in for an appointment anyway. Seems excessive. I know there can be delays but it's so inconvenient. During office hours too! I work with disabled and elderly so can't just take days off when I want.

Grrr...

Hobbin_Rood

I called them again today. Appointment for change of gas meter still wasn't logged on their system, so unsure if they can narrow down the time to a two-hour slot on that day. Need to try again tomorrow when it should be on their systems.

I also asked about the procedure for changing a package as I managed to do the electricity online but couldn't change the gas due to having the pre-payment meter. What will happen? I was expecting the electricity to go through and then come the 11th Aug the gas can be added to this. No email or other confirmation for the elec, and it wasn't clear on the online a/c.

The person I spoke to (got there eventually 2nd time lucky after being cut off while being transferred) said the gas has already been booked in to be changed to the fixed price deal. Only on the 11th, both elec and gas will change over to the Fixed Term deal and be managed/billed online and be paid by direct debit (this gets me discounts).

This was news to me. I said I didn't understand why the Electricity couldn't be changed now as the proper meter is in place and then the gas added to it later. He said this is because the Fixed Term Deal is only for dual fuel customers. I asked him was he sure because I was allowed to change just the electricity in my online account and couldn't remember mention of it being for dual fuel only on their website.
.
He said yes. I accepted this. And also thought it made sense in my case as they could take a final meter reading for both and take it from there (but then again my elec a/c is up to date,only paid the latest bill two weeks ago and had a meter reading shortly before that).

I also asked since I applied on Sat 26th July should prices/packages change before 11 Aug would I be affected? No - I would definitely get the fixed term deal as applied for. I will be checking this should they change prices/deals.

I checked both online and with their freephone number for new customers - you don't have to be dual fuel to get the fixed term deal. It can be either - Elec only or Elec/Gas. Just can't be gas only. Makes me doubt the other things the operator said, such as definitely getting the deal should packages change.

Anyway, if what he says is true no big deal and it'll make things easier changing both at the same time I suppose. I'll be keeping an eagle eye on these accounts for quite a while though.

No wonder people are scared to change. Feel hassled and I'm staying with the same company! Obviously for a massive corporation, customer service isn't that high on their agenda. They'll do the bare minimum at all times.