Reconnecting supply to repossession and changing existing prepay meter

Charmagne

Hi all

I am in the process of buying a repossessed property. The gas, electricity and water are all turned off. I have no idea who the old suppliers were and so can't really get comparison quotations. How do I go abot choosing a supplier? Also, there looks to be a prepayment meter in the flat and I don't want to pay in this way. Am I likely to be charged to change this?

I'm not really sure where to start with any of this so all help would be gratefully received!

Thanks

lemontart

How long has gas been off, is there a gas meter at the property?

Charmagne

I think about 6 months, maybe a bit longer. There are still meters, one of those (gas) is prepay. Nobody seems to be able to give me any information about the previous suppliers.

Premier_2

See Qs 17 & 18 in this link to discover how to identify the existing suppliers

http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/en/content/cms/Energy_Help___Advice/Your_energy_question/Your_energy_question.aspx

You'll need to register with the existing suppliers before you can switch suppliers.


You can usually negotiate getting the meter changed to a credit meter (subject to usual status requirements) without paying for such a change. If not, use it as a negotiating tool when deciding on a new supplier.

lemontart

once registered you will be able to arrange for supply to be turned back on providing it is still a live supply so supplier may require a live or dead check first

spiro

Premier wrote: »

See Qs 17 & 18 in this link to discover how to identify the existing suppliers

http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/en/content/cms/Energy_Help___Advice/Your_energy_question/Your_energy_question.aspx

You'll need to register with the existing suppliers before you can switch suppliers.


You can usually negotiate getting the meter changed to a credit meter (subject to usual status requirements) without paying for such a change. If not, use it as a negotiating tool when deciding on a new supplier.

In this situation it is classified as a 'Change of Tenancy' therefore you can contact any supplier you like there is no need to find out or contact the old supplier.

Premier_2

I think we've been here before.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1263837

The issues here are how does the OP do a comparison without actually having a supplier to compare against

How does the OP know the supplies are live? The easiest way is to turn them on and as soon as the OP uses any energy, the OP will have a deemed contract with the current supplier

Any switch will take weeks, even if the OP follows spiro's suggestion, so it's only valid if the OP doesn't want to use any energy in the meantime.

You'll probably find no supplier will allow you to be the account holder until you own the property (completion day), so difficulties will arise if you try to set up a supplier a month earlier.

Most suplliers are very aware of the systems to take over existing supply accounts and to switch suppliers. I doubt all are so clued up on setting up an account without having an existing supplier to switch from

Hence the basis of my post. I'll let the OP decide whether to take the possible inconvienient route proposed by spiro and the issues that could ensue.

lemontart

thing is that we do not know how gas disconnected at this stage - is it just at the meter or is it now cut off in the road if off for some time and not used the pipes may need to be checked to see if safe for use as well

HappyMJ

Call the M number hotline on 0870 608 1524.

Premier_2

lemontart wrote: »

thing is that we do not know how gas disconnected at this stage - is it just at the meter or is it now cut off in the road if off for some time and not used the pipes may need to be checked to see if safe for use as well

Usually with repo properties, its simply isolated at the meter - so it means flicking the master switch on the consumer panel for the electric or turning the isolating valve next to the gas meter. The fact the meters (and presumably main electricity fuse) are still present would suggest this is all that needs to be done.

Charmagne

All of this is sooo helpful, thank you. Would it be the gas supplier who would check the safety etc. of the supply/equipment, including the boiler? Sorry if these questions seem dense but I've never bought a house before. Also apologies if this thread has been discussed before.

Thanks again.