Moving out of family home, best first leccy/gas supplier

galbak

ok, Im leaving home for the first time, need advice on what leccy/gas to use.

The last tennant of the council flat had e-on for both gas central heating, and hot water, and e-on for electric (both on card pre-payment meters).

Assuming low user, or mid user, whatever they are, tariffs, am I better off, staying with e-on, just telling them im new, and get them to reset the meters, so im not paying off the last tennents debts, if any (and cancel a few months later), or should I go for the (looks cheaper, non profit org,) EBICO, for gas and leccy? or a mix of both, assuming i can survive on leccy for cooking/computers, gas for hot water only (flat has gas c/h, fire, and h/w boiler), and wrap up warm in winter, instead of running central heating.

Oh, and should i go for card prepayment meters, key prepayment meters, or credit meters? Would prefer not to go for credit/direct debit meters, cos ive got to watch my spends etc, as I am on minumum wage, and have to pay rent/council tax etc (parents used to pay them). and its apparently easyer to budget if I pay in advance, for gas leccy, etc.

thanks.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hi galbak,

When you move in to the flat you will need to contact the current supplier (E.ON) and advise them of the meter readings and your details.

This lets them set up an account for you and send you new payment cards and keys to top up the meter, these devices will also re-set the meters if they have any debt on them.

Generally having credit meters and paying by Direct Debit on an online tariff gives you the most amount of discount off your bills.

But as you have said you like to budget the pre-payment meters may be a good idea to start with.

If you did want these changing in the future, some suppliers request that you live in the property for one year if you rent, have a credit check, pay by Direct Debit and they might charge you or ask for a security deposit.

As for your unit prices from the current supplier, then you could look around and compare with other company's.

Hope this helps:)

KimYeovil

Change them now before you're in debt and can't afford to. If you have a credit meter then, at worst you can choose to use them as a flexible prepayment meter - you can pay your quarterly bill as you go along - you can spread your payments over three months (or up to four or five months. (Obviously you can't do that for consecutive bills!)) You also have the option of switching to direct debits or an online account. But even if you don't use direct debits, with the credit meter your price will be the same or lower than prepayment.

Just keep an eye on your meter, approximate the cost of what you use, and pay as you go along if you suspect you won't have the discipline to keep the money put aside.