Pre-payment meters taking ALL my money :(

Elsie2_2

I moved out of my house a couple of years ago for 6 months and when we moved back in, the tennants had changed the meters to pre-payment types. After various issues surrounding this, I was told by British Gas that I couldn't change them back to normal meters for 3 months as I hadn't been the person paying the bills prior to me moving out so they needed 3 months of payment. I then had them changed after the 3 months but was advised to go onto one of their online tarrifs which I was advised was the cheapest they did. I took this on their recommendation and forgot about it. A few months later, I get my first QUARTERLY bill which I wasn't advised about and was shocked when between the two bills, it was the best part of £400 which I could not afford. They put me on a payment plan and then changed my meters back as they said that was the only way to clear the debt. With the debt now cleared off, I am still putting just over £100 on my meters each month which I think is ridiculous. I know its winter but still!!
Can I change back to normal meters now my debt has cleared? Do I ave to stay with British Gas or can I move to someone else? If I can move, do I need to change to normal meters before I can move?
Thanks all.

Pink_fluff

I'm confused. You weren't advised that you were going to receive a bill? What did you think was going to happen?!

Premier_2

If you have paid off the debt now, and are now paying £100p.m on the meters, that is because that is the amount you are consuming at present. The good news is that warmer weather and longer days are on the way, so that should reduce the amount you need to spend on energy.

Because of your inability to pay the bill in full when requested, I suspect BG would be reluctant to change you backj to a credit meter so soon. If they did accept, expect them to charge a heft security deposit (a recent poster had to pay £500 and that was when paying monthly by DD!)

You could change supplier now you have no debt. You don't need to change meters before you change, but any new supplier would probably run a credit check on you before agreeing to provide you with a credit meter.

Seeing the numerous bank & credit card charges you have incurred and claimed back, I suspect your credit history is far from ideal, so they too may be reluctant to offer you a credit meter or demand a hefty security deposit.

Elsie2_2

Pink_fluff wrote: »

I'm confused. You weren't advised that you were going to receive a bill? What did you think was going to happen?!

Thanks for your response, but I don't think I explained myself very well. Obviously I expected a bill, what I was trying to emphasise was the fact I hadn't been advised the bill would be quarterly, I had been told it was monthly as I had requested. However, I take full responsibility for not realising more quickly as questioning it.

Elsie2_2

Premier wrote: »

You could change supplier now you have no debt. You don't need to change meters before you change, but any new supplier would probably run a credit check on you before agreeing to provide you with a credit meter.

Seeing the numerous bank & credit card charges you have incurred and claimed back, I suspect your credit history is far from ideal, so they too may be reluctant to offer you a credit meter or demand a hefty security deposit.

Thanks for your response, it was very helpful. As you've stated, my credit is poor and my credit file reflects this so I tend not to use my bank account for utility bills any longer whilst I'm trying to repair this. It would be my fiancee who would be making the payments from his bank so presumably the credit check would be done on him? Thats useful to know that you can change to a new supplier without having already changed the meter, thanks.

newlywed

If your quarterly bill was for £400 then that's approx £133 a month.

That means you are actually spending less per month since having prepay meters?

We have a two bedroom flat and on prepay gas + electric are spending just over £100 a month with the heating only being on low for a few hours a day.

At least with prepay you can cut down your usage (turn lights off, heating down, turn things off standby etc) and see immediately how much it saves you (rather than waiting 3 months for a bill).

Then when you do change to normal meters, you will know what things to do to save your bills.

Elsie2_2

I just finding spending £100 per month approx ridiculous! Especially considering our house is quite small, quite new and very well insulated.
Also, having lived there as the non-bill payer with my mother, I remember she was paying £25 per month for each. I find it difficult to understand how they can charge people more for using pre-payment meters when these people are usually in financial difficulty.

vic1

actually £ 100 a month seems to be about what i'm paying for our small 3 bed house c/h and gas cooker - i don't like it too hot so heating on for short times temp about 18 to 20degrees and timer during day . i have to say two years ago it was probably £40 to £50 a month. last year we had 6 of us here and a small baby and we weren't spending what we are now seem to be feeding gas continually - we use at least £5 in 48 hours !!! . fraid it might be just the cost of what you are using

vic1

Daughter does not have a pre payment meter and her bill is roughly same - they won't change mine because the very naughty ladywho used to live here has been using this address for credit despite not having lived here for 8 years and us having bought it off the council - don't worry she lives in my old flat so the debt collectors are on their way to see her. karma

Fire_Fox

Elsie2 wrote: »

Obviously I expected a bill, what I was trying to emphasise was the fact I hadn't been advised the bill would be quarterly, I had been told it was monthly as I had requested. However, I take full responsibility for not realising more quickly as questioning it.

I tend not to use my bank account for utility bills any longer whilst I'm trying to repair this. It would be my fiancee who would be making the payments from his bank so presumably the credit check would be done on him?

You can only pay monthly if you pay by direct debit. You were the one who set up the new arrangement, but you would not have been able to put a DD in place from your fiancee's bank account. It sounds to me like he did not complete the DD form or ring the energy company to set it up.

Elsie2_2

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You can only pay monthly if you pay by direct debit. You were the one who set up the new arrangement, but you would not have been able to put a DD in place from your fiancee's bank account. It sounds to me like he did not complete the DD form or ring the energy company to set it up.

Yes I'm aware how DD's work. As I said I take full responsibility for not checking with BG earlier.
I also didn't say my fiancee had anything to do with original plan, I mentioned him in my response to Premier who had mentioned my credit file. As I stated, my fiancee WILL BE making the payments in the future. I think you misunderstood that part.
Thanks for all the info though guys. Maybe I'm just out of touch with prices. I just get the impression we were paying a lot, but from you've all said, maybe this is the norm now. I will do digging around to see what other companies are charging as well.
Thanks