removing prepayment meters??????

magoogy

i really dont know why ive still got prepayment meters - just not got round to changing way i pay i suppose....but, they are more of a hassle now i dont get out too much with being full time carer....

.im just wondering how easy it would be to get them taken out and go to direct debit - im with british gas for both electric and gas....i know i pay more using prepayment too but years ago i had a debt to pay off but have been in credit for years......

would i be able to go through quidco or another cashback scheme and maybe get paid for changing to direct debit?

how much would i be looking at paying a month? - i put in £15 gas and £10 electric a week and the cold weather payments go on too - would i still get these payments?

also im on the disabled tarriff (social i think its called) - would i still be on this?

sorry there are too many questions lol...

Premier_2

Contact your supplier and ask if it's possible to change to a credit meter.

I suspect they will probably be ok with it if the debt you had was paid off years ago.

As you are currently entitled to a social tariff, you should be entitled to a social tariff with that supplier even on a credit meter.

You'll only get cashback or quidco if you change supplier. Also, as social tariffs are not generally available to apply for online, you would only be able to get it if you switched to a generally available tariff, so possibly not a good idea for you. You could of course contact an alternative supplier direct to see if they could offer you a better deal on their own social tariff, but you won't get any cashback if you elect to switch to them. (Different suppliers have different criteria on who is eligible for their social tariffs)

magoogy

thanks premier....i think its about time i did switch to a credit meter to stop having to keep getting topped up...xx

Energyman_2

magoogy wrote: »

i really dont know why ive still got prepayment meters - just not got round to changing way i pay i suppose....but, they are more of a hassle now i dont get out too much with being full time carer....

.im just wondering how easy it would be to get them taken out and go to direct debit - im with british gas for both electric and gas....i know i pay more using prepayment too but years ago i had a debt to pay off but have been in credit for years......

Ask British Gas to change it - if they are being awkward switch to an alternative supplier and ask them to chage it for you -Southern ae very good at this andso are EDF

A4A1

Nobody it seems has mentioned that there is likely to be a charge for these meters to be removed just like there was in having one installed in the first place. I believe that BG can charge as much as 250 pounds to install one and likely to be the same for removal. I am aware of one company here in Scotland that will remove them for free when you sign-up but better to check than to be landed with a large bill.

Henry_Hoover_2

I "inherited" a prepayment electricity meter when I bought my apartment in Dec. It was with Eon, who wanted to charge £50 to remove it.

I have now switched to NPower who will remove it for free, and have arranged to do this later this month.

Be warned, however, that although NPower said they would remove it for free if I switched to them, when I actually did switch, they said it would cost £150 or I had to be a customer with them for 12 months. When I queried it, they backed down, and said they will do it for free, call back next week for an appointment.... When I called back a week later, they said it will be £50, and I need to be with them for 6 months! They backed down again when I queried it, but it is worth being aware of the tricks they try and pull!!

Joyful

BG make no charge to change the meters. What someone may be requested to give is a security deposit returnable after 1 year if you fail a credit vet.

A4A1

It may well be BG Policy now not to charge for the installation and removal of Pre-Payment meters and may well apply if you are switching to BG from another supplier but I have it in black and white and as a BG customer at the time that a charge of up to 245 pounds applies for installation of a PP Meter. Im in no doubt that this would also be relevant for a PP Meter removal.

becky170

I changed my BG prepayment meter last august and I was not charged for having it removed. I did have to have a credit check before they allowed me to have it removed though, and I had to wait a couple of months until I was able to set up a direct debit as they first want to see how much gas you comsume.

SwanJon

A4A1 wrote: »

It may well be BG Policy now not to charge for the installation and removal of Pre-Payment meters and may well apply if you are switching to BG from another supplier but I have it in black and white and as a BG customer at the time that a charge of up to 245 pounds applies for installation of a PP Meter. Im in no doubt that this would also be relevant for a PP Meter removal.

I can happily back up Joyful here - there is no charge for exchanging a PP meter to a credit one with British Gas, although there may be a security deposit if you fail a credit vet, and you will get this money back after a year.

The £245 charge for installing a meter is for when you havn't paid your bill and BG has exhausted other routes of recovering the money and has had to resort to going to court for a warrant to exhange the meter.
If you call and request a PP meter out of choice (before getting this far) you can have a PP meter installed for free.

PS - I'm confident of this as I work there.

A4A1

Thanks SwanJon for the info. You are quite right, we were in a financial mess back then although my credit rating was still good, and we were unable to pay the outstanding bill outright which in the end resulted in us having no other option but to accept a PP Meter. I chose to have the PPM fitted. So, if BG dont charge for installing a PP meter then Ive got to presume that the 245 pounds charged to the meter plus my outstanding balance is for other associated costs.? Im not aware of any warrant ever having being issued.