credit check with gas/electric account? please help

rosaly

Hello!

I went bankrupt in 2006 so am now discharged but obviously a few years to go before my credit is ok again.
I have been living in a place where bills are included in the rent.
I have an easycash account with Halifax which has direct debit facility but I have not tried it yet.

I will be moving soon to a new place where I will have to phone British Gas and edf electricity or whatever other energy supplier to set a new account.
I have already phoned British gas and they have quoted me £20 for gas and £25 for electric per month to start with and that would be with direct debit.
I was just enquiring and did not give my name.
I am worried that if I set up direct debit with an energy supplier that they will find I have bad credit record and refuse me and then I will have to go to a meter/ card thing which is the most expensive and annoying option.

So, I checked and the previous tenant in the new place was paying by quartely bills
What is the safest way to get about this: keep things as quarterly bills or is direct debit fine?
(my creditors were solely banks so no money ever owed to energy suppliers)

Also, which energy supplier would you recommend for the cheapest option? (I will be moving to King's cross, London.)

Thank you so much! I really need some help!
Rosaly

CherylOB

Hi,

I was also made bankrupt in 2006 and also have a Halifax Easycash account! I changed my gas/elec to direct debit in December from pre-payment metres. I was worried about the credit check, but apparently they only check if you have ever owed them money (not sure if that is correct) I had no problems anyway. Direct Debit seems to be cheaper than quarterly bills.

As for the cheapest, you are best to use one of the comparison websites, as it varies for different areas. I'm also in London and for me British Gas Dual Fuel websaver 3 is cheapest.

Good luck in your new home.

rosaly

Thank you Cheryl! I really appreciate your help and good wishes!
Have a great weekend!
Rosaly

DaisyChainMaker

I went bankrupt two months ago, and after going on the comparison site, I changed to e-on. I earned £70 cashback through quidco and signing up online. They have accepted me, and when I phoned to declare Im an undischarged bankrupt, they said they are not bothered as don't do credit checks anyways x

rosaly

Thank you!
Best wishes,
Rosaly

debrag

I wasn't credit checked, just changed everything into my name and set up a DD

savagej

When you move in to a property it will have the gas and electricity registered with a particular supplier. You find out who they are by calling Transco for gas and what is called MPAS for electricity and each local company has an MPAS department.

They are obliged to provide you with gas and electricity as long as you pay their bills and they cannot say no or impose any conditions on you such as a pre-payment meter unless you owe that company money. Even then you do not have to accept a prepayment meter, you can ask instead to arrange an informal arrangement to pay (IATP). The only way they can put in a prepayment meter if you refuse is to obtain a warrant from a court to enter the property, which you can contest.

Although you may find it is already a pre-payment meter which they can refuse to change until you no longer owe them anything.

It is only if you want to change supplier to save money that they might credit check you, but most dont as far as I know.