using a gas/elec card instead of regular meter?

The_Economist

Stuart sorry you had to go. There should'nt be any expense to you if you want to change as far as i know. Please take note of my last reply as the could affect the out come. As i said from the start as far as i know if you pay by card what ever way it is more expensive.

saveforrainyday

Hi Stuart. The card system is a prepayment system and we've just got rid of ours. We called BG and asked for a regular credit meter and they checked that the account wasnt in debt, then did a credit check on me and then when all clear, arranged a date for the engineer to come around. There was no cost to us. :j

The engineer replaced the whole meter from an old type (red pointer going clockwise around) to a smaller, brand new white/grey meter.

You do pay more on a prepayment system. It works out to be approx 20% more (i think).

Giddytimes

A card/prepayment meter is not always more expensive, it depends on the supplier.

I have a leaflet with ScottishPowers prices on and since the recent price rises it now costs exactly the same to be on a card meter as it does to pay quarterly or weekly. You only save money if you chose to pay by direct debit. I presume that the same is true with some other suppliers aswell so it would be best to check with the supplier of the property whether they do charge more for prepayment.

If you do decided to change the meter the majority of suppliers now ask for a security deposit or do a credit check first.

Giddytimes

Stuart_P wrote:

thanks for that. do you also know if

is it easy to swap?
any major works reguired in the property?
does it cost to swap?

It's very easy to swap, takes about 20 mins. No major work will be needed.

It won't cost to swap but some suppliers ask for a security deposit and hold this for up to 12 months-they return this with interest as long as all bills are paid.

Stuart_P

thanks all (so far!) - yes the property will be rented but as it seems there is no cost or works that alter the property i hope there will be no refusal from the landlord.

if i have to keep the card system, is it just as easy to swap supplier?

Giddytimes

Stuart_P wrote:

thanks all (so far!) - yes the property will be rented but as it seems there is no cost or works that alter the property i hope there will be no refusal from the landlord.

if i have to keep the card system, is it just as easy to swap supplier?

It's exactly the same proceedure to swap suppliers, it won't matter if you have a card meter. The only thing is that sometimes there are problems getting the new suppliers cards to work in your meter which can be a pain and takes some sorting out but I believe this only happens every now and then.

shelly

Personally I much prefer card meters. In our household hubby pays for the gas and I pay for elec. He pays by DD and we have a regular meter. I top up the elec meter as and when we need it. I say I prefer card meters because A)you can't have what you don't pay for and I can't get hit with an unexpected bill at any time. Hubby has just got £100 bill for gas as they put up the prices but didn't inform him so he could put up his DD payment. Whilst £100 might not sound alot, its £100 I wouldn't want to be hit with. A while ago my mum and dad got hit with a huge bill for elec. It was much more than they usually paid so hubby cheacked the actual meter reading with the estimate and it was nearly spot on so they hadn't been overcharged. I told them to get put back on a meter so they wouldn't get any more unexpected high bills.


Just my opinion but hope it helps.

Ken68

EBICO charge the same price whether card or direc t debit.

Stuart_P

ebico - who they?

Ken68

Equigas and Equipower, new players in the energy market.

http://www.ebico.co.uk/

Am moving to them from Powergen....£100 difference (to me, perhaps not everyone) in price.