Replace then change meter?

squeek31

Hi, My pre-payment electricity meter is old and needs replacing E.ON have written to me to arrange a time, i would like also to switch to direct debit and a new supplier. Is it a good time to switch? Can this all be done at the same time? Should this be done at the same time? When i changed suppliers a few years ago i was left without power for several hours, i had to make lots of calls and find an MPAN number. This time i will have my MPAN, a recent bill and any letters from new company to hand, anything else? Thanks, Gary.

specialsparky

Hi why not ask Eon if they will switch you to a credit meter, then you wil be able to be billed quartely or 6 monthly and set up a DD. If you go DD and manage your account on line then EOn currently have the best rate, not sure why you would want to change.
If you are sure you want to change then wait until Eon change your meter, but beware if you move to anew supplier they won't change you from a PP meter without charging you or asking for a deposit.
I would try and negotiate with Eon and as they have to come out to change your meter ask them to exchange it Free free for a credit meter.
Good luck and I hope this helps Eon rep where are you when you are needed

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi squeek31,

It sounds as though we have written to you as part of our Token meter replacement programme, this just means that we are changing all the old Token meters to new Key meters.

This is effectively a like for like meter exchange, so I’m afraid specialsparkys suggestion of changing it to a credit meter isn't likely.

Customers who request prepayment to credit meter exchanges have to fall into certain criteria, for example, whether the property is owned or rented is important, if the meter was installed for previous debt, if you pass a credit check or not, so I can’t say accurately if this would be a possibility.

We would certainly have to look at all the circumstances before knowing whether a credit meter could be fitted or not.

Brian

squeek31

Hi, Thanks for your replies, i should have said i get my statements from NPower, E.ON i assume own the meter? When i have decided i want E.ON as my supplier on direct debit Workmen would have to come out twice? The letter just says its at the end of its life span, it was here when i moved in, i have no debts at all, it is however, a council property. What charges or deposit may apply?

E.ON_Company_Representative

This letter will have been regarding a statutory meter exchange letter, where the meter is changed for a newer model by the meter operators in your area; in this case it’ll be E.ON Central Networks.

This meter exchange will go ahead irrespective of who the supplier is. If you do transfer over to E.ON for your energy supplier and request a meter change, we will look at changing you from prepayment to credit separately.

Firstly if the prepayment meter was fitted in the said property for debt, then an exchange is very unlikely, this is irrespective of the details, I’ve listed below.

When looking at changing customer’s meters from prepayment to credit, we will look at whether the property is firstly owned or rented. If it’s a rental property we won’t change the meter until you’ve resided there for over 12 months.

After this we would carry out a basic credit check and ask you to agree to pay by and set up a Direct Debit. There would be a £50 charge for this exchange as well, as this is deemed a non essential meter exchange.

Hope this helps.

Brian

specialsparky

Hi If you have been with npower for 12 months they will exchange your meter for you but they will also sharge you.
I think all the suppliers sharge or want a deposit for exchanginfg to a credit meter but worth asking around, BG and Scottish power want a deposit or charge I know that.
Good luck and hope this helps

Premier_2

Some companies will charge you, some won't. (there's no guarantee they'll even agree to provide you a credit meter)

Whether or not they also require a security deposit will usually depend on your credit status.

Don't rely on others opinions, presumably gleaned from their own personal circumstances; contact the suppliers directly and discover what will apply to your own situation. (e.g BG have provided me with a credit meter to replace a PPM at no cost or requirement to pay a security deposit ... and that was on a pay quarterly on receipt of bill tariff - but there's no guarantee you will be offered the same)

harryhound

I got my pre-payment meter swapped for a normal credit meter 35 years ago.
Shall we say that one, with little clock faces, got swapped for one that looked like a car odometer (mileage counter) 15 years ago.
Two years ago, the meter owner in my area EDF decided to swap to an electronic meter. It is white and the size of a post card; the display consists of a number and an indicator.
The indicator is a 1 or a 2. 1 means night time economy 7. 2 means day time rate. When economy 7 is switched on the 1 flashes and during the day the 2 flashes. The reading of the units (kWh) continually scrolls round: 1 total 2 total and then a third reading that is the other two added together.

Well it has been total chaos. The change in the meter was done (unannounced) in the middle of me swapping providers. Fortunately the new provider kicked off with what appeared to be a starter reading from the new meter.
The old provider took 18 months to try to collect what was claimed to be the final reading on the old meter - I told them where to stuff it unless they could prove it (it was way out of line); so they retired hurt.

Meanwhile I kept on having to correct the "guestimates" sent by the new provider. Eventually they refused to accept my reading and sent their own man to read the meter. He did a wonderful job and switched the night reading with the day time one. On the meter 1 means night and 2 means day BUT on his meter reading tablet the readings are the other way round (if you are thinking "they could not make it up" - BT did the same thing with the telephone wires if you plug together a male plug and a and female socket, wire 2 goes into 5 and 5 goes into 2 etc.).
Of course my supplier wanted to believe their man not me.
While we were arguing about it a second set of readings were taken (according to my bill) and I spotted a root cause of the problem - the computer system had been given the wrong meter number.
So here is a message for my alter ego. "Sorry about the huge bill you are going to receive - you have been getting away with paying my bill for 2 years and I use a lot less electricity than you do!!!!!!!!!"

What ever you do, watch them like a hawk and always keep a set of your own meter readings.

Harry

PS Mind you swapping a pre-payment meter might not be fool proof either:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2560615