Prepay meters

Premier_2

ViolaLass wrote: »

...Actually, I'm not seeking credit, I'm happy to pay a deposit as some companies require, which would remove that problem. ...

Yes you are... you want a credit meter.

They will probably want a security deposit too, but they are still extending credit to you. The credit meter is what is known as an unrestricted supply since you can essentially consume on credit whatever you want ... it's only limited by the fuse of the property.

The security deposit will typically only be about £100 - £300 for the year.
In a year, it's theoretically possible to consume about £20k worth of electricity.

mattcanary

ViolaLass - it doesn't make any sense for a company to offer poor customer service. Whatever the level of their prices.

Premier_2

mattcanary wrote: »

... Why would it be a good commercial decision to not even be prepared to do a credit-check on a new customer...

Credit checks cost money, and are not perfect themselves.
The cost of the credit checks would have to be borne by the existing paying customers.

ViolaLass

Premier wrote: »

Yes you are... you want a credit meter.

They will probably want a security deposit too, but they are still extending credit to you. The credit meter is what is known as an unrestricted supply since you can essentially consume on credit whatever you want ... it's only limited by the fuse of the property.

The security deposit will typically only be about £100 - £300 for the year.
In a year, it's theoretically possible to consume about £20k worth of electricity.

OK, so credit check me.

mattcanary

Premier - if a customer pays by monthly Direct Debit they pay upfront before a bill has been produced. Assuming the Direct Debit has been set at a realistic amount, then they are not offering credit in this scenario.

mattcanary

Okay Premier. Answer my question. Why would NPOwer keep a credit meter in a customer's new home where they have consistently not paid their bills at their previous address? Surely this customer is a big risk, no? Is this a sound commercial decision too?

Instead of constantly towing the industry line, use your head for once

Premier_2

mattcanary wrote: »

ViolaLass - it doesn't make any sense for a company to offer poor customer service. Whatever the level of their prices.

Perhaps I can introduce you to a great little company called Ebico?

Superb customer service that I suggest you would find hard to beat. If the first line (SSE, who are renowned for high levels of customer service) can't help, you can complain direct to the company.
It's not unknown for reponses to come direct from the MD himself if necessary, and a very nice chap he is too, even if I do say so myself. He and his fellow company officers run the company on principles that are motivated by and based on the Christian gospel. (Don't worry, there is absolutely no bible bashing to suffer as a customer, and customers of all faiths are welcome)

Sadly, as I'm sure others will quickly point out, they are not the cheapest company, but as I said, customer service costs money.

As an added bonus to the OP, they charge the same no matter how the customer pays or what type of meter they have

skint-student-nurse

OP,try EDF energy if poss. our last tenant ran up a huge debt with npower and then they changed the credit meter to a pre-pay meter,then they tried to get us to pay her debt. Even though we were with npower for years before hand,they just didnt want to know. EDF got a new key out to me in a few days and they are fitting a new meter FREE of charge in two weeks (we had to be pre-pay for around 6 weeks with them). They told me that it is a common problem with npower refusing to change meters,but i dont know how true that is.

i hope this helps and i know how frustrating it is to have a prepay meter that you dont want.

Premier_2

mattcanary wrote: »

Okay Premier. Answer my question. Why would NPOwer keep a credit meter in a customer's new home where they have consistently not paid their bills at their previous address? Surely this customer is a big risk, no? Is this a sound commercial decision too?

Instead of constantly towing the industry line, use your head for once

I guess in many cases, they don't know the customer already owes an energy supplier money from a previous address, especially without carrying out a credit check athat (a) requires the customers prior approval and (b) costs the supplier money.

Even if they are aware, it still costs money to get the meter changed, (and perhaps even an entry warrant if the meter is inside the property and the customer doesn't grant entry) but I'm sure they soon would as soon as they realised the customer wasn't paying the bills on the current property.

HTH

Now use your head and consider why you think the the company deliberately would adopt the position it does.

ViolaLass

Premier wrote: »

Now use your head and consider why you think the the company deliberately would adopt the position it does.

Because according to you, it makes more sense to lose the profit from me being a customer and have me bad mouthing them to anyone I know, than spend a bit of money credit checking me (which would be recouped from the money I then spend with them) or require me to be a customer for just 28 days before changing the meter with no charge (as EDF have just confirmed they will do).

Them credit checks must be really expensive! :rotfl: