N power and Pre Paid Electric meter

dollydo

Hi,

Ive just moved into a new rented house, where both the gas and electric are with N power. The gas is on a normal meter and the electric is on a pre pay meter. I seem to be constantly putting money in and its costing about £15.00 per week.

Ive never had one of these before and although i like the idea of not having bills quarterly, Im sure this is much more than i used to pay in a bigger house.

N power have told me the cost are the same for pre payment and a normal meter. Is this true? Can I change it to a normal meter and will i get charged to do it? The landlords are happy for me to do this, but i was wondering if it was worth it? N power dont seem to want to help at all.

Thanks for any advice

Premier_2

Costs of pre-payment meters are generally very similar to the standard tariffs of that supplier.

What you obviously can't access are the lower priced tariffs and discounts available for things like monthly payments by DD, paperless billing, online account management, etc.

You can request your supplier to change the PPM to a credit meter and they will advise you if they will agree and if there are any costs involved.
Expect nPower to charge you £60 and they may also request a refundable security deposit.

You say nPower are not prepared to help at all? :huh:
Do you mean they won't agree to change the meter for you? There's no way you can force them to allow you credit, sorry; it's their decision.

undaunted

Premier wrote: »

You say nPower are not prepared to help at all? :huh:
Do you mean they won't agree to change the meter for you? There's no way you can force them to allow you credit, sorry; it's their decision.

You can however of course just tell them straight that you didn't put it there or run up any debt and that wish to buy your electricity / gas on the most competitive terms & this meter prevents that so they either take it out f.o.c. or they can lose a customer to someone who will!

Airmike23

other option, if you were not with Npower before you moved into this property, if you ask formeer supplier to take you back as a customer, often they will do meter exchange gratis

PNPSUKNET

think the reasons companys dont do it, is people dont pay once removed. Most companys now charge for removal

dollydo

Thanks guys. I spoke again to npower tonight who have said I have to be a customer for a year before they will change the pre payment meter, yet my gas account with them is on dd. Very strange. I wonder if previous tenants ran up debts as i keep receiving bills for them.

I phoned my old supplier british gas and they will change it free of charge for me and give me a better tarrif, so thats what im in the process of doing.

Thanks for all your help.