Swalec prepayment meters, are they worth it?

SamanthaD85

We are buying our first home and we have been told that both the gas and electric are on prepayment meters, as the house was previously rented out and was wondering if we should keep them or change them to monthly/quarterly direct debits?

We are new to it all of this and have never paid bills on gas and electric as we both live with family. My parents have a coal fire so they cannot give us a estimate on gas cost each month, only electricity which they pay quarterly.

Also do swalec charge a service charge for the meters, as ive heard that this can cost more than paying monthly/quarterly.

Thank you.

Airmike23

Have them replaced prepay will e way dearer than monthly direct debit online billing tariffs. However you may find, if swalec are not provider at the address you are at now, they may charge you. You can usually get current provider to take supply on at new address where prepay meters are and have them replaced for credit meters free of charge. This will mean supply with swalec for about 3-4 weeks approx, while current proveider at your address where you are now take on supply at new address, then you will be on your current providers prepay rates for about 10-14 days after you move in. Whatever you end up doping v important that you call swalec day you move in and put acc for new address in your name and give them gas and elec meter reads.

SamanthaD85

Not quite sure what you mean? This is our first home as we dont own or rent a house, we both live with family members and the bills arent addressed to us.

But we do know that Swalec is the provider of the gas and electric at the house we are buying.

The first thing we will do when we have the keys for the house we will of course take meter readings and phone Swalec to inform them we are the new owners and give them the readings.

Airmike23

Ok then do an online quote based on the assumption you have billed meters not prepay using an assumed energy consumption, if you're not comfortable doing that, all sites have an option where you can state don't know consumption, will then take some details about property, inhabitants, type of heating etc and give an estimate based on your circumstances, you will find when comparing the same quote against prepay meters will be a lot cheaper to have them removed

t0rt0ise

It's up to you whether you want to keep the prepay meters or have them changed. If you want the meters changing to ordinary credit meters call SwaleC and ask if they will do it for you. If they won't or want to charge you, call other suppliers and ask if they will do it for you if y ou were to change to them. British Gas are usually the most obliging.

macman

Prepay will cost you no more than the supplier's standard tariff. However it will cost you up to 25% more than their cheapest discounted online tariff.