Its all French!

Just_a_girl

Hello all

Im very new to all this utilities stuff. I'm just about to rent my mums 1 bed flat, this is the first time of living on my own and having to sort everything. My mums not been very helpful in my quest for answers so I thought I'd pop on here and ask you guys.

My mums just rang British gas to give them her meter readings and shes off to her new place, she used to have a payment card where she paid £24 /month electric and £38 / month gas.

She use to be at home all day as she didnt work and was a little bit of a miser, Im out all day at work, and will be at my boyfriends at least 3 evenings a week - but im guessing our usage will be pretty simular.

I have done some comparison sites and it came out that if I switch to Scottish power I could save £100 a year.....However these had fixed rates until March and am i right in thinking this saving of £100 is based untill then and after the prices could rocket?

I have also read that its best switch after March when new deals may be available, but I need a supllier ASAP - am i going to be caught and not be able to switch?

Also as my mum has given her final readings, is the supplier still currently British Gas? They wouldnt transfer to me when she rang and said i neded to set it up......i thought this was goin to be simple but i opened up all this infomation and went :eek: haha!!

I'm sorry for all the questions and if they seem silly, im just lost and havent a clue where to start!!!

Thanks in advance

penrhyn

You will need to contact British Gas as the new tenant.
They will be your supplier until you wish to start the switching process.

When you move in take your own meter readings, and let BG know what they are.

BTW The amount of money your mother was paying out seems very high, its more than I pay for a three bed terrace and I'm in most days.

If possible get hold of her annual usage figures in Kwh.

Mado

And I was coming to offer my translation services...:whistle:

Just phone them; best way is to get the info straight from them

Just_a_girl

Hmmmm I wasnt sure if it was high or not, does it matter where u live? Im in the South East and everything seems 3 x as expensive down here!!

She is paying extra for her gas, its a basement flat, the mail goes all over the place and she never recieved a letter asking her to increase her payments....she knew nothing more of this untill a year later she recieved a phone call from the debt collectors anyway she sorted it in the end but her gas payments are higher by about £12/month due to her catching up with this. Interesting, im not sure ill be able to get hold of her annual usage, i will try!

I was trying to budget and was thinking betwwen £50 - £60/ month for gas and electric - does this seem quite high then?

penrhyn

Gas prices vary between suppliers but not region, electricity varies between supplier and region.
Cheapest tariffs will be paperless internet ones.
BG may be able to look back and advise annual usage.

But the most important thing is to take your own meter readings when you move in.

Just_a_girl

Ok, I will do, Thanks!

Premier_2

Just_a_girl wrote: »

... she used to have a payment card where she paid £24 /month electric and £38 / month gas.

Do you mean they are both pre-payment meters?
If so, you need to contact the supplier and tell them you are now responsible and ensure they provide you with new cards (otherwise you'll be crediting your mum's account)

Just_a_girl wrote: »

I have done some comparison sites and it came out that if I switch to Scottish power I could save £100 a year.....However these had fixed rates until March and am i right in thinking this saving of £100 is based untill then and after the prices could rocket?...

I didn't think there were any fixed rate tariffs for prepayment meters. Are you sure you said you paid by PPM when you used the comparison site?

Just_a_girl

Premier wrote: »

Do you mean they are both pre-payment meters?
If so, you need to contact the supplier and tell them you are now responsible and ensure they provide you with new cards (otherwise you'll be crediting your mum's account)

No i dont think its a pre payment meter, she has a card that she goes into spa with and hands them the card and says id like to pay so and so, they swipe it, she gives them the money and its all done!

t0rt0ise

Premier wrote: »

I didn't think there were any fixed rate tariffs for prepayment meters. Are you sure you said you paid by PPM when you used the comparison site?

British Gas do a prepayment meter fixed rate tariff but anyway paying by payment card doesn't sound like a PPM but paying at the Post Office or paypoint on a regular basis.

Premier_2

Just_a_girl wrote: »

No i dont think its a pre payment meter, she has a card that she goes into spa with and hands them the card and says id like to pay so and so, they swipe it, she gives them the money and its all done!

Ah, something like a paypoint card to pay bills against?

In which case, yes it sounds like a credit meter, not a prepayment, so you have a wide choice of tariffs.

As penrhyn said, you need to register with the current supplier first, and then you can switch supplier if you wish (takes 4-6 weeks usually to switch)

Just_a_girl

Thanks everyone, I feel a little bit silly asking as I should probably know this stuff by now, but i appreciate your help. I Will get onto BG!

As for switching is it best waiting a few months to see what deals come up?