Getting key meters taken ou

kymmy88

Hi we've just bought a house that has key meters in through scottish power when I first rang up about getting them removed and the guy said they wouldn't charge under the circustances but he had to check with his manager. I've now chased them back up and now their trying to charge us. British gas say they can do it free but it'll take 28days. scottish power say they don't know how they can do this so now i'm feeling scepitical any help apreicated thanks

t0rt0ise

British Gas is your best option for getting rid of these things. They changed mine for me.

spiro

Most suppliers now charge about £50-60 to change a meter. Why should other customers have to foot the cost of getting the meter changed? Dont know why BG dont but posts say thats the case.

t0rt0ise

I could write an essay on why they should remove these meters for no charge if you want me to Spiro. But I do try not to be judgemental in posts here and just answer the question asked. I don't think people come here to be judged and I know when you judged me it wasn't appreciated.

Premier_2

kymmy88 wrote: »

... when I first rang up about getting them removed and the guy said they wouldn't charge under the circustances but he had to check with his manager. ...

What were the circumstances?

Scottish power usually charge to change the meter (£45 ish which is slightly less than the average as mentioned by spiro)

Obviously a supplier could waive the charges if they felt the individual has exceptional circumstances that may warrant it, but in this case it sounds like the advisor was not empowered to make such a decision and their manager said no.

kymmy88

Thanks for all the replys after a few heated calls to the comPlaints department they are now agreeing to take them out for free. I could understand if I was a new tenant renting the property but as I've bought the property don't see why I should be charge for sOmething I never asked to be put in.

spiro

kymmy88 wrote: »

don't see why I should be charge for sOmething I never asked to be put in.

Because someone has to pay. If you dont pay the cost gets smeared across all that suppliers customers.

Hopefully all this will end when Smart meters are fully rolled out as they will be able to switch from ppm to cr to ppm remotely, supplier wont even need to get your permission.

KimYeovil

t0rt0ise wrote: »

I could write an essay on why they should remove these meters for no charge if you want me to Spiro. But I do try not to be judgemental in posts here and just answer the question asked. I don't think people come here to be judged and I know when you judged me it wasn't appreciated.

And you would receive a C minus at best.

You should also look up what 'being judgemental' means as marks would clearly be deducted for your misuse of it.

British Gas' policy of providing free meter exchanges is clearly egregious and unfair. Providing a single flat price is clearly far fairer. Only someone with a hatred of the poor and a belief in unfairness could argue differently.

mattcanary

Eh? What on earth are you going on about Kim?

It is normally council or housing association homes that have prepayment meters in them. Rich people rarely move into this type of home so they don't have to worry about paying to have a prepayment meter taken out. The common policy of charging for prepayment meters is clearly loaded against poorer people in general.

And I cannot understand the charge that Spiro keeps making that every other customer pays in higher bills if a provider does not charge for the meter to be removed. Prepayment meters cost more to maintain and manage than normal meters so surely individual customers should be charged if they want one fitted , not taken out if anything. That never happens however.

Anyway Kymm. Well done for sticking to your guns and not taking any of the rubbish from Scottish Power.

Premier_2

mattcanary wrote: »

...
It is normally council or housing association homes that have prepayment meters in them. ...

That's somewhat of a generalisation. :eek:

My gran used to live in a council house and she never had a prepayment meter. I don't know any of her neighbours or friends who lived on the estate that did either.

The first time I ever had experience of a PPM was when I bought a private house and the former owner had one installed forceably due to rising debts.

PPMs are usually installed due to the actions of the account holder (either wanting one or due to non-payment of bills) not the type of property they live in.

Richie-from-the-Boro

kymmy88 wrote: »

Hi we've just bought a house that has key meters in through scottish power when I first rang up about getting them removed and the guy said they wouldn't charge under the circustances but he had to check with his manager. I've now chased them back up and now their trying to charge us. British gas say they can do it free but it'll take 28days. scottish power say they don't know how they can do this so now i'm feeling scepitical any help apreicated thanks

"" we've just bought a house "" says it all, they should change it FOC and quickly, and not charge the premium for the intervening period.

There are many reasons for PAYG meters, the most prevalent reason for :

- downgrading to the more expensive pre-payment meter is because a previous owner / tenant was in debt to the leccy company, or ;
- the previous owner / tenant made a positive decision to PAYG to avoid ever getting into debt with the leccy provider

As a new owner none of this is your responsibility, you should demand its removal, you are not responsible for the problems of previous inhabitants and should not be penalised with the 16% added extra cost of the pre-payment meter.

I only came into this group looking for info on Scottish Power's price hike next month, but felt some of the comments made in this thread were wholly unreasonable. Rant over .. .. now who knows about Scottish Power ?