Key meter back to direct debit meter

The_Jester

My cousin has been informed by Scottish Power that it will cost her £150 to swap her key meter back to one of the 'normal' ones! Considering the key meter is more expensive it's no wonder they don't want her changing back.

Is there anything she can do about this?

t0rt0ise

She could phone around the other suppliers and see if they'll do it. British Gas often do it for free providing you pass a credit check.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Very doubtful see

Premier_2

The_Jester wrote: »

My cousin has been informed by Scottish Power that it will cost her £150 to swap her key meter back to one of the 'normal' ones! Considering the key meter is more expensive it's no wonder they don't want her changing back.

Is there anything she can do about this?

Your cousin either was mis-informed or failed to understand;it's nothing like that price to change the meter.

Are you sure they were not asking for a security deposit?

Key meter charges are typically about the same as standard tariff charges for credit meter users nowadays too

Richie-from-the-Boro

Premier wrote: »

Your cousin either was mis-informed or failed to understand;it's nothing like that price to change the meter.

Are you sure they were not asking for a security deposit?

Key meter charges are typically about the same as standard tariff charges for credit meter users nowadays too

Are they the same tariff Premier ?, is that true ?

- did the cousin [ cause ] ask for it to be installed, or ;
- did the cousin inherit when they moved into the property
- either way even if you have to pay to change it the savings you make with a cheaper tariff should soon pay for the change of meter.

Depends if its a PAYG type pre-payment or a re-payment meter. The re-payment meters can be 50% more expensive and even the pre-payment meters are always set at the suppliers most expensive tariff.

They always include :

- energy as you use it
- the price includes the standing charge element
- the cost of linking the mains supply to your home
- providing a meter
- reading your meter
- processing your payments through the suppier
- sending out your statements

t0rt0ise

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Very doubtful see

What is very doubtful?

Richie-from-the-Boro

t0rt0ise wrote: »

What is very doubtful?

My assumption to the O/P's question was can they, without paying money do anything about it !

The question from the O/P was "" Is there anything she can do about this? ""

The answer to your .. .. why is it doubtful is because people for whatever reason want an industry standard changed / to / a non-standard and the supplier provides the installation cost for free. It's in the suppliers [ unavoidable ] interest to avoid the customer not [ for whatever reason ] paying for their consumption.

Reversing that also has a cost, the cost is in this case avoidable, the customer must pay, and the supplier will make sure it's paid for, it's global practice, and across the whole industry.

I'm sure there are exceptions, personally I have the view that anyone who has just bought / rented a property should be afforded the change FOC and the supplier should swallow the cost.

Cause & Effect

The household who requests or is forced to have a pre-payment meter should bear the whole cost of installation & de-instillation of the meter. Any other method means I'm paying for it, that's wrong, very wrong, I pay on time every time and I've done nothing wrong

LilacPixie

british gas change mine FOC in this house. we inherited it from the previous owner..

t0rt0ise

British Gas changed mine free of charge too. So yes, there is something she can do about it. Change suppliers.