Prepayment electricity meters (glasgow)

WarKirby

Hi everyone. I'm located in the east end of glasgow.

I'm currently in debt to scottishpower by a few hundred, for combined gas and electricity. Trying to get this paid off. I don't have any kind of contract, just the normal way where someone takes meter readings now and then.

They're trying to coerce me into getting a prepayment meter installed for my gas and electricity, claiming it's cheaper, so I agreed to it.

But friends have been telling me it's a bad idea, so I'm having second thoughts. That it's more expensive, and dangerous when you can run out of electricity unexpectedly.

The meter installer is due to come on tuesday, so there's still time to cancel it. I'm wondering if I should go ahead or not. Feedback would be appreciated

gazfen2279

Get Them Put In They Great lol

Joyful

If you have not defaulted on a payment plan and can afford to pay the amount they require monthly then stay as a credit customer. Otherwise the PP meter will be set at an affordable rate. Most suppliers now charge the same for credit and PP customers minus any DD discounts. Check out SP's website for tariff prices.

spiro

If you dont let them fit it voluntarily they may decide to force you to have one which can include them getting a warrant of entry. If this happens it will add another £250-300 to what you owe.

Kilty_2

It's hardly dangerous - there is emergency credit available should you run out of electricity.

The amount remaining is permanently displayed on the meter's LCD screen too.

Tupperware_Queen

if you owe them money, and have had problems managing fuel bills in the past, then they are a good idea. They will tell you how much debt they will take, and on what day they take it - usually one day a week. If you get into the habit of topping up your card/key once a week, and put the same amount on whether or not you are running low, your balance will build up over the summer, so that in winter you will be ok.

They allow you a much longer time to pay if you have a PPM

Tupperware_Queen

spiro wrote: »

If you dont let them fit it voluntarily they may decide to force you to have one which can include them getting a warrant of entry. If this happens it will add another £250-300 to what you owe.

Spiro is indeed correct

t0rt0ise

In my view your friends are right. Prepayment meters are a pain in the wotsit and are much more expensive than the cheapest online tariffs that you can get. I had them here when I moved in and got rid as soon as possible. People say they help manage your money which I suppose they do but you then have to manage your meters instead by way of making sure they never run out. You have to be organised. If you can manage with direct debits you are better staying with that and paying bit by bit that way instead of with cash. You would need to get off the standard tariff though and get the cheapest deal possible.

spiro

If you provide the following information it may help people give you the most relevant advice:
1) How large is the debt?
2) How did the debt build up - Estimated bills then a catch up bill or failure to pay bills?

macman

WarKirby wrote: »

Hi everyone. I'm located in the east end of glasgow.

I'm currently in debt to scottishpower by a few hundred, for combined gas and electricity. Trying to get this paid off. I don't have any kind of contract, just the normal way where someone takes meter readings now and then.

They're trying to coerce me into getting a prepayment meter installed for my gas and electricity, claiming it's cheaper, so I agreed to it.

But friends have been telling me it's a bad idea, so I'm having second thoughts. That it's more expensive, and dangerous when you can run out of electricity unexpectedly.

The meter installer is due to come on tuesday, so there's still time to cancel it. I'm wondering if I should go ahead or not. Feedback would be appreciated

If you use their gas and electricity then you are most certainly in a contract with them.

WarKirby

Thanks for the replies everyone !

If you provide the following information it may help people give you the most relevant advice:
1) How large is the debt?
2) How did the debt build up - Estimated bills then a catch up bill or failure to pay bills?

1. Around £500, can't recall exactly
2. A bit of both, really. my own fault I know. Electricity bills were coming quarterly and they were so big I never had the budget to pay them, so put them off