Changing meter?

jembie

Does anyone know what BG would charge for changing my metres (Gas and Elec) from card metres to normal ones?

I am sick of paying £20 a week for Gas and still having it go off every 2 days. I am sat here at the moment with a sleeping bag round me cos the gas went off again earlier and I won't be able to charge my gascard until Saturday now when I can borrow some money from my sister. (already used the emergency)

Thanks

amosworks

Aww jembie I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Maybe if you switch to another supplier on a better tarriff they will be able to reduce the amount you're paying and switch it for you if BG won't.

Is it a card meter because you ran up a debt with BG or a previous tennant or something? I'm sure if it's not then you can request it be changed.

Have a look at the switch sites in Martin's article (but it seems beware of USwitch at the moment) and see who can do you the best deal. EquiGas are a gas supplier who focus towads people on lower incomes and seem to offer good service and I recently joined them, but do a search and see who's best for you.

In the mean time can you stay round a friends or something? *Hugs*

jembie

Thanks. I will look at Equigas.
I have to admit I am rubbish at switching. I switched earlier this year from BG to NPower via USwitch. I got my cheque from them for £12.50 but somehow BG phoned me up and bullied me into not going through with the switch. When these companies ring me I get so flustered that I will say anything to them just to get them off my back. So I ended up back with British Gas.
I switched to PowerGen a couple of years ago and got a £30 cheque from them for doing it online but again ended up back with British Gas LOL

tripled

BG will change the meter for free provided if you had a debt before it has been paid off in full and also you may need to pass a credit check.

astonsmummy

i think maybe you need to have a check on the meter, £20 every 2 days? i used to use £6pw in my old house.

Poppycat

That does seem high £20 per week. I pay £70 per month for both for family for 4

jembie

Just a follow up.
I finally got round to ringing BG yesterday only to get a message that they were onserving a silence in memory of employees that dies in the Helicopter crash :rolleyes:

So I emailed instead and got this reply

Dear Ms Adams


Thank you for your enquiry regarding having your prepayment meter exchanged for credit meter and the savings you would make by paying by direct debit.



There is no charge for the meter exchanges, but you will be required to pass a standard British Gas credit check. This may involve a check with an external credit reference agency. If the credit check is unsuccessful, we can still exchange the meter if you are happy to pay a security deposit which we would keep against non-payment of bills for 12 months. After that time, we would pay the deposit back with interest. If you would like to go ahead with the credit check to have your meter exchanged, please call us on 0845 955 5700*. We are open between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday and between 8am and 6pm on Saturdays. I understand the difficulties you have faced whilst contacting us by telephone, however; it is the quickest and easiest way to resolve your enquiry.


Paying by monthly direct debit is one of cheapest methods of payment. Your monthly instalments would be based on your average consumption and you could expect to make savings of approximately 10.3%** annually for gas.



Please mention your Customer Reference Number and/or your address details in all your future correspondence.



Thank you for taking the time to email us.



Kind regards

Naveed Patel

house.co.uk - the online home of British Gas and Scottish Gas

Your enquiry received 09/01/2007 14:15

Not happy that they will have to do a credit check as I will never pass that.
Oh and I am not Ms Adams either...my surname begins with an 'M' so not even close!

glo1967

I recently changed my gas & electricity supplier. I also have pre-payment meters, they were already in my property when I bought it & I decided to keep them. I have switched to EDF energy who do not charge a premium for having pre-payment meters, unlike a lot of suppliers. I have noticed a higher saving in the electric, but also a saving with the gas. It may be worth looking into whether you are paying a higher tarriff with your supplier, if so change to a supplier who does not charge extra for this.

shellsuit

I put £30 a week in my meter over the winter months - it's a pain in the jacksy!! (I don't have any current debt either)

Saying that though, a fiver can last a month in the summer so it works out evenly throughout the year (i think!)

adon30

jembie wrote:

So I emailed instead and got this reply

I can't believe you got a reply from BG!! It takes me weeks to hear anything back. I still haven't received a final bill from when I moved in October last year. Not that I'm complaining

You will get a better deal if you shop around. Go on, do it :j

glo1967

shellsuit wrote:

I put £30 a week in my meter over the winter months - it's a pain in the jacksy!! (I don't have any current debt either)

Saying that though, a fiver can last a month in the summer so it works out evenly throughout the year (i think!)

What size property do you have? What appliances do you have that are gas?
How often do you use them?