Meter change rights

Growler_Bhoy

Hi all,

Have been advised by supplier (Southern Electric) that my prepayment meter is to be replaced. I'm assuming they will insist on fitting another prepayment meter?

However, I'd prefer a non-prepayment meter; do I have any rights? if so, would anyone recommend a meter please?

Keep the faith.

dogshome

Hi Growler Bhoy - Pre-pay meters are usually fitted for one of two reasons:
1 A Landlord may have had them fitted to protect himself against a tenant doing a midnight flit leaving behind unpaid utility bills
2 A previous occupier has run up utility debt and the supplier has fitted them to recover the debt whilst continueing to supply

Once fitted they can be bit of job to get rid of - Your supplier will certainly want to run a credit check on you and may also ask for a cash deposit against future bills.

However as the meter is being changed anyway because of it's age, it will do no harm to ask and I would suggest you do this in writing as the Telephone Service Desk staff will not have the authority to sanction a Pre-pay/Credit meter change and will probably take the line of least resistance by saying "NO"

t0rt0ise

YOu can do no worse than call and ask them. Some companies charge for a change to a credit meter, some don't. If they want to charge you then threaten to leave and see if that helps. British Gas generally change the meters over for no charge so tell them you will change to BG.

spiro

Growler_Bhoy wrote: »

if so, would anyone recommend a meter please?

If you mean make/model of meter you have no choice the supplier/meter operator will decide probably based on which manufacturer gives them the best deal.

mattcanary

To be honest, I think the type of meter you get depends uponwhat is available in the meter fitter's van at the time