some help and advice please

adey8ball

hello there

first post and i need your help please

i have just moved into my new home from rented property before. the new house has Prepay Electric and Gas Meters. i want to switch from prepay meters to a normal type meter and pay for the energy we use once we have given them our monthly meter readings.

from this i guess that we need to install a different type of meter but from what i have seen so far to change the meters we would have to contact the current suppliers. i am concerned that the suppliers would try to force us into a contract with them to change the meters. from this then we could be on a tariff that is not competitive for a minimum period and i would assume would certainly not be the best. i am unsure if i could phone up a new supplier to install a new meter but again i guess i wouldnt be on a great tariff. can you pay somebody to come in and install the meters i require and then start looking for the supplier myself

so please could you help with what options i have. i am guessing i have stay on prepay meter with current supplier to new home, change supplier and stay on prepay, get new meter installed by current supplier
on their tariff, phone up new suppliers and get them to install a new meter or just pay for a new meter to be installed myself

what would you recommend




what would your advice be. many thanks for your time

thank you

adey

spiro

Just because you use the existing supplier doesnt mean that you have to be on their most expensive tariff, you can ask to be put on any tariff you want.

In terms of changing the meters, the supplier will run a credit check and may require a deposit. Most will also charge you about £50 per meter to change it.

SwanJon

You won't be able to pay someone to change the meters yourself - it all has to go through your supplier.
You need to phone the current supplier and let them know you've moved in anyway, so it can't hurt to ask them how to go about it. There may be a credit check &/or security deposit. Some suppliers will also charge for the exchange itself. This is the quickest way to get the meters changed, and you are not tied in so you can then switch if you like.
If no luck, you could try your previous suppliers from your old house - they know your payment history. You'd need to switch to them at the new house and then get the meters changed. This will take longer. You can then still switch to another supplier.
Or you could find a supplier you like the look of, and call them to ask if they would change the meters. If so, swap to them then get the meters changed.