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Cheap Prepay Gas & Elec Article

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Once we switched to BG I phoned up three times, each call over half an hour (I think) and each time was told they would 'just' do a credit check and then get back to me. They never did. I got the feeling it was deliberate. I don't think there is anything wrong with my credit check (though tbh I haven't had a look at one ever).
just thought i'd throw that in there for anyone who hasn't had any luck changing their meters or doesn't want to. also for the ethically minded ebico are the only not for profit energy company which i think is pretty cool. they supply through southern electric but i think ebico tariffs are different to standard southern elec tariffs.
Ebico is included in the comparisons so will appear if it's cheap for your area and usage. We are adding it to the table of providers' charges though.
I have been approached with a bill of a few hundred pounds and when stating how is this possible - I have learned that the price of electricity and gas can be so volatile (and more importantly that the meters can be so poor at updating themselves) that it may be billing you at a pre-price rise rate - so less than they should. When the energy company realise they hit you with a massive bill for the difference. British Gas and others agree to waive this as they feel it's their meter's fault not yours so use this arguement if this ever happens to you.
I also use EBICO who are awesome and charge the same price no matter the payment method but beware - check the cost of the energy on the meter against the costs per unit advertised on their website to ensure you are on the Ebico tariff. I have been put on the wrong tarrif before buy the gas fulfilment company Ebico use but Ebico were quick to resolve this and refund the difference.
I'd also add that 2 rate electricity meters are not better than single rate meters (especially if you don't use storage heaters) - I opted for a 2 rate as I thought it would be better than a single one - only to learn I'd save by opting for a single rate meter. If you do use storage heaters the energy companies claw back the cheaper night rate tariff with a more expensive day rate.
Micky
Birmingham, London, Brighton.
I wanted to get my supplier changed as quickly as possible to change to a cheaper supplier before the price rise came into effect. Now Im considering changing supplier and hoping that they will then change the meter once Ive switched.
Also if scottish power did a credit check can that effect my credit rating if I were to use another supplier who wanted to perform a credit check first??
Need to change from BG - we moved in with the meters already installed and although we've never had them before it certainly saved us going into the red with them last year. Wanted to try Utilita but not in our area - East London
At least topping up with Utilita is a lot easier - via the internet - why can't the others start thinking about their customers like that - the last thing anyone wants to do is try and find a shop open past 8.00 pm where they can top up on a snowy night and then have to stand outside whilst the meter takes the money!
I was going to try EBICO but the savings would be minimal according to the comparison sites so I'm not sure what I'm going to do.