Can I change from pre-payment meter for electricity?

Sowfie

We currently have a pre-payment meter for our electricity. We've had it since we moved in about 3 years ago, and we think it's due to previous tenants getting in to arrears with companies.

Our gas is paid quarterly and we have no problem with that, but we find the pre-payment meter just to be an annoyance. The meter is supposed to 'beep' when it is about to go off, but we've never heard it, and often wake up or come home to no electricity, which can't be having a good effect on our appliances, and it always plays havoc with the filter in our fish tank.

There's only one shop in our village where we can top up our little stick to put in to the meter, and considering we live in a one bedroom flat, we seem to spend a fortune on electricity and I definitely think that there must be a cheaper option for us.

Does anyone know whether we'd be able to switch to a different payment method? Or do we have to stay on a meter because there's one fitted?

We're with the same company for both electricity and gas, so we're missing out on possible dual-fuel deals too. Any advice would be great x

macman

No, you can switch, but it may not be free-check with your supplier.
And some ask for a deposit under such circumstances.

OlyL

check with your supplier, most will charge for it. as far as i am aware npower are the cheapest only charging £60, althou i could be wrong.

do you have any disabilities or could you be classed as vulnerable customer? if so its possible for you to get it for free

ic

When I moved five years ago into my current house, my supplier who I moved with me were more than happy to switch both the gas and electric pre-pay meters over for me free of charge. They did this because I already had 14 months good history with them - Southern Electric. So ring and ask, you might be surprised.

SamanthaD85

We moved into our first home 6 months ago and both gas&electric was prepayment and at the time the supplier was swalec, i enquired about getting them changed and they wanted to charge £50 per meter. So looked i looked into switching and went with EDF as they change the meters for free once we had been with them on the prepayment for a month and they were cheaper tariffs.

So i would give your supplier a call and ask.

spiro

Another option is that some suppliers now offer an inhome topup device so you no longer have to go to the shop.

The main thing will be that your supplier will run a credit check and as a result of that may require (a) you pay by DD and (b) you pay a deposit (typically £250) which they retain for a peroid of time until they are happy you will pay. If you have gas and elec with same supplier this may help as you have a history with them of paying for gas.

Sowfie

Thanks for your advice everyone
I'm with British Gas for both, so I'll definitely give them a call and see what they say. We've got 3 years history with them for our gas, with every payment paid on time so the only problem might be that they want to charge us to change it over, if they do then I'll look into other companies and try and find one that might not charge. x