Bought Repo - Gas & Elec are prepay!

JeffersR

I've just bought a repossessed property with Gas and Electric prepay meters installed. I definitely don't want prepay meters ultimately so just wanting a bit of clarity that I'm going about this right.

The gas and electric are off at the property at the moment. Was a letter from npower (current providers) at the house dated a month ago saying that account was being closed as property vacant.

Rang npower today to get gas and elec back on and inquired about getting rid of prepay meters and getting normal ones back in. They said I had to start up an account with them first then when gas and elec are back on and working on prepay I can contact them again to get the meters changed. The gave me instructions to check meters for previous debts/meter readings which I have to do before the account can be set up.

They have said that there may be a charge to changing the meters to which I told them that was totally unacceptable and if they can't do it for free I'll take my custom elsewhere, they then said that they could maybe do it for free but again, need to get account set up and working before going down that path.

So, just want to check this is the right course of action - Get account set up with npower to get gas and elec on and working on the existing prepay meters first. Then get npower to change the meters to standard (free of charge!). Then maybe look if a cheaper deal is possible with another provider?

Interested to hear if others have had issues getting rid of prepay meters they've inherited in house they've bought?

jalexa

JeffersR wrote: »

They have said that there may be a charge to changing the meters to which I told them that was totally unacceptable and if they can't do it for free I'll take my custom elsewhere,

Get real, this is just one of the many on-costs of buying a repo, the quite modest meter costs should already be factored into the price you paid. Unless of course you paid over the top?

Premier_2

JeffersR wrote: »

I've just bought a repossessed property with Gas and Electric prepay meters installed. ...

They have said that there may be a charge to changing the meters to which I told them that was totally unacceptable and if they can't do it for free I'll take my custom elsewhere, they then said that they could maybe do it for free but again, need to get account set up and working before going down that path.

So, just want to check this is the right course of action - Get account set up with npower to get gas and elec on and working on the existing prepay meters first. Then get npower to change the meters to standard (free of charge!). Then maybe look if a cheaper deal is possible with another provider?...

nPower will charge you to change the meters - about £60 a piece.

However, as the above poster says, what is £120 when you probably saved many thousands buying the property?

On the plus side, it sounds like the supplier is prepared to change them...many others suppliers may not even entertain such a request unless you are prepared to wait a while.

Yes you need to initially get registered with nPower. You can then change supplier if you wish.

chanz4

its classed as none essential meter change, so yes they can charge or refuse to supply you. Bg will do them for a credit check, if you are going to rent out I would leave them in.

npowerman

chanz4 wrote: »

its classed as none essential meter change, so yes they can charge or refuse to supply you. Bg will do them for a credit check, if you are going to rent out I would leave them in.

What he said. I work for npower customer services. I strongly suggest leaving prepayment meters in if you are looking to let the property, the trouble you as a landlord will have to go through if they leave a large debit makes it worth it.

Ultrasonic

npowerman wrote: »

I strongly suggest leaving prepayment meters in if you are looking to let the property, the trouble you as a landlord will have to go through if they leave a large debit makes it worth it.

Not sure the OP is intending to rent out the property, but for what it's worth I rent and would never even consider a property that has pre-pay energy meters. So a decision to leave these in may restrict the market of potential tenants somewhat. It would very much depend what sort of tenants a landlord wants...

spiro

Do you already have an energy account (gas & elec) at the house you were living in before you bought the repo? If so set the account up the nPower, then switch to you current supplier who will have a payment history for you and is more like to change the meters sooner and possiblly for free.

JeffersR

Thanks for the advise everyone,

To answer a few of your questions, no, I'm not going to be renting out my property, I'll be living in it myself.

Unfortunately I'm a first time buyer so no previous history/account with energy company.

I'll get the gas/elec on and running with npower on the prepay meters then try and get them to change them. I do understand the point that I've bought a repo and have to expect to factor in some extra costs etc. but, the inability of the previous occupant to pay his gas/elec bill isn't my problem and I certainly shouldn't be punished for that by being restricted to prepay meters!

I've read numerous posts on various forums from people who have been able to get prepay meters swapped for normal ones for free after moving into a new house so I know it is possible, whether npower will do it for me, I'll have to wait and see.

HalloweenJack

a similar thing happened when i moved into my present address - had pre payment meters ; had a devils own fight to not pay the debt on them (arounbd £500 i think it was) - so check the readings and how much debt is on yours). but in the end , after jumping through the hoops got them changed(moving supplier at the same time)

chanz4

ftb as well, that makes you a higher risk. A lot of suppliers dont like to remove them also due to bad debt, give it about 6 months and they will remove them free.

undaunted

I would make sure you get it in writing that they will change them for free if you enter into a contract with them (Npowers policy is / was not to change them at all if they could avoid it - see page 16 onwards here http://www.npower.com/idc/groups/wcms_content/@wcms/@busi/documents/digitalassets/wcms_000972.pdf ).

I entirely agree with you that the past occupiers issues are none of your concern, so why should you pay for them?

If they won't put it in writing that they agree to do as you require can't you switch the supply & get them changed before moving in?