prepayment meter help !!

tracytaxi

hi i have prepayment meters i asked for due to a large debt on my electric which started in 2008, in 2008 i was a direct debit plan and moved house in winter, i informed Atlantic i was moving to a house with a key meter supplied by n power and i wanted a credit meter, despite giving them 6 weeks notice, they failed to turn up to fit at the beginning of jan 2009 as arranged . finally in march they fitted my credit meter , in the meantime the 400 of debt from my direct debit plan just sat on the account,as they told me to pay my electric with my key as obviously i couldnt pay 80 a month on direct debit and top up a key.
Due to estimated bills there on I found this increasing and when it reached the point they wanted £160 a month on direct debit , i had a key meter installed .
The debt is now £800 and i pay £22 electric each week and £6 on top for debt and my gas on a card is £12 a week
.I am now a single parent having lost my partners income i am struggling to pay this.

I am moving house in febuary and the meters there are pre payment with Eon and i am wondering if i can have them taken out and have a credit meter put in and pay by direct debit , obvioulsy not with current comapany , i have contacted cccs about a dmp , due to the sudden loss in income of my partner leaving.And hope to put my old electric debt on a dmp.

Which company would consider credit meters, my credit score is low ,i have no savings , or if i stick with prepayment which is the cheapest with relatively high useage as i have a disabled child.

many thanks

dude89

tracytaxi wrote: »

Which company would consider credit meters, my credit score is low ,i have no savings , or if i stick with prepayment which is the cheapest with relatively high useage as i have a disabled child.

many thanks

In all honesty, no companies will consider changing your meters unless you pass a credit check/pay a substantial deposit £150-200ish. Considering you say you dont have savings and income is tight i think you should start planning for life with prepayment meters.

To find out the cheapest for your usage in your area go on a comparison website and enter your annual KwH figures

Adrian_Bathurst

Whatever you do. NEVER TAKE UP THIS OPTION to pay your energy bills. This is the most expensive way to purchase fuel EVER.

90% of the UK population are in reciept of some benefit from the DWP.

Under the European Human Rights act. A Utility service (Water, Gas & Electricity) CAN NOT BE DISCONNECTED.

The utility companies are fully aware of this and to enable them to overcome the law they push everyone to pre-payment meters. Then if you dont pay you are disconnecting YOURSELF and the supplier is not breaching the EHRA.

Under DWP rules every utility company must accept Fuel or Water direct. This is a service where a minimal amount (currently £3.40) is deducted from your benefit to pay for fuel.

So dont ask your fuel or water company. TELL them, they will try everything to stop you, but the second you mention EHRA they quickly change there mind.

Stand up and fight these thieves.

Any questions please ask. I have had to endure this and other deliberately created recessions.
Adrian

tracytaxi

Hi , it was my choice to have pre payment meters in the current house , and i intend to pay my debt.In the new house i was hoping to break free from prepayment and i saw on this site that n power dont credit check you for having a credit meter, but might ask for a hundred towards the installation, ( i think mum would have lent me that ), i dont know how up to date that is.
if i went to British gas i see if i have to a have prepayment you can top up from home.
the problem Adrian is there is already pre payment meters at the house i am moving to. I dont know if that is the case if direct fuel will be much help as the pre payment meters are there, i am on working tax credit , child tax credit and carers allowance , i have a low wage.thank you

dude89

Adrian_Bathurst wrote: »

Whatever you do. NEVER TAKE UP THIS OPTION to pay your energy bills. This is the most expensive way to purchase fuel EVER.

90% of the UK population are in reciept of some benefit from the DWP.

Under the European Human Rights act. A Utility service (Water, Gas & Electricity) CAN NOT BE DISCONNECTED.

The utility companies are fully aware of this and to enable them to overcome the law they push everyone to pre-payment meters. Then if you dont pay you are disconnecting YOURSELF and the supplier is not breaching the EHRA.

Under DWP rules every utility company must accept Fuel or Water direct. This is a service where a minimal amount (currently £3.40) is deducted from your benefit to pay for fuel.

So dont ask your fuel or water company. TELL them, they will try everything to stop you, but the second you mention EHRA they quickly change there mind.

Stand up and fight these thieves.

Any questions please ask. I have had to endure this and other deliberately created recessions.
Adrian

There is no entitlment to a credit meter in any law. Though i do stand to be corrected on that. Credit does not have to be offered by any company.

The meter that is installed in a property is not the property of the customer and they have no say of what type of meter is installed.

You can not simply demand credit. Energy companies are not breaching the EHRA by installing a prepayment meter as they have still left a provision for the supply of gas and electricity, it is down to the customer to pay for it.

That is like you going to tesco and taking food, as that is a neccessity, and then saying you have a right to have it and then pay for it later.

chanz4

DWP terms also state that if their is another option open, eg pre-pay or payment plan this must happen first

macman

Adrian_Bathurst wrote: »

Whatever you do. NEVER TAKE UP THIS OPTION to pay your energy bills. This is the most expensive way to purchase fuel EVER.

90% of the UK population are in reciept of some benefit from the DWP.

Under the European Human Rights act. A Utility service (Water, Gas & Electricity) CAN NOT BE DISCONNECTED.

The utility companies are fully aware of this and to enable them to overcome the law they push everyone to pre-payment meters. Then if you dont pay you are disconnecting YOURSELF and the supplier is not breaching the EHRA.

Under DWP rules every utility company must accept Fuel or Water direct. This is a service where a minimal amount (currently £3.40) is deducted from your benefit to pay for fuel.

So dont ask your fuel or water company. TELL them, they will try everything to stop you, but the second you mention EHRA they quickly change there mind.

Stand up and fight these thieves.

Any questions please ask. I have had to endure this and other deliberately created recessions.
Adrian

What are you on about? PPM's cost exactly the same as the supplier's Standard tariff.
And the EHA does not stop your gas being disconnected, as an alternative fuel is still in place-electricity (though much more expensive).

S0litaire

I'm actually a few pence per day better of on pre-payment.
I'm unemployed and was on 14.11p KWh with credit meter (took over my dad's house after he passed and with sorting things out got behind in payments)
I changed to pre-paid to help settle the debt and the new rate is 13.62p KWh (0.49p cheaper)


Also don't think much of ScottishPower's electric pre-payment meters.
It was only in 2 days before it died on me! (Still getting power but meter is dead! lol) They are in no rush to replace it! got to wait a week for a guy to come out!