Changing back from pre-Payment Meters

DSmiffy

Hi Terrylw1, Really interested in all your points especially the one where you say I can change supplier and ask for them to change the meter for free. The PPM came with the house, the previous owners had debt on the meter. Since September I have used the emergency credit of £5 once, as I was getting used to a pre payment meter and let my credit run out in error. I am never in debt and pre load my meter every month when I get paid for the whole month.
Scottish Power Company Representative - what is your company stance on my leaving your company to go to another provider who will change my meters for free? Would you try to keep me as a customer or not? I have no debt on my meters, however I cannot afford to change the meters and paying a refundable deposit is financially out of the question for me. If I remain in credit, so to speak, until September which would be 12 months, would you consider me a viable option and waive the fees for changing the meters??
By the way, thanks everyone for all your thoughts and advice

DSmiffy

SwanJon wrote: »

I've got this link at the top of the page...

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity?utm_source=forum&utm_medium=clicks&utm_campaign=resourcebar

Thanks Swanjon, I had read this and lots of interesting info. I see during the string of posts that the interest of Scottish Power has been raised by the appearance of a post from their company representative. I am awaiting a response. It really isn;t fair to have to pay to change a meter when you have never been in debt.
My current circumstances dictate that I am unable to pay the fee upfront, refundable or not, although I have NEVER had any debt on my fuel in the past 20 years with ANY provider. I was married and now I am single, this dictates my finances unfortunately, and now means I must the highest price for fuel and am not eligible for most discounts and cheap tariffs.
We'll see how this pans out.

Terrylw1

DSmiffy wrote: »

Hi Terrylw1, Really interested in all your points especially the one where you say I can change supplier and ask for them to change the meter for free. The PPM came with the house, the previous owners had debt on the meter. Since September I have used the emergency credit of £5 once, as I was getting used to a pre payment meter and let my credit run out in error. I am never in debt and pre load my meter every month when I get paid for the whole month.
Scottish Power Company Representative - what is your company stance on my leaving your company to go to another provider who will change my meters for free? Would you try to keep me as a customer or not? I have no debt on my meters, however I cannot afford to change the meters and paying a refundable deposit is financially out of the question for me. If I remain in credit, so to speak, until September which would be 12 months, would you consider me a viable option and waive the fees for changing the meters??
By the way, thanks everyone for all your thoughts and advice

Hi DSmiffy,

Change of supply blocking rules are set by the industry so if you have no debt, which you wouldn't if you keep paying and don't get a PPM fit to recover debt, they cant stop you switching for debt reasons.

Terrylw1

DSmiffy wrote: »

Hi Terrylw1, Really interested in all your points especially the one where you say I can change supplier and ask for them to change the meter for free. The PPM came with the house, the previous owners had debt on the meter. Since September I have used the emergency credit of £5 once, as I was getting used to a pre payment meter and let my credit run out in error. I am never in debt and pre load my meter every month when I get paid for the whole month.
Scottish Power Company Representative - what is your company stance on my leaving your company to go to another provider who will change my meters for free? Would you try to keep me as a customer or not? I have no debt on my meters, however I cannot afford to change the meters and paying a refundable deposit is financially out of the question for me. If I remain in credit, so to speak, until September which would be 12 months, would you consider me a viable option and waive the fees for changing the meters??
By the way, thanks everyone for all your thoughts and advice

Exactly, you get tarred with the same brush as a non payer.I've always disliked this money making scheme. Many will argue its the extra cost but if you saw the number of other jobs that take place daily without any cost to the consumer on an individual basis, you would think otherwise.

Scottish_Power

Hi DSmiffy,

Each customer is treated on an individual basis, i can review your account for you if you email me your details at [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL]

I look forward to hearing from you

Lee-Anne @ ScottishPower

Premier_2

DSmiffy wrote: »

.....I have no debt on my meters, however I cannot afford to change the meters and paying a refundable deposit is financially out of the question for me. ...

If you have no outstanding debt, you can change to another supplier ... but there is no guarantee another supplier will allow you a credit meter even if you were able to stump up the required deposit. Each supplier has its own policy on how they change PPMs to credit meters and whether or not a charge applies.
I would expect any company offering credit to either carry out a credit check on you or ask for a security deposit (or both)

As you clearly have some financial issues, maybe PPMs are best suited to you at this time anyway?

DSmiffy

Premier wrote: »

If you have no outstanding debt, you can change to another supplier ... but there is no guarantee another supplier will allow you a credit meter even if you were able to stump up the required deposit. Each supplier has its own policy on how they change PPMs to credit meters and whether or not a charge applies.
I would expect any company offering credit to either carry out a credit check on you or ask for a security deposit (or both)

As you clearly have some financial issues, maybe PPMs are best suited to you at this time anyway?

Hi, yes fair point, but just to note, it's not that I have financial issues, I just don't agree with having to pay more than the average Joe for the same gas and elec just because I'm unfortunate enough to move into a house with a PPM fitted. I would have a financial issue if I had to fork out £200 for a meter, I budget very well, I just don't have that hanging around the house

macman

You are not paying any more than the 'average Joe' (who like 60% of the population, will be on Standard tariff).
£50 for a meter change is far below the actual cost of parts and labour, why do you expect them to change it for free?

Terrylw1

macman wrote: »

You are not paying any more than the 'average Joe' (who like 60% of the population, will be on Standard tariff).
£50 for a meter change is far below the actual cost of parts and labour, why do you expect them to change it for free?

Is it? I've seen it less than 50% of that. Actually, I've never seen a cost above £50 for and visit, not considering SLT's.

I think we expect suppliers to be fair and they are not, they have targeted PPM's. If you move into a property with the meter fuse removed, you get that for free...same engineer goes out. Only difference is that the job is a bit quicker but a meter change takes no more than 30 mins anyway and suppliers often pay the same each each type of job...

DSmiffy

macman wrote: »

You are not paying any more than the 'average Joe' (who like 60% of the population, will be on Standard tariff).
£50 for a meter change is far below the actual cost of parts and labour, why do you expect them to change it for free?

I would disagree, also you are not entitled to as many discounts. You certainly can't get the discount for paying via direct debit obviously.