Switching from a pre-payment meter to direct debit.

alizee

Hi, We moved into the property (rented) a couple of days ago and it has a gas and electricity pre-payment meter. Our private landlord is happy for us to switch but how do we go about it? I tried doing a comparison but it only comes up with pre-payment meter tariffs.

macman

Ask your supplier (you don't say who) for credit meters, if there is a charge it's normally about £50 per meter.
PPM's cost the same as the supplier's Standard tariff.

alizee

It's southern electric. Is a credit meter just a normal gas/electric meter? It's the first time we've come across this and only our second rented property ever so we're not particularly experienced. Would we not be able to do a comparison and switch before our current supplier changes them?

alizee

I just checked online and there is charge of £52 (not sure if per meter or for both). Could we for example try and switch supplier to get them to do it for free if we go with them?

macman

Yes, that is quite possible. It'll be per meter.
Bear in mind that your LL may permit this, but want to charge you to switch back to PPM's at the end of your tenancy.

alizee

In his words "he hates the bloody things" but i will ask him anyway. we're planning to live here long term so it might still pay for us to switch.

alizee

Just a quick update - Landlord is perfectly fine with it.
We are swapping over to British gas on a key meter first with the intention of having credit meters put in asap (for free) and because it's just a 1 month rolling contract we can do a comparison and switch afterwards!

Wywth

alizee wrote: »

Just a quick update - Landlord is perfectly fine with it.
We are swapping over to British gas on a key meter first with the intention of having credit meters put in asap (for free) and because it's just a 1 month rolling contract we can do a comparison and switch afterwards!

Lots of options on how to switch meter here:

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/news/how-to-switch-from-a-prepayment-energy-meter/0014939/

Doing it your way, the most expensive winter period will almost be over before you are on a cheap monthly DD tariff. That may even make a £50 fee worthwhile if it saves you more than that in energy costs.

alizee

Southern electric have quoted m £104 for the switch of both meters and they can't do it until January. British gas are free to switch and it takes 5 weeks to switch over to them (January as well) and they said they can get an engineer out in the same week as long as our credit checks are fine.

Wywth

alizee wrote: »

Southern electric have quoted m £104 for the switch of both meters and they can't do it until January. British gas are free to switch and it takes 5 weeks to switch over to them (January as well) and they said they can get an engineer out in the same week as long as our credit checks are fine.

Yes, that is what the article says; £52 per meter

This is to reflect the costs SSE incurs for removal and installation. Once the credit check has been passed and the fee paid, you should have your new meter installed within 10 working days.

Note within 10 working days - so I don't know why it will take them til next year to do yours. :huh:

You have switched to BG on a PPM. As you say that will take and average of 5 weeks (4-6 weeks is typical, but with Christmas in between, it may take a little longer)

Then you will need to pass a BG credit check, if not already done so. (it doesn't sound like you have yet :eek:) If successful, it will probably take a further week or two to get credit meters installed.

Then, especially if you want to switch supplier to one that offers competitive deals for you as a credit meter customer, another switch will take another 4-6 weeks.

I make that about about the middle to the end of March before you get yourself on a good tariff. i.e. after the expensive Winter period had passed.

NXV839

If they change your meters for free, normally you are required to fix into a contract for a certain period of time. The pre payment meters are normally rolling 30 day contracts, but when you go DD they fix you in for a certain period of time. It's definitely worth double checking before you change meters.