advice again please

barahs

ok chaps,

looks like i have found a new property to rent (hurrah) viewwed it yesterday. Spotted gas and electricity pre paid meters. Both had debt on from previous tenat who has been evicted.

here's my questions, how do i get that wiped and the meters put in my name and can i transfer what is oustanding (yup bit of debt) on my meters over to the new ones. i think if the new property isnt supplied by my current suppliers there may be a problem?

am i right? any advice please?

Wywth

barahs wrote: »

ok chaps,

looks like i have found a new property to rent (hurrah) viewwed it yesterday. Spotted gas and electricity pre paid meters. Both had debt on from previous tenat who has been evicted.

here's my questions, how do i get that wiped and the meters put in my name and can i transfer what is oustanding (yup bit of debt) on my meters over to the new ones. i think if the new property isnt supplied by my current suppliers there may be a problem?

am i right? any advice please?

If/when you move in, take, meter readings and contact the suppliers.

They'll explain everything. How to get a new card, how to top it up, how any existing debt will be cleared, etc.
(It's usually cleared when you top up with your new card - but it may take a couple of attempts)

Bradfield

barahs wrote: »

ok chaps,

looks like i have found a new property to rent (hurrah) viewwed it yesterday. Spotted gas and electricity pre paid meters. Both had debt on from previous tenat who has been evicted.

here's my questions, how do i get that wiped and the meters put in my name and can i transfer what is oustanding (yup bit of debt) on my meters over to the new ones. i think if the new property isnt supplied by my current suppliers there may be a problem?

am i right? any advice please?

Most important thing is to take the correct meter readings so you only get charged for what you use and dont get lumbered with the previous debt.

Taking the meter reading on a prepayment meter is not always straight forward. I will give you an example of what can happen.

Several years ago I moved in to a flat. The Letting Agent was with me when I moved in and I saw him take the meter readings.

About a month later I received a utility bill which was way out of order and I realized that the previous tenant had obviously left debt on the meter.

I rang up the agent and asked him for the meter readings so I could relay them to the utility company. After a lengthy silence he admitted he had lost them.

I rang up the utility company and was told that to take the reading from the electric meter you have to hold down a button and the reading comes up.

I managed to get it sorted out but how I wished I had known how to take the correct reading.

I would contact the utility company before you start using gas or electricity and ask them how you obtain the readings from the meters. Then make sure you get the correct readings.

barahs

right ok, another question.
there is no gas or electricity running at the minute because both are prepaymant meters. Obviously the day i move in i will need both gas and electricity but as mentioned there is debt showing on those meters.
How do i get that sorted ready for me taking over tenancy?

do i ask the LL to sort?

would i be able to use my existing top up cards from my meter at current property?

Wywth

barahs wrote: »

right ok, another question.
there is no gas or electricity running at the minute because both are prepaymant meters. Obviously the day i move in i will need both gas and electricity but as mentioned there is debt showing on those meters.
How do i get that sorted ready for me taking over tenancy?

do i ask the LL to sort?

would i be able to use my existing top up cards from my meter at current property?

Did my response in post#2 not answer that very question?

barahs

Wywth wrote: »

Did my response in post#2 not answer that very question?

hmmm, no, i dont believe it did actually. As i clearly asked the day i move in there will be no gas/electric other than this other persons debt. I dont for one second believe a card/key will magically turn up within minutes of my call about existing debt and reading the meters. I am trying to make this switch as pain free as possible but without key/card i will not be able to access any gas/electric. I may have forgotten to say there was no evidence of either card/key within the area of the meters either.

Wywth

barahs wrote: »

hmmm, no, i dont believe it did actually. As i clearly asked the day i move in there will be no gas/electric other than this other persons debt. I dont for one second believe a card/key will magically turn up within minutes of my call about existing debt and reading the meters. I am trying to make this switch as pain free as possible but without key/card i will not be able to access any gas/electric. I may have forgotten to say there was no evidence of either card/key within the area of the meters either.

Follow the advice given.

Different suppliers have different approaches. e.g. I know one approach is you pick up an emergency card from the top up location ... but only after you have called the supplier.

barahs

ah right, i wasnt aware that that could happen top up cards from somewhere else.

a couple more obviously (to other people) stupid questions now..........

how do i find out who the supplier is? and are they pretty quick at resolving the issue?

i know to knowledgeable people my questions are stupid but if i dont understand i ask the question a 2nd time in a different way.

Wywth

barahs wrote: »

how do i find out who the supplier is?

Google is your friend here

barahs wrote: »

and are they pretty quick at resolving the issue?

What issue do you have?
The initial phone call should take less than 5 minutes once you get through to them

barahs

oooh can i really google to find out who the supplier is at an address? really?

ok the "issue" i may be panicking i admit. "issue" being the debt existing on the meter and getting it wiped so i can put my own money on it without paying someone elses debt. I think you said (see i take notice) that it may take a top up or two

Wywth

barahs wrote: »

oooh can i really google to find out who the supplier is at an address? really?

ok the "issue" i may be panicking i admit. "issue" being the debt existing on the meter and getting it wiped so i can put my own money on it without paying someone elses debt. I think you said (see i take notice) that it may take a top up or two

Obviously Google will not tell you who your supplier is, but you can use Google to discover how to find out who supplies you with energy. Go on, give it a try

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