Prepay meter but don't know who supplier is

jasdev

I've just moved into a flatshare where there is a prepayment card meter for electricity. I was interested in checking online to see if there are cheaper suppliers but I don't know who we're with at the moment, nor how to check. The person already living here hasn't a clue either, so how would I be able to find out?

[Deleted User]

Is there no key in the meter with suppliers name on it ? Try phoning up the most popular suppliers BGs the biggest

Wywth

jasdev wrote: »

I've just moved into a flatshare where there is a prepayment card meter for electricity. I was interested in checking online to see if there are cheaper suppliers but I don't know who we're with at the moment, nor how to check. The person already living here hasn't a clue either, so how would I be able to find out?

How to identify your electricity (and gas if appropriate) supplier <<< clicky

Do not use someone else's key, as you will simply be giving the owner of that card your money.
Call the supplier, register for an account, and they will arrange a key card of your own (and will remove any debt that may already be on the meter)

Then you will be able to look at switching supplier if you wish

jasdev

Thanks! What a palaver... I used that site to find that EDF supply our electricity. I then found that the person named on the account was someone I've not heard of (when discussing names of previous tenants with my flatmate some days ago). EDF also informed me that they don't do prepayment meters, so I am utterly confused as to who has been paying the electric bill! I've set up my own account with them now though and will submit a meter reading ASAP.

However when I looked into who our gas supplier is, the National Grid automated system went silent each time it was supposed to tell me the name of the supplier! So I've dropped them an email to have a human being look into it for me

I just hope I'm doing the right thing, never had so much trouble finding out who to pay before!

Wywth

jasdev wrote: »

Thanks! What a palaver... I used that site to find that EDF supply our electricity. I then found that the person named on the account was someone I've not heard of (when discussing names of previous tenants with my flatmate some days ago). EDF also informed me that they don't do prepayment meters, so I am utterly confused as to who has been paying the electric bill! I've set up my own account with them now though and will submit a meter reading ASAP.

However when I looked into who our gas supplier is, the National Grid automated system went silent each time it was supposed to tell me the name of the supplier! So I've dropped them an email to have a human being look into it for me

I just hope I'm doing the right thing, never had so much trouble finding out who to pay before!

I think you must have misunderstood.

Nearly all suppliers cater for pre-payment metered customers, and certainly all the big 6 do, as you have found when you registered for an account with EDF.

Regarding the gas, could it be that you are supplied via an IGT? See the link for details of what to do if so.

lstar337

jasdev wrote: »

EDF also informed me that they don't do prepayment meters

BS.

I have an EDF Pre-Pay Meter with an EDF sticker on it and an EDF Pre-Pay key with the EDF logo in molded plastic.

I doubt I have a bespoke system.

jasdev

Ah, I feel I may have made a mistake.
Whilst rummaging through kitchen drawers and finding a book of old bills, I found a letter from the Barkantine Heat & Power Company explaining that our system is a dual fuel gas and electric system agreed by the council, as explained here: http://www.edfenergy.com/report/report2005/custdevchp.html
Should I cancel the deal I've just signed up for with EDF directly? It seems that the Barkantine Company takes the average unit prices of the cheapest suppliers in the area.

anniecave

I'd query this with EDF and clarify what the set-up with this is.

It maybe that certain properties are under the Barkantine set up, and that they then set up accounts for individual properties, so you may now be set up with an account correctly in your name.

Or it maybe the Barkantine was only for certain people or only for a period of time and EDF are just supplying the property as a normal pre-payment now.

Either way I would recommend that you should have an account in the name of the current occupier (unless the landlord is paying for the bills) rather than a previous tenant.

Wywth

jasdev wrote: »

Ah, I feel I may have made a mistake.
Whilst rummaging through kitchen drawers and finding a book of old bills, I found a letter from the Barkantine Heat & Power Company explaining that our system is a dual fuel gas and electric system agreed by the council, as explained here: http://www.edfenergy.com/report/report2005/custdevchp.html
Should I cancel the deal I've just signed up for with EDF directly? It seems that the Barkantine Company takes the average unit prices of the cheapest suppliers in the area.

Do the council know this is a flatshare arrangement?

Whilst rummaging through the kitchen, did you also notice there was no boiler?

http://www.dalkia.co.uk/docs/case/localauthorities/Barkantine%20.pdf

jasdev

Thanks anniecave and Wywth. Wywth, I found the same document. It seems the Barkantine Heat & Power Company don't have a website, are wholly owned by EDF, and the only person I can contact regarding them is employed by EDF. Luckily his business card was in the kitchen drawer with the letter. I'm going to phone him tomorrow and hopefully receive an explanation.
I've got until Tuesday to cancel my deal with EDF (the 12 day cooling off period) and perhaps I can arrange to have my own card and contract with BHPC.

Actually I think there is a boiler next to the heating and hot water control panel, which is something else I might ask the representative about.

And the Council might be aware that it is a flatshare arrangement because of the different names on the council tax bill, or perhaps I'm crediting them with too much?