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New home - prepay meter

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Comments

  • stevetuk
    stevetuk Posts: 123 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Malc, could you confirm whether or not E.On handle the removal of a prepay meter from another company like Scottish Power as part of a change of supplier and, if so, whether this:
    a) resets the meter / closes the account with the previous provider (want to make sure I'm not chased for the debt of someone else)
    b) is free or whether E.On charges?
    c) involves a credit check (this is no problem, just want to know)

    TIA

    Steve
  • Wywth
    Wywth Posts: 5,079 Forumite
    stevetuk wrote: »
    Malc, could you confirm whether or not E.On handle the removal of a prepay meter from another company like Scottish Power as part of a change of supplier and, if so, whether this:
    a) resets the meter / closes the account with the previous provider (want to make sure I'm not chased for the debt of someone else)
    b) is free or whether E.On charges?
    c) involves a credit check (this is no problem, just want to know)

    TIA

    Steve

    An energy supplier will only arrange to change your meter if they supply you.
  • stevetuk
    stevetuk Posts: 123 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Wywth wrote: »
    An energy supplier will only arrange to change your meter if they supply you.

    I understand that. So my question is that if the house I am buying is currently supplied by Scottish Power and has a prepay meter, and then on completion date I ring up EDF or E.On or BG or whomever else and ask to be switched to them, will they come and remove the Scottish Power prepay meter free of charge (presumably after credit check) and change my supply, what is involved with that, will it clear whatever debt there may be from the previous house owner on the Scottish Power meter, etc. etc.

    I know some have a waiting period (I think EDF is 28 days of being a customer), I know some charge, etc. That's what I'm asking about.

    I'm guessing that these are the steps to take:
    1. On completion day, ring a new energy supplier (e.g. BG) and ask for supply to be switched and prepay to be removed.
    2. Credit check takes place.
    3. New supplier removes prepay and installs credit meter (possibly after a few weeks).

    Scottish Power do not offer the best rates for my circumstances looking at comparison sites. A prepay supplied by them is already in my new home (it has their logo on it) and I don't want prepay (with them or with anyone else). Can any other supplier remove that prepay meter, or is it only Scottish Power that can (does it belong to them)? How do I make sure I'm not chased for any debts incurred by previous owners?

    It seems like a dark art or something.
  • Wywth
    Wywth Posts: 5,079 Forumite
    stevetuk wrote: »
    I understand that. So my question is that if the house I am buying is currently supplied by Scottish Power and has a prepay meter, and then on completion date I ring up EDF or E.On or BG or whomever else and ask to be switched to them, will they come and remove the Scottish Power prepay meter free of charge (presumably after credit check) and change my supply, what is involved with that, will it clear whatever debt there may be from the previous house owner on the Scottish Power meter, etc. etc.

    I know some have a waiting period (I think EDF is 28 days of being a customer), I know some charge, etc. That's what I'm asking about.

    I'm guessing that these are the steps to take:
    1. On completion day, ring a new energy supplier (e.g. BG) and ask for supply to be switched and prepay to be removed.
    2. Credit check takes place.
    3. New supplier removes prepay and installs credit meter (possibly after a few weeks).

    Scottish Power do not offer the best rates for my circumstances looking at comparison sites. A prepay supplied by them is already in my new home (it has their logo on it) and I don't want prepay (with them or with anyone else). Can any other supplier remove that prepay meter, or is it only Scottish Power that can (does it belong to them)? How do I make sure I'm not chased for any debts incurred by previous owners?

    It seems like a dark art or something.

    As explained to you in my earlier post,
    Wywth wrote:
    On completion day, you will need to contact Scottish Power, provide a meter reading, and probably arrange a new top-up card. This will also allow any existing debt on the meter to be removed.

    Once you have registered as a Scottish Power customer, you can then request a switch of supplier if you wish.

    A switch of supplier typically takes 4-6 weeks.

    Once you are on supply with that new company, you can ask them to change the meter ... or you can ask Scottish Power whilst they are supplying you to change your meter. The choice is yours :)
  • Scottish_Power
    Scottish_Power Posts: 1,263 Organisation Representative
    Steve

    Once we get you registered we will issue a prepayment key for you to use in the first instance. If you wish we can do a credit check to remove the prepayment meter and there is a fee to change the meter. We can outline the options for you. As Wywth says the choice is yours.

    David
    Official Company Representative
    I am the official company representative of Scottish Power. MSE has given permission for me to post in response to queries about the company, so that I can help solve issues. You can see my name on the companies with permission to post list. I am not allowed to tout for business at all. If you believe I am please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com This does NOT imply any form of approval of my company or its products by MSE"
  • stevetuk
    stevetuk Posts: 123 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Ah, ok, now I understand. I hadn't appreciated I would definitely have to register with Scottish Power first. So I'm tied to doing that first. David, one question if you wouldn't mind: when I register with you, do Scottish Power tie new customers in for any length of time preventing a switch to another supplier?
  • Wywth
    Wywth Posts: 5,079 Forumite
    stevetuk wrote: »
    Ah, ok, now I understand. I hadn't appreciated I would definitely have to register with Scottish Power first. So I'm tied to doing that first. David, one question if you wouldn't mind: when I register with you, do Scottish Power tie new customers in for any length of time preventing a switch to another supplier?

    Scottish Power only appear to offer one tariff option to their PPM customers at present - their Standard tariff.

    There are no tie-ins/early exit fees with any suppliers standard tariff.
  • Scottish_Power
    Scottish_Power Posts: 1,263 Organisation Representative
    edited 17 May 2013 at 12:48PM
    Thanks again Wywth :) Steve there are no tie-ins on any standard tariff which includes prepayment. So you need to register with us as we already supply, but you are free to leave, once that is done.

    David
    Official Company Representative
    I am the official company representative of Scottish Power. MSE has given permission for me to post in response to queries about the company, so that I can help solve issues. You can see my name on the companies with permission to post list. I am not allowed to tout for business at all. If you believe I am please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com This does NOT imply any form of approval of my company or its products by MSE"
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