New Homeowner - Prepayment Electricity Meter in Debt

hf32

Hi. New poster here. I’ve finally got around to registering on this site,after finding that the best advice on any financial queries typed into search engines always seemed to come from this place.

Anyway I was hoping for a bit of help on the following query. My partner and I have very recently purchased our first property and it seems that we have inherited a prepayment electricity meter. This in itself is a bit of a pain but the main problem is we found have found the electricity off and a debt of £78 showing on the meter.

The property was previously rented and was vacant for many months before we bought it, during which time presumably the debt accumulated. To be honest I had no idea that prepayment meters could collect debt to this level (as surely the purpose of them existing is to stop this happening in the first place).

Our plan is to change to a standard meter as soon as possible, but in the short term obviously we want to get the power back on. I really don’t want to have to go to a corner shop and fork out £78 of someone else’s debt, for the privilege of getting the lights to work though.

I’m assuming that it may be possible to speak the supplier to get this sorted out but the questions I have are:

1. How do you find out who supplied the prepaymentmeter in the first place? It seems we have inherited a meter key left on the mantelpiece, but no other details.

2. Is it possible to get debts written off on a prepayment meter if we can persuade the supplier that we did not run up the debt?

3. If Yes to #2 would be then be required to have the meter changed by and sign up to a contract with this same supplier?

Anyway apologies for the length of this query, but I’m hoping some kind person could offer some assistance with this.

Many Thanks

Scottishmummy

Was the property empty for some time before you purchased? It is possible the debt is the daily standing charge and if so should be paid by whoever owned it prior to you up until your completion date. How you could go about clearing the amount on the meter though I can't help.

Wywth

hf32 wrote: »

Hi. New poster here. I’ve finally got around to registering on this site,after finding that the best advice on any financial queries typed into search engines always seemed to come from this place.

Anyway I was hoping for a bit of help on the following query. My partner and I have very recently purchased our first property and it seems that we have inherited a prepayment electricity meter. This in itself is a bit of a pain but the main problem is we found have found the electricity off and a debt of £78 showing on the meter.

The property was previously rented and was vacant for many months before we bought it, during which time presumably the debt accumulated. To be honest I had no idea that prepayment meters could collect debt to this level (as surely the purpose of them existing is to stop this happening in the first place).

Our plan is to change to a standard meter as soon as possible, but in the short term obviously we want to get the power back on. I really don’t want to have to go to a corner shop and fork out £78 of someone else’s debt, for the privilege of getting the lights to work though.

I’m assuming that it may be possible to speak the supplier to get this sorted out but the questions I have are:

1. How do you find out who supplied the prepaymentmeter in the first place? It seems we have inherited a meter key left on the mantelpiece, but no other details.

2. Is it possible to get debts written off on a prepayment meter if we can persuade the supplier that we did not run up the debt?

3. If Yes to #2 would be then be required to have the meter changed by and sign up to a contract with this same supplier?

Anyway apologies for the length of this query, but I’m hoping some kind person could offer some assistance with this.

Many Thanks

You should have contacted the existing supplier(s) on completion day and provided meter reading(s). If you didn't, do it as a matter of urgency.

If you don't know the existing supplier(s) this will help you identify them:
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_energy_and_water_supply_e/consumer_energy_supply_e/problems_switching_energy_suppliers/finding_out_who_your_gas_or_electricity_supplier_is.htm

Once you have registered as a customer any existing debt will be wiped from the meter (it may take a up to about 3 top ups - the supplier will advise).
They are not your debts and you did not buy them when you bought the property. From the sounds of it, they were not even the seller's. If you have been using someone else's card, then you have effectively been paying off that other person's debt.
You will still be charged for the energy you have consumed.
The supplier will send you, or otherwise advise how to obtain, a new payment card of your own.

You are also free to switch supplier:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity

You could also request a change to a credit meter. Some suppliers may charge for this. This article provides more info:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity#freecreditmeter

SwanJon

Agree with the above.
Before you call the supplier, get some info from the meter (they'll ask for it)
There should be a serial number near the barcode (it'll look like S09P12345).
Make a note of what the screens say - they should each have a letter on them, press the blue button to change letter.

The key may have a supplier's logo on it - they'll probably be the best place to start. The supplier will get you a new key - either through the post or collect from a shop. If collecting from a shop they will give you an eight figure code, and the new key will reset the meter removing the debt in one go.

What about the gas meter (if there is one)?

macman

It's not your PPM debt as above, but you may have to pay for the install if you want a credit meter instead.

hf32

Wow thanks for all the useful advice on this. To clarifiy, we are currently re-decorating the new place and have not yet officially moved in so having no elecrity is not yet a major problem, just an inconvenience.

I'm aware that I probably should also have given readings on completion as well but as we are one of a number of properties in a coverted building it was not easy to work out who's meter was who's.

I have no previous experience of pre-payment meters and assumed the key and any debt was simply passed from occupant to occupant, meaning that any debt had to be cleared in full by the before any top up is allowed. We have not used the card for that reason and relied on natural light so far. I'm glad to hear that this is not the case though.

For the record the key logo indicates that the supplier may well be Southern Electric - who it seems will currently £52 to change this to a credit meter. This is not ideal obviously but could be worse.

Anyway thanks once again for kind responses. This has been very helpful.

SwanJon

That's fine - get Southern to clear the debt, then look for other suppliers, keeping note of the charges.
Nothing to stop you swapping again once the meter has been changed.....