Prepayment Meters

023456789

Hi All

Being threatened with a prepayment meter at the moment and wanted to ask a couple of questions.

1. How long after being made bankrupt does it take EDF (or similar) to stop taking over-payments for your debts?
2. If you go bankrupt are you able to easily change provider? We've had a bit of a shoddy experience with EDF.
3. This is hypothetical and just to help me work out my strategy for handling this situation - what exactly would happen if they do forcibly install a prepayment meter? I am aware that with a warrent they can "break in" and install but what state do they leave the property in?

Thanks for any help

TheGardener

Hi
I would guess that they have to stop collecting any debts from the date of the BR - once you are BR no one is allowed to collect a debt from you.
I owed a large winter bill (who didn't!) at the time of my BR, and I was so desperate to avoid a pre-payment meter I even made an extra payment by debit card a few days after my BR (I didn't realise I wasn't supposed to do that)to try and avoid one even though my DD was upto date.

However, week or so after my BR, the supplier wrote to me and said the OR had informed them about the BR - that the outstanding amount had been cleared - that they had closed my old account and set up a new one. I was to arrange a new DD from the day after my BR date. Plus the payment I had made a few days before would be credited to my new account (they are not allowed to claim it towards the debt as it was after BR date) so I was actually in credit!

I'm not sure if the energy companies credit check so switching after BR might not be a problem as you will technically not owe your current supplier anything.

Do you rent? if so they have to have the landlords permission to install a pre-pay meter.

adpod

Out of curiosity why don't you want a prepay meter?

I have one and I love it, infact I would never change to DD again.

I cant get into any debt, I can see how much im spending every day/week/month and its easier to spot how you can save money plus any spare money I have I can throw it into the meter.

And it helps you manage your money better, after all thats what being BR is really all about.

TheGardener

I appreciate some people like them and for some they really are a lifesaver. I absolutely agree they should be available to those who want them. For me however, with the cost of pre paid fuel up to 20% more expensive than standard credit meters - paying that much more out of what little I have is not helpful.:)

adpod

TheGardener wrote: »

I appreciate some people like them and for some they really are a lifesaver. I absolutely agree they should be available to those who want them. For me however, with the cost of pre paid fuel up to 20% more expensive than standard credit meters - paying that much more out of what little I have is not helpful.:)

Ahhh I see...I think it only costs me 3-4% extra. Which is worth it.

TheGardener

There is a good section here on MSE for anyone interested in prepayment meters and Martin does point out there are one or two situations where it might be worth having one.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity

angelic_enigma

TheGardener wrote: »

Do you rent? if so they have to have the landlords permission to install a pre-pay meter.

energy companies do not need to have the landlords permission to install prepayment meters as their contract is with the tenant not the landlord

also energy companies do credit check if you want a normal meter and you switch to them.

hope this helps

TheGardener

Sorry I want very clear. I didn't mean the energy company needed permission - but the tenant may. If the tenancy agreement says you need permission to change meters - then you do - or you risk breaching your tenancy and being evicted.