changing from monthly to pre paid metres?

[Deleted User]

I also have to say that moving from a house with credit meters (paid monthly by direct debit) and then to a house with prepayment meters added another third to what I was paying out for my utilities.

I changed them to credit meters. It was a lot of hassle but saved me a fortune. As has been mentioned, I pay by direct debit.., and although on limited income, much prefer it like this.

Also with prepayment meters.., its a nightmare if one week your money doesn't come through (particularly with the amount I was putting in to my metered black hole it seemed). You generally have a month to sort things out (til the next payment date) or longer, with a prepayment meter its days.

MysteryMe

Unless I was living on the poverty line I'd never consider having a pre paid meter installed. Can't see the point of them for anyone who is credit worthy and able to pay their bills. It's OK for the British Gas guy to say people have lower bills, mostly it's because they are scrimping on usage due to lack of money not lack of need.

originator

when I get my wages £40 goes in to cover me for the month,never had to go into the emergency fiver in all the 32 years I've been here,I don't scrimp or live on the poverty line,just like the convenience and not having money snatched out of my bank account,I decide what goes out and when.

MysteryMe

They already have already snatched your money long before it comes out of the account of someone paying by direct debit.


Obviously if you like to manage your finances as you have for the last 3 decades that's fine and is your choice.

ReadingTim

It's also worth noting that DD payments are the same amount, at the same time, every month. Yes, your usage is reviewed periodically, and yes there are price rises, but the payment amounts are more consistent than PP, where as well as price rises, you have seasonal fluctuation added in (ie you use more in the winter (heating etc) than in the summer.

For budgeting purposes, this consistency is useful, as well as the fact that, per unit, the cost is lower on DD, especially if you're also signed up to paperless billing.

[Deleted User]

And with a credit meter you can fix your tariff for up to 2017 (useful right now, I've saved a bundle with my previous fixed tariff as I can see now I am trying to change it to another one lol), or just get a lower tariff than the standard variable one supplied commonly with prepaid meters (although that might be changing).

If the OP really really wants to have a prepaid meter, its going to cost him/her but obviously that's their choice.

savingbee

thank you to the responses on this thread, very helpful.. will see how I get on once moving in. I understand it is more expensive but at the same time people manage their finances differently.

thanks again

ging84

meter exchanges from prepayment to credit are usually subsidised or paid for by the supplier. i'm not sure if they'll be prepared to do this the other way round.
If they are not you could be looking at £400-600 per meter

Billie-S

ging84 wrote: »

meter exchanges from prepayment to credit are usually subsidised or paid for by the supplier. i'm not sure if they'll be prepared to do this the other way round.
If they are not you could be looking at £400-600 per meter

I think SSE told my friend that if she wanted to switch from PP to credit meter, that it would cost £75 to change.. Not anywhere near £400-£600.

We have PP. When we moved into our new home they were already there. We intended to get them removed, but didn't get round to it.

After a month or two, we got used to it, and I would not have it any other way now. We spend £20 a month on electric and about £10 a month on gas in summer, and about £25-30 on electric in winter and about £40 a month on gas.

It's less somehow than our last home, by about 25-30%. I think it's because when you're paying for it in advance, and seeing it drop on the meter, you conserve it more. When it's on credit, you're less likely to do that.

You buy your petrol before usage, and your food and most other things. So I don't see this as any different. Many say you can save on various tariffs, by having a credit meter, but I have never experienced low bills with a credit meter, no matter 'what' tariff I was on. They just kept going up and up and up.

If I moved into a new home, I would change credit meters to PP. I can't see how having a PP meter would affect a house sale. If someone has a good credit record, which they would have if they got a mortgage, the meter can be switched often for nothing, if they're your existing supplier. BG do it for nothing if you're already a customer, and I am sure other energy suppliers would do too.

ging84

as i said pre payment to credit meter is subsidised by the supplier, credit meters are their preferred type
i am not sure they would offer the same subsidy for someone perfectly credit worthy to have a perfectly good meter removed and replaced with one which is much more expensive, much higher maintenance, and requires that they share a cut of all the energy paid for with the card top up company