Removing pay as you go meter

tarka11

Has anyone come across British Gas policy of refusing to swap a pay as you go meter? Our son recently bought a flat in London which has a pay as you go meter in it from the previous owner. He failed the B Gas credit check - presumably because he has only been working a year and has never paid utility bills before. He has, however, been sufficiently creditworthy to take out a mortgage! B Gas refused to accept a deposit in advance and says that no Direct Debit and normal meter possible as "!it would put our son at risk"!!! This is the B Gas policy. Anyone any ideas on how to get round this? It seems like Catch 22 to me..

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

tarka11 wrote: »

Has anyone come across British Gas policy of refusing to swap a pay as you go meter? Our son recently bought a flat in London which has a pay as you go meter in it from the previous owner. He failed the B Gas credit check - presumably because he has only been working a year and has never paid utility bills before. He has, however, been sufficiently creditworthy to take out a mortgage! B Gas refused to accept a deposit in advance and says that no Direct Debit and normal meter possible as "!it would put our son at risk"!!! This is the B Gas policy. Anyone any ideas on how to get round this? It seems like Catch 22 to me..

It seems unusual if he can obtain a mortgage that BG won't change a PPM. That being said, credit isn't a right, and each company will have their own policy.

He can change to a different supplier, and try again. edf (and BG!) are the suppliers that will change PPM's to credit meters for free.

sniggings

yes I came across this, the new rule is they will do a credit check IF you have not been with them for 12 months, if you have been with them for 12 months and you keep your account in order, I guess with a PPM it means not using the emergency credit, then they will not do a credit check, but just go by how you have been with them.

Your son could try switching, some will take you on with a PPM and remove it if you switch to them.

He could try ringing back and asking them to do the check again if he was with them before moving to the new place, they could have past records of him.

Also check why he failed, I doubt it was because of the reason you say, it's more likely because he was not on the electoral register, if not tell him to register, wait a couple of months for it to be filed, then run the crdit check again, or as said, just wait the 12 months with a clean record.

He may have to remind the call center of the no need for a credit check if been a customer for 12 month rule as getting someone clued up on the phone can be hit and miss.