Removing a pre-pay meter - HELP!

jrusso

I have just bought and moved into a flat which has a pre-payment meter. I want it out. I seem to be going through power cards like water.

I am currently with Scottish Power and it's costing about £30 p/m which considering I have no electrical appliances other than my cooker and a radio and energy saving bulbs in every room, seems a lot.

I asked scottish power for a new meter but they want £100+ to do it.

Is there another way? Can't I just sign up for a new tariff with a credit meter on energyhelpline.co.uk?

Someone help, I can't get anything coherent from the call centres.

Thanks in advance!

tripled

I take it they want £100 as you have failed the credit check. You would get this back after 12 months provided you paid your bills on time. However if you are not prepared to do this, you need to find a provider that will not credit check you. Best bet is to phone around. I can tell you now BG will credit check, so you can miss them off your list.

I wouldn't advise signing up for "a new tariff with a credit meter on energyhelpline.co.uk", the meter won't change itself, so you could end up with your new company not sending you a payment card, as they think you have a credit meter, and sending you bills for the power you have used, whilst you are still paying the old provider on their payment card who isn't actually supplying the electricity any more. Which would be a complete mess and a nightmare to resolve.

In the mean time, make sure the meter is set correctly, ie that it is at the correct tariff and standing charge (if applicable) and that there is no recovery rate on the meter.

jrusso

tripled wrote: »

I take it they want £100 as you have failed the credit check. You would get this back after 12 months provided you paid your bills on time. However if you are not prepared to do this, you need to find a provider that will not credit check you. Best bet is to phone around. I can tell you now BG will credit check, so you can miss them off your list.

I wouldn't advise signing up for "a new tariff with a credit meter on energyhelpline.co.uk", the meter won't change itself, so you could end up with your new company not sending you a payment card, as they think you have a credit meter, and sending you bills for the power you have used, whilst you are still paying the old provider on their payment card who isn't actually supplying the electricity any more. Which would be a complete mess and a nightmare to resolve.

In the mean time, make sure the meter is set correctly, ie that it is at the correct tariff and standing charge (if applicable) and that there is no recovery rate on the meter.

I wish Scottish Power would do a credit check. They have said that they will charge £100 to anyone who is not a prior customer. I asked them to do a credit check and they said that they 'don't work that way'.

The whole thing is stupid!

tripled

In which case, provided yhou have a reasonable score, (which if you had a mortgage to buy your flat then you probably do) then most suppliers should change your meter without a problem. However some have stipulations about how long you have to be with them first (such as they won't change it for 6 months), so check before you switch!

There is nothing to stop you changing to one supplier, getting the meter changed, waiting a month or so for all the databases to update then switching again to a better deal.

Terrylw1

Npower generally don't...but you have to make it clear that any debt accrued for the meetr being fitted was ont down to you as they have a 12 month rule applied to the debtor. Although, through incompetance they then try and hold a new good customer to it...

bambammy

Hi jrusso

I hope you don't mind me adding to your post.

I moved into my house almost 2 years ago, shortly before Christmas. The previous tenants had bad debt letters galore coming threw the posting daily, and also gas and electric payments meters. Due to the festivities, I found it a drama in itself, just to sort out previous accounts, to the new accounts. I then continued to and was able to switch the electricity with no problem. ( Saving £30 a month ) But the gas, ( Scottish Gas ) that's been a real struggle.

I've tried to phone them, send them recorded delivery letters etc but still to no avail. I've filled out the credit check application form also, and still nothing. I have a mortgage and a BTL property and reasonable credit score.

This will be my third winter coming in this 4 bedroom house, and at £40 a week to heat it, I'm really need to switch suppliers and rid of the pre-payment meter in a hope to a reduction in my gas.

Any advice/guidance would be very much appreciated. Anyone have the contact details of the independant body?

Terrylw1

bambammy wrote: »

Hi jrusso

I hope you don't mind me adding to your post.

I moved into my house almost 2 years ago, shortly before Christmas. The previous tenants had bad debt letters galore coming threw the posting daily, and also gas and electric payments meters. Due to the festivities, I found it a drama in itself, just to sort out previous accounts, to the new accounts. I then continued to and was able to switch the electricity with no problem. ( Saving £30 a month ) But the gas, ( Scottish Gas ) that's been a real struggle.

I've tried to phone them, send them recorded delivery letters etc but still to no avail. I've filled out the credit check application form also, and still nothing. I have a mortgage and a BTL property and reasonable credit score.

This will be my third winter coming in this 4 bedroom house, and at £40 a week to heat it, I'm really need to switch suppliers and rid of the pre-payment meter in a hope to a reduction in my gas.

Any advice/guidance would be very much appreciated. Anyone have the contact details of the independant body?

Hi,

Energywatch is the place to go if you need the regulator to pursue a complaint for you. Their details should be on the back of your bill.

From my experience with some suppliers, they usually want a PP meter to stay in for 12 months even if you are not the defaulter. However, they cannot judge you based on the previous tenant anyway and by argueing this, they should back down.

Just the credit check then. Maybe it's worth complaining to them and sending a copy to Energywatch. EW will then contact them for you which they have a timeframe to resolve it by.

Good luck...