SSE want to charge to replace prepaid meter

emmdee57

Hi. Hope you guys can assist. I moved into this rented property approximately 5 years ago. At the time the electricity bills were addressed to the landlord who didn't pass them on to us. Having had a visit from an SSE debt collector one evening we told them we hadn't received any bills but we (my wife & I) had no qualms paying bills we had incured. The following day a green note was pushed through the door telling us to pay the outstanding amount within 7 days or it would go to a prepayment meter, however the very next day whilst we were at work a prepayment meter was installed. Many calls got us nowhere so we left it. Now I want to change to quarterly bills they want to charge me £52 to remove the meter! For their error! Any idea how to get them to drop the charge? I still have their green note and my own notes from my calls to them.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Emmdee

PS: I reminded SSE at the time of their green letter stating 7 days but to no avail.

macman

It's your job to register for the utilities when you take up the tenancy, not the LL's. You failed to do this, or query the lack of bills for 5 years?
I would be more concerned about the potential 5 years back-billing than the meter change cost.
I don't understand why the supplier did not install a PPM years ago though?

[Deleted User]

When you moved in did immediately register with the supplier with a start reading so all electric usage would then be billed to you from your start reading onwards ?. All previous usage would be billed to either previous occupier and the landlord if the previous occupier had done the right thing and put in an end reading.Putting in a start reading absolves you from any claims of usage before you moved in. This is all pretty basic stuff and when it does nt get done it ends up with a mess like yours.

Nada666

If you had challenged the meter installation at the time you may have had a case to have it removed. But as you have waited five years then that means you have 'accepted' the goods and have been using it.

As such the change to prepayment was in your name and you should pay to change it back.

Don't fret, though - the return on investment for the £52 should be not much more than one winter for most households. (6% of £800 is £48) Even quicker if you change supplier to the cheapest separate deals on the market.

I would just arrange the change today to make sure you are covered before this winter starts.

You can then, if you like, engage in long (written only) debate and demands to the supplier to argue that it should be refunded - but resign yourself to do that after the fact rather than missing this winter.

macman

OP, on re-reading this, I'm unclear with the timescale here. How long ago was the PPM installed? If it was 4-5 years ago, rather than recently (which was what I thought when I first posted), then I agree with the above comments; you have no chance of getting it changed FOC by SSE. Another supplier might change it FOC in return for your business, you've nothing to lose by asking.

Bark01

Not all suppliers charge for meter exchanges, so if you've paid off the debt on the PPM then you can change suppliers and then ask the new supplier to change it free of charge.

I know EDF don't charge for a straight forward meter swap. They also have a blue tariff available for PPM, so swap to that then ask for a meter exchange.

emmdee57

Thanks guys. I'll pay to get it changed then argue the point about the cost and their error of installing the PPM via the Chief Exec afterwards.

giraffe69

And why are you not considering changing supplier because
a. You aren't happy with their performance
b. you may be able to get a better tariff with a bit of research and perhaps a comparison site
c. If you pick the right supplier you can save £52

macman

I repeat-how long ago was the PPM installed?