Pre pay smart meter, what if I want to change to credit in future?

Viberduo

I have been wanting to get a credit meter for a while but my credit score isnt that great(had ID theft a few years ago) anyway my supplier is installing a smart meter which is better for me in some ways i.e I get a £5 credit free, have £10 emergency instead of £5 and can top up online.

However I wondered should I want to go the credit route in the future or if my friend moves in with me and gets an account in his name is it simple? As in would a new meter have to get installed or since its a smart meter they can just do something electronically?

On the same note, if we did change to credit and were late paying one month could they just switch off the gas and electric supply electronically?

Andy_WSM

Viberduo wrote: »

On the same note, if we did change to credit and were late paying one month could they just switch off the gas and electric supply electronically?

Very possibly - but as importantly, you risk wrecking your / your mates credit scores paying late.

Viberduo

It was more if my friend lost his job and was skint so paid it a week or two late as a one off rather than anything as I may not be in a position to pay it myself.

misterbarlow

usually a smart paygo mtr can just be programmed remotely to become a normal smart mtr...

Bark01

Basically no one other than your supplier can tell you. Not all smart meters are created equal some can some can't.

Hedgehog99

Fisrt, I should say I don't have a smart meter, but I have read: The suppliers claim that one advantage of smart meters is that you can switch between credit and pre-payment metering. There seem to be some problems for some meters though, so check what meter is being installed and whether you can switch payment mode and supplier.
There's some worrying stuff about smart meters online. However, the question about whether they can shut off your supply has always been the case in a way - the Winter of Discontent & the seventies' powercuts were not optional powercuts.