British Gas Credit Check

Mr_Ben

I completed my first house purchase in December 2014 on a property with BG prepayment meters installed. I've just contacted BG to apply for credit meters and have failed the check.

The mortgage is the only credit I have, other than a student loan from 1997 and a Bank of Scotland credit card I obtained in October 2014. I also have a Clarity card I took abroad for cash withdrawals in August 2014, which was paid off straight away.

BG advised the failure may be due to the short length of time I've been in the property, although I gave them previous addresses. I'm surprised that I failed the check given I have recently obtained a mortgage, and a little peeved to be stuck with the prepay tariff (and stuck with BG :mad:).

Does anyone have any advice? Is it due to my time at the address, or could I have failed because I have so little credit history?

Many Thanks

DCFC79

Have you checked your credit history with Experian and Noddle ?

JKSandy

When I moved into a house with a prepay I was stuck with it for 6 months.

KateLndn

This happened to me in 2012, sometimes they do not authorise the switch if the previous occupier had debts or to try and keep your custom. I got around them by switching suppliers, as there is nothing they can do to stop you. I suggest researching best rates and suppliers in your area and just explain that you have meters but don't want to continue using them. They will contact BG on your behalf to sort it all out. Good luck.

PETIE

British Gas can be very funny, my wife asked for credit meters, they declined, she has a perfect credit history, so went to First utility, they accepted, no installation charges for change of meter either.

chanz4

best thing todo is go to the supplier that supplied your last home

Mr_Ben

DCFC79 wrote: »

Have you checked your credit history with Experian and Noddle ?

Yes, I signed up for the free Experian trial and have a “poor” score of 624 . I guess that explains the BG decision. I have 3 negative factors (age of accounts, recent credit card and no settled accounts) and 0 positive factors.

JKSandy wrote: »

When I moved into a house with a prepay I was stuck with it for 6 months.

Thanks, good to know I’m not the only one :beer:.

KateLndn wrote: »

This happened to me in 2012, sometimes they do not authorise the switch if the previous occupier had debts or to try and keep your custom. I got around them by switching suppliers, as there is nothing they can do to stop you. I suggest researching best rates and suppliers in your area and just explain that you have meters but don't want to continue using them. They will contact BG on your behalf to sort it all out. Good luck.

Thanks, I like your thinking :T.

PETIE wrote: »

British Gas can be very funny, my wife asked for credit meters, they declined, she has a perfect credit history, so went to First utility, they accepted, no installation charges for change of meter either.

Thanks for the advice, I’ll try shopping around :T.

chanz4 wrote: »

best thing todo is go to the supplier that supplied your last home

Thanks, we didn’t part on the best terms but I’ll consider this. It took 3 months and several complaints to get my £500 refund from their overcharges :mad:.