Removing Prepayment Meters

xirokx

Hi Peeps,

My partner and I recently moved into a new flat. After receiving help from fellow forum members we contacted energyhelpline and were advised of cheap electricity suppliers..

Currently we are with powergen, previous occupant of the flat had bad credit and therefore we think powergen installed a prepayment meter...

Trouble is in order to make saving on the electricity bill we want to come off the meter and switch supplier...However so far we have been told by powergen we have to wait 1 yr then they will credit check us and then we pay £50 for removal of the meter...

This to me is unfair because neither my partner or I have bad credit...

We just want it removed "free of charge" or just changed over to direct debit so we can then go with "scottish power" who will say us just under £80 a yr...

We called scottish power then also wanted paying to remove it...

How can we get this meter removed free of charge?

Please help, its really frustating especially when energy helpline told us it would take at least 6 - 8 weeks to switch supplier...

Please help

thanks in advance...

welldone_2

Hi
We moved to new property had EDF energy pre pay gas meter installed by previous owner.
Called EDF and they changed the pre-pay meter to usual credit type and NO CHARGE.Perhaps the energywatch web site might be of help.

ic

I had no trouble getting the gas and electricity card meters at my house switched out for standard credit meters - I was with Southern Electric. I was however an existing customer, having been with them for 14 months in my previous place, so they knew I was reliable.

tripled

Your best bet is to contact the suppliers and ask their policies. Some don't have a minimum period but will credit vet, others make you wait, while some may change it without a credit vet or wait.

We could do with collating this information really, so if anyone does ring around post the results!

BG will credit vet but there is no minimum term before you can have it changed
From what welldone said EDF will change it straight away too, he didn't mention whether they carry out a credit check.
Powergen make you wait (unless you own your property) and credit check.

So just nPower, Scottish and Southern, Ebico & Scottish Power to go!

mprice1988

Scottish Hydro, SWALEC, Atlantic and Southern Electric offer no charge to change a PPM but you would have to sign up to them and then get the meter changed once the supplier has been taken over.

xirokx

thanks guys...

i opted for atlantic , takes 4 - 6 weeks to switch over to online direct debit payments and they will remove the pre payment and replace it with another meter for free

thanks alot

Crystaltipps_2

To clarify Powergen's policy: If you rent you need to wait 12 months before they will remove the meter. If you own, you don't need to wait. They will credit check you and if that comes out ok, they will ask you to pay £50 to cover the cost of removing the meter. They may also ask you to pay a security deposit or pay by DD. If you are a customer of Powergen at a house that doesn't have a PPM and pay well, and then move to a property that does have one, they wont credit check you and they wont charge you to swop it.

SwanJon

Addition on British Gas.
If they have no history of you, they'll credit vet you, but if you don't have a history (e.g. not lived in uk recently) or get a lower score, they'll ask for a security deposit, not as good, but at least you can start getting the better rates. As above though, won't happen until you join.

Why do you have to tell Powergen if you own the house? If you pay the bills why does it matter? Anyone tried avoiding the question?

Cactus_Jack

Does anyone know how much nPower charge to remove a PP meters, if anything? Thanks.

Cardew

Most companies do not charge to install credit(normal) meters although they need to be confident that the account holder will not be a credit risk.

However I have heard of some who try for payment and others who want a returnable deposit.

diamonds

Scot Hydro Elec - they asked me for a £250 deposit 4yrs ago as property moved into had a SHE pre"yay"ment* meter, 10 months ago sick of prepayment overcharges I called & SHE charged me £0.00 deposit to go dry meter & now monthly spend is 1/3 cheaper via another supplier...was £45 now £30

*YAY - as in we are ripping you off ............
" we dont care if your on a lower income or have never been due us a penny in arrears if you want a dry meter a £250 deposit so we can make interest on that £250 as we lose out giving you a dry meter as you pay over the odds on our other tarrif's for regular customers as your preyayment, thankyou for continuing to support SHE even though you may want to leave we are going to make it as hard as possible for you to do so, again let us thankyou for being a loyal SHE customer, we value your custom even more when you dont value us as your chosen supplier "

on a sideline when THEY fitted the new meter THEY in error put in the new NATIONAL GRID prepayment type which is not tied to SHE and can change to any prepayment supplier, needless to say im glad OFGEM obviously pushed for this & its a first i have seen a regulatory body DO some good

anyhow dry metered a week later & never looked back........