Moving in to 1st home, but I don't want the existing prepay meters. Options?

carguy143

Hi all.
As per the title I've just bought my first house, however the existing gas and electric meters are of the prepay type and I certainly don't want those. Do I have to deal with the existing prepay supplier or can I just approach any supplier and change to them, having the prepay meters removed in the process?

One of the reasons I ask is because I've read certain companies ask for a deposit of 6 months of estimated bills and a £60 meter change fee. I'm not even sure who the prepay meters are with.

Thanks.

Rik.

lvf

Well, you would first need to find out who the existing supplier is, as each company has their own policies regarding switching prepay to credit.

The supplier may:
* request that the prepay meters remain in the property
* charge a fee for switching over
* only change on the condition that a successful credit check is carried out
* only change if you have been a customer with the company for a period of time (normally 28 days)

It's all about finding out the existing supplier then contact them to find their policy regarding a switch.

You can find your supplier from:
http://www.ukpower.co.uk/who-supplies-my-gas-and-electricity

You will need to contact the existing supplier to register your details before a switch of meters or supplier can be initiated.

[Deleted User]

There may be a key / card in or around the meters for crediting the meters indicating the supplier.Phone them requesting new key for electric, card for gas and request credit meters. Of course they will do a credit history check before they remove them.

carguy143

Thanks for the responses. I'm hoping all goes through on the contract soon and believe me, those meters will be the first things to hopefully be changed!

Just to clarify, If the current supplier won't remove the meters, is it possible to get another one to do so?

Thanks.

Rik.

GingerBob_3

Unfortunately they have got you over a barrel if you move into a property that already has pre-pay meters. It's not too bad if you have a supplier at your previous address who you want to stay with, but for first time buyers it's not good. Of course come the revolution when most properties with have "smart meters" everyone who moves will initially be on pre-pay.

matelodave

The first thing to have to do is register with the existing supplier and ensure that you set yourself up with your own pre-pay keys otherwise you could end up paying the previous owners arrears.

You can ask about getting the meters changed - some suppliers will swap for free, some will charge and some might want a deposit.

I'm not sure if it's easier to swap with the existing supplier or to change supplier and then swap. You might have to do a bit of phoning to find out.

When we moved five years ago it was done for free - we swapped from pre-pay to credit, then swapped tariffs (E7 to single rate as we'd disposed of the nsh). It was all done within about six weeks with the existing supplier. It might have helped because the supplier in the new place was the same as we'd had in our previous home.

We then swapped suppliers to get a better tariff

SwanJon

MSE article on Prepayment meters:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity

If the property has been empty for a while before you moved in there may be some standing charge owed on the meter. As this was before you bought the house it is not yours to pay so your (existing) supplier will arrange to pay back anything you pay out and/or remove what's left.

Were you told who the suppliers were as part of the sale? First step as others have mentioned is to give them a call and get a clean slate in your name.
If not, pick a supplier at random and call them, they will be able to find out for you (especially if they think they are getting a sale). Wait and switch through a cashback site though.

carguy143

Thanks. The sale hasn't fully completed yet so no keys. Hopefully that will change soon.

GingerBob_3

See this thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5243210

EDF may be worth a punt. Register with the current supplier first and just go with pre-pay initially. then initiate a switch to EDF asap.

IMPORTANT: when you register with the current supplier don't provide your previous address or any other personal info like DoB (and don't give this to EDF either, if at all possible).

carguy143

GingerBob wrote: »

IMPORTANT: when you register with the current supplier don't provide your previous address or any other personal info like DoB (and don't give this to EDF either, if at all possible).

Thanks.

Any reason I shouldn't give them this information? I thought my previous address would be needed for credit checking etc.

GingerBob_3

carguy143 wrote: »

Thanks.

Any reason I shouldn't give them this information? I thought my previous address would be needed for credit checking etc.

That's why you shouldn't give it. The current supplier of the property has no business doing a credit check if you intend to switch, and it's pre-pay anyway. Make it difficult for them to report you to the CRAs. The reason for this is that the more companies that report you, the greater chance there is of a mistake. And mistakes on the CRAs files can be extremely costly.

For the new supplier, just sign up by letter if you can (minimum personal information supplied), then if it's EDF, swap to credit meters as soon as you can.