New owner with pre-payment meter issues

Tuareg

I found on purchasing my flat that I'm the only one in the block of 16 flats with a pre-payment meter. It appears that the previous owners had problems and a couple of weeks before they sold up the meters were changed. I move in and find both gas and electricity meters emergency credit maxed out.

I call British Gas (the supplier) to sort everything out and now its all fixed......... BUT.......

I asked them to remove the pre-payment meters and after doing a credit check they refused! To say I'm flabagasted not to mention angry would be an understatement. I have no loans, no credit card debt nor have I ever defaulted or anything.I have an above average salary with savings in the thousands.

I'm NOT going to vindicate British Gas's decision by giving them £000's worth of my business so want to move supplier. Never done this before so wondered if anyone can advise how to proceed?

Feel very strongly that British Gas do this BECAUSE they get away with it and nothing will change until they start losing business either pre or post pay.

SwanJon

You can switch with a prepayment meter in the same way as a billign meter, but you have fewer tariffs available.

Have a look through the MSE article:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity

t0rt0ise

I swapped to EDF who changed mine at no charge. I too failed BG's credit check for no good reason. I then assumed it was because I'd got them to change meters for me a few years ago and then moved away from them too soon. Just guessing though.

[Deleted User]

All suppliers should do credit history checks .Eon did one when I moved to them and I had credit meters.You can rant and rave all you like about how unfair it is but suppliers are losing absolute millions with people moving into accommodation with credit meters and stealing two years worth of energy before supplier wakes up with warrant and locksmith to force fit prepays.Your credit file is nt good enough for BG s liking so its either poor or you have nt yet proved that you repay loans or utility bills or council tax on time.Join the Electoral Register for that address.You may have the same refusal with other suppliers..Heres an example of how the free energy thieves work. An Eastern European young woman moved from * Penistone Rd Doncaster owing over £2k with EDF and moved two doors down as soon as force fit prepays appeared, to a new rental at number * Penistone Rd ( credit meters of course ) with Scot Power.Bailiffs were after her at number *.this is the usual routine .Last as long as possible not paying any bills, including council tax, then move on..and leave the rest of the honest people to pick up the tab for this blatant theft .Smart prepays are badly needed where they can pull the plug on theft like this.
To EDF bailiffs, if you want the thieving woman, she s two doors down to the left now being supplied for free by Scottish Power.I happen to read meters for both EDF and Scot Power in the same streets.This is so common now with all nationalities including UK nationals if they are transient rentals.They are quite happy to put a £400 pound bond in to the landlord, a similar bond should be deposited with energy suppliers.

CIS

.Your credit file is nt good enough for BG s liking so its either poor or you have nt yet proved that you repay loans or utility bills or council tax on time

A gas company wouldn't know about whether you're paying your council tax or not as it doesn't appear on a credit record.

t0rt0ise

My credit file is fine. When they failed me I was concerned and signed up with Experian to make sure there wasn't anything there that was odd. My rating was excellent. And I know they use Experian because the fact that I'd been a customer of theirs and that they had just done a search was listed.

EDF didn't do a credit check. EDF also *insisted* on changing the electricity meter the day I moved in because it was too high to reach safely. That was very useful.

I also passed a credit check with British Gas a few years ago.