Switching Complications

coleisgone

Hi,

I have been given a new house by the local authority and I am finding the ability to get gas/elec sorted an absolute minefield. I haven't moved into the house as yet and plan on doing so in about a 1 week time

The gas is provided by SSE and its a standard non prepayment meter which I presume the previous tenant paid by DD/Standing Order. The electric is a prepayment meter and is provided by E.ON

Its my first house so I have no existing suppliers to switch to my new house. I have trawled comparison websites trying to find best prices doing a bit of shopping around but i don't get an accurate best price because of the prepayment meter. Lots of the independent companies don't show on the lists because of this prepayment meter plus i don't get offered dual fuel tariffs either

I spoke to E.ON and they said they have to register me as a customer, run a credit check and if i pass they will remove the meter, otherwise the meter will remain.

I may not wish to have E.ON as a supplier or become their customer, I may wish to go with someone else who will also want to credit check me. I'm finding it a tad unfair that the credit checks are mounting up or i get saddled with a prepayment meter and/or an unfavorable tariff/higher standing charge that was never mine to start with.

Is there a way around this?

Many thanks

modsandmockers

"I spoke to E.ON and they said they have to register me as a customer, run a credit check and if i pass they will remove the meter, otherwise the meter will remain"

I would go with the flow, and sign up with e.on - if you pass their credit check, you will almost certainly pass any other energy supplier's credit check. But try to make sure that e.on will not try to tie you in to a lengthy contract before agreeing to change the meter. There are several 'levels' of credit check, and they don't necessarily count against you. Even if they do, it's only for a limited time.

It might also be worth talking to the local authority housing department (unlikely!)

Nada666

If you think it is unfair then reject the property and find somewhere else to live.

t0rt0ise

You have to register with Eon anyway as they are the current supplier. So might as well do the credit check too. They do it while you wait on the phone. If you fail then change suppliers. EDF changed mine without a credit check. Once the meter is changed then you can choose to change supplier or not, just as you like.


It is unfair, I've just spent 5 months paying a high price for gas because it's taken so long to get the meter changed so that I can get on to a cheap tariff. But nothing I can do as I want to live here.

macman

Eon are correct. As above, you will be in a deemed contract with Eon from day, one, you can't switch until you first register with them, because otherwise you have no-one to switch from and your switch will probably be blocked. If you specify Standard tariff you can then commence a switch without penalty.

Nada666

t0rt0ise wrote: »

You have to register with Eon anyway as they are the current supplier. So might as well do the credit check too. They do it while you wait on the phone. If you fail then change suppliers. EDF changed mine without a credit check. Once the meter is changed then you can choose to change supplier or not, just as you like.


It is unfair, I've just spent 5 months paying a high price for gas because it's taken so long to get the meter changed so that I can get on to a cheap tariff. But nothing I can do as I want to live here.

The OP has moved into a housing association/council home. A single month's rent savings will more than compensate any difference in tariff prices for an entire winter.

GingerBob_3

You need to register with E.on as the incumbent supplier, but don't provide them with personally identifiable information such as full name, DoB and importantly, previous address. Then they won't be able to carry out a credit check. The best way is to write to them with just your surname and first initial telling them you're taking over the supply.


Then - move to EDF. As far as I know, they will change your meter without a credit check.

naedanger

Nada666 wrote: »

The OP has moved into a housing association/council home. A single month's rent savings will more than compensate any difference in tariff prices for an entire winter.

Even if the OP is saving on their rent why should that, of itself, have any bearing on their ability to get a good fuel deal?

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

coleisgone wrote: »

Hi,

I have been given a new house by the local authority and I am finding the ability to get gas/elec sorted an absolute minefield. I haven't moved into the house as yet and plan on doing so in about a 1 week time

The gas is provided by SSE and its a standard non prepayment meter which I presume the previous tenant paid by DD/Standing Order. The electric is a prepayment meter and is provided by E.ON

Its my first house so I have no existing suppliers to switch to my new house. I have trawled comparison websites trying to find best prices doing a bit of shopping around but i don't get an accurate best price because of the prepayment meter. Lots of the independent companies don't show on the lists because of this prepayment meter plus i don't get offered dual fuel tariffs either

I spoke to E.ON and they said they have to register me as a customer, run a credit check and if i pass they will remove the meter, otherwise the meter will remain.

I may not wish to have E.ON as a supplier or become their customer, I may wish to go with someone else who will also want to credit check me. I'm finding it a tad unfair that the credit checks are mounting up or i get saddled with a prepayment meter and/or an unfavorable tariff/higher standing charge that was never mine to start with.

Is there a way around this?

Many thanks

Hi coleisgone

Hope the move goes well and you’re soon settled in your new home. As macman says, as the existing supplier, we’ll continue to provide electricity from day one. If you haven’t already, please let us have details of when you took over responsibility. We can make sure an account is set up correctly. You can do this online if you prefer using the 'Moving Home' form.

As you say, provided you pass a credit check, we’ll be happy to change the prepayment meter. There’s no charge for this and we can start going down this route fairly quickly. Best to talk to one of our specialist Prepayment teams. Contact details are on our website and in the Welcome Pack we send once you’ve registered as a customer.

Our prepayment unit prices are virtually the same as the standard tariff (Energy Plan) but you miss out on lower standing charges for paying with a Monthly Direct Debit. There’s also only the one prepayment tariff available rather than the wider choice with a credit meter. There’s no restrictions or tie-ins with the prepayment tariff, though, leaving you free to change supplier without penalty.

Hope this is of interest coleisgone and best wishes for the move.

Malc