Moved into a house with large gas debt on meter

TheRizza

I've recently moved into my first house. The house was empty from september 2014 and tenanted before that. I got the keys at the end of december but it was a bigger than i thought renovation project so I've only just moved in.

I topped up gas for the first time and had a look at the meter, I know I should of done this before but as it was pre pay I thought if I didn't use it nothing could happen and as I wasn't using gas I never thought about it, topped up and used electric and it was fine... anyway turns out theres a debt on the meter of £450 under "gd remaining".

Spoke to EDF today and they said they asked or some readings and photos but not too sure what will happen, anybody had something similar happen and what was the outcome? any advice?

Thanks

NICHOLAS_2

It's not your debt and they wouldn't expect you to pay it. They owe you some money now because they will have taken some of your £10 or all of it.

Also, while you are conversing with them ask to go on the cheapest tariff.

[Deleted User]

You must have used the debtors card, you need a new one from EDF.They should be asking for proof of tenancy. No best tariff for prepays, you re stuck on their standard/variable tariff which is about the highest.

TheRizza

What I got from my conversation with them today was there is a charge of 26p per day you are in debt and i'm at least liable for that from the day I took ownership of the property.

I'm expecting a phone call tomorrow and will hopefully know more and talk about other tariffs.

I'm going to get off prepay and probably change provider when this is sorted anyway, and yeah they take 70% of each top up for debt repayment.

TheRizza

yeah I did just used the card that was in there and they have asked for proof of ownership, they didn't mention getting me a new card though.

xHannahx

sacsquacco wrote: »

You must have used the debtors card, you need a new one from EDF.They should be asking for proof of tenancy. No best tariff for prepays, you re stuck on their standard/variable tariff which is about the highest.

Ecotricity have their moral pricing where pre pay get the same tariff as DD customers. For us they worked out a lot Cheaper,
Every supplier pretty much has one tariff for pay as you go so it's finding the cheapest.
Ecotricity don't normally show on price comparison sites,

[Deleted User]

TheRizza wrote: »

What I got from my conversation with them today was there is a charge of 26p per day you are in debt and i'm at least liable for that from the day I took ownership of the property.

I'm expecting a phone call tomorrow and will hopefully know more and talk about other tariffs.

I'm going to get off prepay and probably change provider when this is sorted anyway, and yeah they take 70% of each top up for debt repayment.

we all pay standing charges and prepays are exactly the same as credit meters, usually anything between 15 to 30 p a day per meter. All prepays are the same price as that suppliers standard/variable tariff with credit meters.
Yes, get the prepays removed as soon as possible ( credit checks are applied ) and join the fun of getting the best one year fixed tariff which can be 25% cheaper.
Today I checked an Ecotricity electric prepay meters tariff and it was pretty bad at 15.4 p a kwhr ! and a standing charge of 69 p a week..not good for average or high user. I pay 8.7 p kwrh and 24 p a day with Sainsburys Energy

TheRizza

Thanks, so is the £450 debt showing something I shouldn't be worried about?

[Deleted User]

TheRizza wrote: »

Thanks, so is the £450 debt showing something I shouldn't be worried about?

No, but you need a new card from EDF.They are one of the better suppliers and hopefully they will exchange your money sucking prepayment meters for free. I would nt advise switching suppliers as their price blue + tariffs are excellent.British Gas usually switch prepays for free but other suppliers may charge a hefty fee. Scottish Power are charging up to £430 to exchange the prepays

Nada666

xHannahx wrote: »

Ecotricity have their moral pricing where pre pay get the same tariff as DD customers. For us they worked out a lot Cheaper,
Every supplier pretty much has one tariff for pay as you go so it's finding the cheapest.
Ecotricity don't normally show on price comparison sites,

Ecotricity do appear on price comparison sites.

The higher price of prepayment tariffs is not sleight of hand - it reflects (still only some and not all) of the higher costs.

I fail to see what is remotely moral about charging very poor customers who pay their bills on time a lot more money to subsidise non-payers and those who choose to unnecessarily use a far more expensive metering and billing system. Why should poor people on a very tight budget have their freedom to pay less on a cheaper tariff removed?

naedanger

Nada666 wrote: »

Ecotricity do appear on price comparison sites.

The higher price of prepayment tariffs is not sleight of hand - it reflects (still only some and not all) of the higher costs.

I fail to see what is remotely moral about charging very poor customers who pay their bills on time a lot more money to subsidise non-payers and those who choose to unnecessarily use a far more expensive metering and billing system. Why should poor people have their freedom to pay less removed?

I agree in principle that very poor customers should not have to pay more money to subsidise non payers. However I am not sure how this can be achieved. One way might be to ensure that those on prepayment meters (who are more likely to be poorer than those on a credit meter) don't bear any of the losses from non payers.

I do wonder if those pre-payment customers who pay for their usage end up subsidising the non payers more than customers on credit meters. (This could happen if the suppliers lump all pre-payment customers into one category and expect that category, as a whole, to cover all the losses from its customers.)