Removal of a prepayment Meter

footyguy

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

Change back to the 'area' supplier i.e. the electric distribution supplier. They should maintain / change the meter for free. ...

Not true.

As you can see from SwanJon's link, 3 of the big 5 (ignoring British Gas as they didn't originally supply electricity) do apply a charge for a customer requested, non-mandatory meter change.

macman

The SC does not cover an unnecessary meter change. It covers maintenance and repair of the network, meter reading and billing costs.

System

footyguy wrote: »

There is no charge for mandatory change of meter (e.g. end of life), but many suppliers do charge where it is at the request of customer.

Those that don't, as listed in the link provided by SwanJon, are essentially expecting all their customers to cover the meter switch requests of a few.

As macman says, you can use the tenant's security deposit to cover the cost of returning the property back to the same condition it was originally let in (fair wear and tear excepted) - this would include the cost of changing the meter back if you are so charged.

Why should they be allowed to charge again for what should already have been paid for via the standing charge ?

BG's definition :

A standing charge helps cover an energy supplier's fixed costs including the provision of a meter and being connected to the network.

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-advice/Tariffs-add-ons/All-about-tariffs/how-our-tariffs-work/What-is-a-standing-charge.html

System

macman wrote: »

The SC does not cover an unnecessary meter change. It covers maintenance and repair of the network, meter reading and billing costs.

Who should decide what is necessary and what isn't, and why ?

footyguy

Gold_Anaconda wrote: »

Why should they be allowed to charge again for what should already have been paid for via the standing charge ?

BG's definition :

A standing charge helps cover an energy supplier's fixed costs including the provision of a meter and being connected to the network.

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-advice/Tariffs-add-ons/All-about-tariffs/how-our-tariffs-work/What-is-a-standing-charge.html

That says the provision of a meter - that means the ongoing rental of the meter not the installation or a change of meter as many times as the customer may ask.

Having said that BG, as per the link provided earlier, BG do not charge for such a change, but they probably will have a limit how many times they'll do so...

So following your line of questions, who decides how many times a customer can get a change the meter without charge, and why? I mean 20-30p should get you how many meter changes???

How does a supplier know what to allow for i.e. how many times their customers will request a change of meter, when setting their standard charge?

BlueEyedGirl

macman wrote: »

The SC does not cover an unnecessary meter change. It covers maintenance and repair of the network, meter reading and billing costs.

Wow a lot has changed then since I last worked for one supplier... although it was 10 years ago! :rotfl:

System

footyguy wrote: »

That says the provision of a meter - that means the ongoing rental of the meter not the installation or a change of meter as many times as the customer may ask.

Having said that BG, as per the link provided earlier, BG do not charge for such a change, but they probably will have a limit how many times they'll do so...

So following your line of questions, who decides how many times a customer can get a change the meter without charge, and why? I mean 20-30p should get you how many meter changes???

How does a supplier know what to allow for i.e. how many times their customers will request a change of meter, when setting their standard charge?

Actually this isn't correct. I've since found out the standing charge does not have anything to do with renting the meter, it's the cost of the supplier's overheads which they supplement with the standing charge. The standing charge supposidly covers the cost of meter changes, removals and installations, as well as their overheads and general maintenance, but NOTHING to do with renting the meter, NOTHING at all.

macman

That doesn't alter the fact that your suggestion that suppliers should change meters on demand, as often as demanded, without charge, is ludicrous. A lot of people would then demand a meter switch twice a year to switch between E7 and single rate as the heating season started and ended.
Who do you think would end up paying for these meter changes, if not the consumer?

carguy143

British Gas changed my meters over to credit meters for free when I moved in here last month. The guy tried everything he could to put me off by telling me that prepay is no more expensive than credit, there's a tough credit check I will most likely not pass and it would leave a big black mark on my credit file. I may be new to energy but I'm not wet behind the ears when it comes to credit checks so I pushed ahead anyway and now have two credit payment smart meters (gas and electric).