Likelihood of getting on DD rather than Pre paid?

bighairyferret

We are currently on pre paid meters with BG but may have the possibility of moving next june/July into my mother's home as she is going travelling (lucky her). My wife and I do not have great credit records and both owe energy companies money (I owe BG £1900 & she owes eon £2k+). So for last 3yrs at current property we have been on meters. My mother has said that 1 conditionn of us moving is we do not change to pre paid meters. I am currently trying to pay my debts off and my credit score is currently poor. What's the likelihood I'll be able to get a normal tariff with any energy company? Do they still "credit check" you?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Yes, the largest energy companies still credit check you.

Are you paying rent? If not, and no formal tenancy arrangement is in place, then the easiest thing by far would be for your mother to keep the energy bills in her name, and you repay her the energy monies.

bighairyferret

We will be paying her rent and hopefully by time we move then a debt or two of mine should be repaid. I have a credit building credit card that should show I have some capital. I was wondering if I should try and apply to setup a DD anyway? But what you have suggested is an option we have discussed.

[Deleted User]

Anyone who thinks smart meters are not a good idea, please see the above post..He owes £1900, she owes £2k.With smart meters these people could not have got to this absurd stage. The meters would have been automatically switched to prepay mode around the £300 debt level, avoiding a problem for all, including the debtors.
Eon will credit check you thats a certainty. the others are still stupid enough not to

bighairyferret

Thanks for the advice (sic). Not exactly helpful. Looking for help not preaching.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

bighairyferret wrote: »

We are currently on pre paid meters with BG but may have the possibility of moving next june/July into my mother's home as she is going travelling (lucky her). My wife and I do not have great credit records and both owe energy companies money (I owe BG £1900 & she owes eon £2k+). So for last 3yrs at current property we have been on meters. My mother has said that 1 conditionn of us moving is we do not change to pre paid meters. I am currently trying to pay my debts off and my credit score is currently poor. What's the likelihood I'll be able to get a normal tariff with any energy company? Do they still "credit check" you?

Hi bighairyferret

As sacsquacco says, we always ask to do a credit check when customers apply to join us on a credit meter. This is an external check through a credit reference agency like Equifax. We look at information shared by other companies as well as, in your wife's case, any internal payment records we might have. This is to make sure we offer a suitable payment arrangement.

Given what you say about your circumstances, I suspect we'll ask to put in prepayment meters as a condition of you joining. An alternative might be to pay a security deposit. Usually, this is £200 for each fuel. This is returned at the end of the contract or, if after 12 months, there's no debt outstanding and there's been no debt collection activity in the last 6 months. I'm speculating, though. Each case is different and looked at based on the individual circumstances.

With the money your wife owes us, how is this being paid? Does she have a pay plan? If she does, we've specialist debt advisors who'll be happy to review the case to see if there's a better arrangement than the one she's on. Not saying there is but might be worth a chat if it makes life a bit easier in the long run.

I doubt this is what you want to hear bighairyferret but thought it best to be upfront as to what you might expect if you were to apply to switch to us.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

sacsquacco wrote: »

Eon will credit check you thats a certainty. the others are still stupid enough not to

Spot on sacsquacco. We ask to credit check customers applying to join us on credit meters. As above, this is through an external credit reference agency like Equifax. Checks do, though, differ a little where there's vulnerability involved. Each case is, though, judged on the individual circumstances.

Malc