Moved into a flat with a prepayment meter - what do I do?

Sammmmmy195

I just moved into a flat in London and they have a prepayment gas and electricity metres installed, I believe they're with British gas and Edf. It's horrendously expensive (I don't know how much but we have had to top up 3 times in the last week or so). I'm desperate to swap to a cheaper provider and to pay by direct debit, but whenever I go to energy comparison sites it gives me other prepayment deals.

Essentially, I don't know how any of this works. Can any energy company remove my meters and install new ones? How can I find out who would be cheaper? Basically, what should I do?

Thanks

geekonthepc

The first question is whether you've bought or are renting your new place. If you've bought it, then you can skip this step. If you're renting it, you need to start by getting written, signed permission from your landlord to change the meter in the property. Your landlord has to agree as it is a physical change to the property.

Following that, I'd suggest you use MSE's Cheap Energy Club to start finding a good deal. Check dual fuel and individual deals. Try and get hold of some previous meter readings to work out how much you're consuming - your current meter should tell you this and may also tell you the current rate that you're paying - if not contact your current supplier.

Once you've found a deal and have written permission if necessary, you can contact your new supplier to organise the switch. There are certain rules... your new energy supplier will expect you to pass a credit check and not be in any significant arrears from previous energy arrangements, you may be required to pay a fee to have the old meter removed and new one fitted, and you will likely be asked to sign a minimum term (unless you go for a variable deal).

Your new supplier will be able to deal with the meters for you providing you have permission, although they may subcontract the job.

If all else fails and you run into issues such as your landlord failing to agree, you still have the right to switch supplier to another prepayment deal, which will at least save you some money. In reality, your landlord is very unlikely to disagree because many agree it makes the property look better if it isn't on prepayment for energy.

Lou_Kozade

You say you "believe they're with British Gas and Edf".... have you contacted those suppliers to get new top up keys? If not the previous occupants keys may have been set to reclaim a debt, which if you're using you are now paying.

SwanJon

As Lou says, first thing is to contact the existing suppliers to make sure they have an account for you, and you are only paying for your use.

Then look at comparison sites, and at MSE's guide to see if you can get the meter swapped for free http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity?_ga=1.99016856.762007707.1447143216#try.

You don't need your landlords permission to change the meter as the meter doesn't belong to them. However, if they make other changes at the same time (e.g. drill new holes in the wall) then you would.
You may need to arrange to get a prepayment meter put back in before you move out - this is the time to discuss it with the landlord, not while it is your home and you are responsible for paying the bills.

macman

PPM's cost the same as a credit meter on Standard tariff-which is what 70% of credit meter customers are still on. Switch to credit meters and you can access the cheaper fixed tariffs, but bear in mind that at an average of £60 per meter, you may not recover that saving in less than a year.