switch and change meter at same time?

thingymajig0

Hi folks, newbie to the forums so apologies if this has already been asked! I receive Martin's weekly email and it always annoys me these cheap dual fuel deals for those on direct debit.
I rang up BG today to ask about changing to credit meter, they asked why did i want to change as BG tariffs are the same whether pre pay or on DD?? I have prepayment for both Gas and electric probably spend roughly £100 month between them, and they claimed all i would save would be about £40 year so i thought why bother?? Seems untrue looking at the collective switching deals available?

So i wondered if anyone had been on a prepayment meter, changed suppliers and at the same time they changed the meters for them?
Many thanks

footyguy

thingymajig0 wrote: »

Hi folks, newbie to the forums so apologies if this has already been asked! I receive Martin's weekly email and it always annoys me these cheap dual fuel deals for those on direct debit.
I rang up BG today to ask about changing to credit meter, they asked why did i want to change as BG tariffs are the same whether pre pay or on DD?? I have prepayment for both Gas and electric probably spend roughly £100 month between them, and they claimed all i would save would be about £40 year so i thought why bother?? Seems untrue looking at the collective switching deals available?

So i wondered if anyone had been on a prepayment meter, changed suppliers and at the same time they changed the meters for them?
Many thanks

Really??? :huh:

If so, how come BG is currently offering the best dual fuel deal according to the the MSE Big Switch 4, yet no one manages to beat the best pre-payment tariffs?

If BG are correct, perhaps everyone applying for the BG/MSE Big Switch 4 dual fuel tariff should switch to PPMs and start saving money with another supplier?

I suggest BG (or perhaps what you thought BG said) is wrong. A quick check of any comparison site will soon confirm this.

Btw, welcome to MSE :hello:

Yes I have had BG replace a PPM with a credit meter in the past.
The general policy is that the energy supplier is responsible for changing the meter. If you cancel the supply (from that supplier) before the meter is changed, then expect any meter change ordered to also be cancelled.

So make sure you will be staying with the supplier long enough to get the meter changed which is usually 2-4 weeks.
The trouble you will have is that you cannot apply for the BG Big Switch 4 tariff if you have a PPM (or if you do, it will probably be cancelled due to an incompatible meter) and the Big Switch offerings are time limited.

thingymajig0

Thanks footyguy yes they definitely said to me by supposedly charge the same for prepayment as normal meters?! The woman even went on to say how they didn't think prepay customers should be penalised as they pay for gas as they get it where as credit meters have extra paperwork. I wasn't convinced either!! I said can you check my tariff see if I'm on the best then for prepay and she said I was hmmmmn think might have to look at my options cheers anyway

macman

PPM's cost the same as Standard tariff-normally that is the most expensive. So their info was ambiguous, to say the least.

thingymajig0

Thanks Macman that makes sense so they werent lying, just failed to tell me there were better offers but not on PPM! :mad: