BG PAYG. Advice on switching

wagtail

I know there`s advice on the site but I am still confused as to the best way to go about switching.
I have had PAYG meter for over 20 years. Been with BG for several years. Stayed with them because you could top up at home on laptop. I don`t owe BG any money. The meter was put in when my kids were small because I was struggling then.
Now 2 reasons for switching. They have just stopped the home top up service and I have had oil boiler taken out & Eco electric heating put in so my electric cost will go up a lot. 3 reasons if you add in the BG price rise.
I want the cheapest deal obviously, but not sure if I should get BG to put standard meter in, ask a new supplier if they will but which one? or get BG to change meter then look for a cheaper supplier?
Should it be a smart meter? BG have said on the top up website to ring them for a PAYG smart meter.
My credit rating is not great but I have no CCJs.
Any advice gladly taken.

mac.d

If your credit rating isn't great, EDF and Robin Hood are supposedly worth switching to, while BG are quite stringent. See this thread for a recent discussion: Credit check - switching from prepaid to regular.

Switch to them with your current meter, then request a switch to a regular meter. You might have no choice but for it to be a smart meter, if whoever you switch to is rolling them out in their area and you request a change of meter, that's what they'll give you.

Do a search in this forum for smart meters if that is any concern to you. Basically, they are still installing smart meters which won't work fully as smart meters if you switch to another supplier, if that's not a concern and you'd quite like an in home display unit (IHD) to keep an eye on your usage, go for it.