Prepayment meters

suelyn

I have been lucky enough to buy my own house 3 months ago. The only thing is that it has prepayment meters in. These are with British gas. I asked to have credit meters installed at the beginning of October so British gas said they would need to do a credit check. I agreed. They said I didn't meet their criteria so declined to replace them and said I can try again in 60 days. I've got no outstanding energy debts and my credit score is very good according to Noddle. I've just reapplied today and again been told I don't meet the criteria!! I asked them what is the criteria....they couldn't/wouldn't tell me. I'm not happy as i've now got to wait another 60 days before I can reapply again. Any advice please?? :mad:

Norman_Castle

Change supplier. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity#switchometer

House_Martin

EDF are a good bet to switch to with a much more relaxed policy on credit history checks. Their prepay rates may be a little better than BGs but you won t be staying with them too long once the meters are exchanged.Its more important to get over to credit meters asap then you can really get the bills down to the lowest available.
Prepay rates are universally higher than credit meters despite the marginal lowering now from the standard variable rates.

Anthorn

suelyn wrote: »

I have been lucky enough to buy my own house 3 months ago. The only thing is that it has prepayment meters in. These are with British gas. I asked to have credit meters installed at the beginning of October so British gas said they would need to do a credit check. I agreed. They said I didn't meet their criteria so declined to replace them and said I can try again in 60 days. I've got no outstanding energy debts and my credit score is very good according to Noddle. I've just reapplied today and again been told I don't meet the criteria!! I asked them what is the criteria....they couldn't/wouldn't tell me. I'm not happy as i've now got to wait another 60 days before I can reapply again. Any advice please?? :mad:

Depends on your credit history. British Gas should tell you which CRAs they used so you can then check your credit history with that/those CRAs to see what's wrong. That's assuming you have an income which does not necessarily mean a job: Your income could be from a pension for example.

If you're stuck ask BG to fit prepayment smart meters and then as soon as you can switch. On the switch date BG will remotely reset the prepayment smart meters to credit mode. You then argue with your new supplier over credit or prepay.

But beware the possibility that you will only be able to get prepayment with your new supplier which necessitates fitting new meters due to them not being able to read the BG smart meters. Some suppliers charge for fitting a new meter. For example Scottish Power charge up to £30 per meter.

paragon909

Annoys me that energy companies to credit checks for these meters, But don't actually put the accounts on to the credit file to show as a positive thing.

SwanJon

paragon909 wrote: »

Annoys me that energy companies to credit checks for these meters, But don't actually put the accounts on to the credit file to show as a positive thing.

British Gas do (or at least did when I was there) - I think there's some kind of reciprocity involved - the more you give the more you get.