Utilita prepayment meter switch

simon_dmp

Hi all,

Has anybody have experience moving from utilta prepayment to another supplier on a monthly direct debit. The tariff I am on is quite expensive but after reading up it seems it can be difficult to move from prepayment with utilta. What do I need to do?

Thanks simon

FullForce

simon_dmp wrote: »

Hi all,

Has anybody have experience moving from utilta prepayment to another supplier on a monthly direct debit. The tariff I am on is quite expensive but after reading up it seems it can be difficult to move from prepayment with utilta. What do I need to do?

Thanks simon

It's slightly more complicated, as Utilita use an unusual type of pre-payment meter that is not supported in pre-payment mode by most other suppliers (I think Ovo can support them)

But it's not too complicated as Utilita should put the meter into credit mode on the day you switch from them.

As with any switch, it is the gaining supplier that is responsible for managing the switch, so simply contact your supplier of choice and start the switch process

One issue to bear in mind is the question as to why do you have a PPM at present. It may be a new supplier will not grant you credit. In which case, as soon as you switch to them, they will have to arrange to have the Utilita meter (which will by that time be in credit mode) changed to a pre-payment meter.

House_Martin

Utilita use the Secure Liberty smart meters . Utilita and Ovo were the first to use these in smart prepayment meter mode years before the likes of BG got around to it .
Secure meters can also be used in smart Eco 7, something that seems to have defeated British Gas for some reason and their Landis Gyr preferred meters.
More suppliers are using them nowadays including one of the big 6 Eon.
The smaller suppliers will prefer these meters because they are quite cheap to buy compared to Landis Gyr and Elster and Siemens
Bulb, Green Energy, Utility warehouse and I think First Utility now use them, . There will most likely be many other small suppliers using them .
Very popular meter over in Northern Ireland where 41% of electricity customers are using the smart keypad sytem using Secure Liberty meters.

simon_dmp

FullForce wrote: »

It's slightly more complicated, as Utilita use an unusual type of pre-payment meter that is not supported in pre-payment mode by most other suppliers (I think Ovo can support them)

But it's not too complicated as Utilita should put the meter into credit mode on the day you switch from them.

As with any switch, it is the gaining supplier that is responsible for managing the switch, so simply contact your supplier of choice and start the switch process

One issue to bear in mind is the question as to why do you have a PPM at present. It may be a new supplier will not grant you credit. In which case, as soon as you switch to them, they will have to arrange to have the Utilita meter (which will by that time be in credit mode) changed to a pre-payment meter.

Thanks for the reply. When i moved into my flat thats the supplier and meter that was in. After looking into energy prices i find i can save quite a bit by switching

PennineAcute

You can save a fortune, and if your meters were first installed by Utilita, you are on a winner, as they are listed on the National Database as credit meters.

If your credit rating is not perfect, you may struggle with some companies, as they run a credit check.

From the big-6, I know that Scottish Power do not run a credit check. I have helped many Utilita customers get onto pay monthly. One thing I would advise, is to do it all online. The reason being is that if you phone, sometimes, like Scottish Power, they will ask you your tariff from your previous company. As Utilita only do PAYG, you can then end up being refused, as the computer will think you have a PAYG meter.

House_Martin

PennineAcute wrote: »

You can save a fortune, and if your meters were first installed by Utilita, you are on a winner, as they are listed on the National Database as credit meters.

If your credit rating is not perfect, you may struggle with some companies, as they run a credit check.

From the big-6, I know that Scottish Power do not run a credit check. I have helped many Utilita customers get onto pay monthly. One thing I would advise, is to do it all online. The reason being is that if you phone, sometimes, like Scottish Power, they will ask you your tariff from your previous company. As Utilita only do PAYG, you can then end up being refused, as the computer will think you have a PAYG meter.

Utilita do credit fixed tariffs and also Eco 7 in both payg and credit mode.
I think maybe you mean that EDF are the supplier who does not routinely credit check new customers.

PennineAcute

Unless it has changed since last Jan, Scottish Power did not run a credit check on me.

Re, my comment on PAYG. One person I know of got refused with SP, as they said they were with Utilita. They then did it online and got accepted.