DD coating more than prepayment

PennineAcute

Your smart meter would just become dumb, as in you would have to return to give monthly readings.

Talldave

danielc9 wrote: »

My plan was to move however due to the smart metres I have and apparently no other supplier is able to use the ones British Gas has installed.

Who told you that?

Even if it's a first generation smart meter that other suppliers can't read remotely, you can still read it and provide readings to any supplier. If it saves money it's worth reading one number once a month.

danielc9

I couldn’t even move over at all with bulb and then when I tried to move to boost they needed to install a new metre.

“Thanks Daniel, I've cancelled that switch for you now.

It's true that we would've needed to exchange your BG meters and fitted our own. BG meters don't work with any other supplier, so this is normal.

Hopefully you'll consider us next time.

Tim”

That is a copy of a message I got form Boost on Twitter.

Also a copy of confirmation from BG

“1/2 It won't stop you from transferring Daniel. Unless you have the latest Smart Meter installed then it won't transfer with another supplier. None of the big 6 have the technology to do this at the moment. ”

I wouldn’t mind reading a metre to save money.
However I can’t guarantee a day off and it could take me months to be able to get a day off due to the ridiculous issues of getting AL at work.

Michaelw

danielc9 wrote: »

I’m glad it’s not just me then @Michaelw

Was yours BG also?
It seemed a better option and now starting to think this is actually a worst of option.
When you say watch your credit report has something awful happened to yours? I really don’t need something awful happening as we’re looking to buy in the next 6months

Yes it is British Gas.My credit report didn't get affected as I managed to get the gas arrears paid which was around £70 which built up quickly,I lost the credit that was on the meter before the smart meter mode change too.

Theres very little difference these days in prepayment with Ebico working out more expensive and Robin Hood saving around £8 a year over British Gas.See what your paying is far better these days rather then erroneous direct debits.

danielc9

Michaelw wrote: »

Yes it is British Gas.My credit report didn't get affected as I managed to get the gas arrears paid which was around £70 which built up quickly,I lost the credit that was on the meter before the smart meter mode change too.

Theres very little difference these days in prepayment with Ebico working out more expensive and Robin Hood saving around £8 a year over British Gas.See what your paying is far better these days rather then erroneous direct debits.

Luckily I was in high credit on both gas and electric before moving over so I’m hoping that shouldn’t be an issue.
I’m going to talk to my partner and then look at biting the bullet & paying the £40 exit fees per fuel and go back to prepayment.

Talldave

danielc9 wrote: »

I couldn’t even move over at all with bulb and then when I tried to move to boost they needed to install a new metre.

“Thanks Daniel, I've cancelled that switch for you now.

It's true that we would've needed to exchange your BG meters and fitted our own. BG meters don't work with any other supplier, so this is normal.

Hopefully you'll consider us next time.

Tim”

That is a copy of a message I got form Boost on Twitter.

Also a copy of confirmation from BG

“1/2 It won't stop you from transferring Daniel. Unless you have the latest Smart Meter installed then it won't transfer with another supplier. None of the big 6 have the technology to do this at the moment. ”

I wouldn’t mind reading a metre to save money.
However I can’t guarantee a day off and it could take me months to be able to get a day off due to the ridiculous issues of getting AL at work.

Ok, maybe others can advise, but I think you're being fed crap. A smart meter that can't talk to a supplier is still equivalent to an old fashioned meter you can read. So no time off needed to switch.

Your DD tariff is cheaper that's a fact. The problem with direct debit is that most suppliers fix payments over 12 months equally so you end up overpaying in summer and using up that credit in winter. If your estimate of consumption isn't accurate things can look even worse. Make sure all bills are using actual readings.

As someone else said, the DD gas price could be bettered, just find a supplier who understands meters!

Talldave

danielc9 wrote: »

Luckily I was in high credit on both gas and electric before moving over so I’m hoping that shouldn’t be an issue.
I’m going to talk to my partner and then look at biting the bullet & paying the £40 exit fees per fuel and go back to prepayment.

That's crazy. You will pay more, plus £80 for nothing.

Takmon

danielc9 wrote: »

Hi
Tried searching but can’t find anything.

Has anyone moved from a prepayment metre to a Dd which is meant to save you more and it costs more?

We had prepayment for 2.5yrs and finally made the switch to DD everyone saying it cheaper and BG told me would beneficially every month to look at switching. Finally made the switch and the prices they have were same as what I was topping up and always was left in credit.
Using the same amount of energy and still have smart metre so can see.
I’m out most the day at work partner works from home and we already knew what was spending.
Had my first bill gas is 12£ more and electric a whopping 37.76£ more than what I paid.

Has this happened to anyone else?
I’m considering paying the 80£ exit fee and going back to paygo if this doesn’t iron it self out from my next bill.

Thanks.

Before you switched from prepayment to a normal tariff surely you compared the unit rates and standing charges of both tariffs and worked out if it was cheaper based on your usage?

It sound like you just went onto some random tariff with exit fees not knowing if it's cheaper or not and now without even considering other tariffs you just want to randomly switch back to prepayment because you seem to think it's cheaper.

You really need to sit down and work this all out because your just throwing £80 down the drain.

PennineAcute

Your smart metres will work with any supplier on Direct Debit (although if they are SMET 1 meters, you will have to give monthly readings).. Just move to another company and pay by direct debit. There are plenty out there cheaper than British Gas (prepay or Direct Debit).

Michaelw

PennineAcute wrote: »

At those direct debit prices, I would be looking at moving. Much more competitive tariffs around.

The problem is the credit report and affordability of unexpected high bills/hefty direct debits.My gas price was around £12 a month more on credit mode also.while there might be cheaper suppliers the service record needs to be checked also and their track history.Prepayment is the place to be,its all topped up on line today and automatic with British Gas.At least they haven't been preaching the tackling of fuel poverty and are the same price as in some cases cheaper then ethical companies.

https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/media/3112/dcc-smets1-installation-migration-guide-for-industry-v10.pdf

It apears from above that the Landis&Gyr meters won't be starting to adopt until mid december 19 lasting one year and are the last manufacturer except Secure which isn't mentioned.