prepaid to credit - is it as easy as it seems

april_hunt

Me and my husband moved into a property just over a year ago and have prepaid meters. I don't mind as such but now we've had smart meters fitted the start of the year i'm constantly watching. We spent around £30 on electric a month and dependent with gas £40-60. when we aren't in the gas gets switched off to save. To be quite honest i'm fed up of trying to save when we need to be keeping warm. I rang British gas and they quoted me 80-90 for each to move to credit which isn't saving us.
Any recommendations would be handy

Neil_Jones

As a general rule if you move to a credit meter you get access to a wider range of tariffs which could on their own save you money as opposed to prepayment. However you will probably have to pass a credit check for this.

For keeping warm, wearing extra clothing tends to not cost anything...

Gerry1

You may have spoken to the wrong person: according to MSE, British Gas don't charge you for switching to credit meters. Try again using email or live chat so that you have a record in case it's promised free of charge but you then get billed.

You may be able to switch to a supplier who will then change the meters free of charge, although they may require you to stay with them for a year.

If you don't need to be on pre-payment there's no point in putting up with the higher bills it brings.

[Deleted User]

British Gas can t support Secure Liberty meters as prepayment meters but they can use them fine in credit meter mode if you pass their credit history check.
Most suppliers have a credit history check before accepting credit meter customer.
Prepayment meter rates have now become more in line with credit meters due to capping .
Bulb s rates are the same for prepay or credit meters and would be my recommendation as one of the cheapest prepayment meter rates in the UK

Flt._Lt._Biggles

april_hunt wrote: »

Me and my husband moved into a property just over a year ago and have prepaid meters. I don't mind as such but now we've had smart meters fitted the start of the year i'm constantly watching. We spent around £30 on electric a month and dependent with gas £40-60. when we aren't in the gas gets switched off to save. To be quite honest i'm fed up of trying to save when we need to be keeping warm. I rang British gas and they quoted me 80-90 for each to move to credit which isn't saving us.
Any recommendations would be handy

Start here:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity/

april_hunt

I rang British gas and i passed the credit check it was to go onto monthly would be costing us double everything month on both which i dont understand how they can do this. I used uswitch this morning to check bulb will save us but we cant move as we have a smart meter and they don't accept these. The next one i think was eon and was us paying more than what we do now

Flt._Lt._Biggles

april_hunt wrote: »

I rang British gas and i passed the credit check it was to go onto monthly would be costing us double everything month on both which i dont understand how they can do this. I used uswitch this morning to check bulb will save us but we cant move as we have a smart meter and they don't accept these. The next one i think was eon and was us paying more than what we do now

There are usually a lot better offers, and certainly a greater range, available to those with credit meters.

So take up the offer of having credit meters.

Please reply here with details of your estimated annual consumption in kWh for each fuel supplied (your supplier can provide this to you), together with your supply region (or first part of your postcode if that is easier)

Unfortunately you still seem to be doing something wrong, and these details will allow someone to assist you further.

Robin9

april_hunt wrote: »

................We spent around £30 on electric a month and dependent with gas £40-60. ..............

These are very typical figures - as has been said credit meters will give you access to a wider range of tariffs.

Beware that many suppliers will ask for the first DD up front.

No idea where BG came up with double the cost figure.

Talldave

Even if the DD is initially set to a crazy amount, you will only have to pay for what you use and any overpayment refunded. The sooner you switch once in credit mode, the smaller the overpayment you'll be waiting for. Maybe wait until Christmas is out the way before kicking the process off?

april_hunt

I've done what you've put it into a comparison site and if we swap to eon (i think it was them) we will be paying £68 more a year that's based on what i've put in that were using.
Bulb is our best option but wont accept us because we have smart meters

I think like you all say get Christmas out the way and look into it more

Michaelw

april_hunt wrote: »

I rang British gas and i passed the credit check it was to go onto monthly would be costing us double everything month on both which i dont understand how they can do this. I used uswitch this morning to check bulb will save us but we cant move as we have a smart meter and they don't accept these. The next one i think was eon and was us paying more than what we do now

This is happened to me with British Gas and I had real problems having the smart meters reverted to prepayment mode,its very expensive.If you switch away the meters will be set to credit mode and EDF quotes with smart credit meters and Bulb will do the same and ask to pay by direct debit,this is very risky to someone who is on prepayment,bills can soar away daily and can lead to debt's hence leading to a repayment mode smart meter to recover.With prepayment you are a vulnerable customer,liable to quick meter battery repairs/replacement and more protection to whinge.