Switching from Pre-Payment to Credit Meter - Advice needed please

Laura_a

I have bought a property around 5 months ago and as I have been renovating, I haven't yet fully moved in. The property had a pre-payment meter and at first this wasn't too much of an issue due to me not 'fully' living there. However, I now want to change it to a credit meter (the meter installed can only be used as a pre-payment). It is a pain to top up and is a lot easier having a DD. I contacted the energy supplier who ran a credit check and informed me that I failed this (no explanation) and therefore I can't change the meter at this time. I have never had any issues with any payments/DDs and I have had a mortgage approved previously. The supplier is a pain to get hold of on the phone and haven't replied to any of my emails for a further explanation.

Is there anyway I can take this further as I don't want to be stuck with this method of paying more for gas/electric?

Gerry1

Try EDF.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity/#can

HornetSaver

@Gerry1 I think you've just found me the company I'll switch to once British Gas have been despatched.

@Laura_a who are the energy company out of interest? It might help to mention them as some of them do lurk on these forums from time to time.

Talldave

@Laura_a are you on the electoral roll at the new address and has that been passed to the credit reference agencies?  I've found this can take some time. 

Laura_a

HornetSaver said:

@Gerry1 I think you've just found me the company I'll switch to once British Gas have been despatched.

@Laura_a who are the energy company out of interest? It might help to mention them as some of them do lurk on these forums from time to time.

It is Ecotricity - I'd never heard of them before

Laura_a

Talldave said:

@Laura_a are you on the electoral roll at the new address and has that been passed to the credit reference agencies?  I've found this can take some time. 

Yes I believe so as I voted a couple of months ago at my new address. It just think it's strange as I set up my Water Utility DD with no problems

PennineAcute

I was on prepay with OVO (now Boost).  Checking on the EDF sign up page, my meter was on the database as smart prepay.  Tried a couple of supplies for pay monthly, but they said I could not because it was prepay.
I then contacted Scottish Power, who asked who I was with and said OVO.  I was told I had a prepay meter.  I then said (which was not a lie, as I had only been with OVO for four months) I have just recently had a new meter put in.  He overrode the database and accepted me.  I then asked for smart meters to be installed, to save coming across that problem again.
If the prepay meter is smart, there can be a chance you do not need to change meters.