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Switching from smart meter with bad credit history

Previously I've had bad credit, even though I'm all straightened up now there is still many things affecting my chance to change my energy company for at least a few years. I'm currently with British gas on a smart payg meter. I can't find any other company thats support a smart payg meter without getting it changed back to a credit meter. The issue with changing it back is, british gas do a credit check (which I didn't pass) They do have the option of putting it into idle(dumb) mode. But it comes at a hefty cost, around £200. The only option I'm hoping might work is changing the name on my account to my partner who is in the process of moving in, he would pass the credit check to switch back to a credit meter but I'm unsure how and if they let you switch names on the account. Any advice or experience would be very much appreciated 

Lauren 

Comments

  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,732 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Are you paying off any debt with your payg?  Is this Gas and Electric ?
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Posts: 10,849 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Apparently EDF don't do a credit check.
  • Ectophile
    Ectophile Posts: 7,907 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    You can't normally switch the name on a bill (with the exception of bereavement).  But there's nothing to stop one person leaving and another signing up as the new bill payer.
    If it sticks, force it.
    If it breaks, well it wasn't working right anyway.
  • matelodave
    matelodave Posts: 9,057 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    AFAIK the way to do it is to close your account and pay off any debts (as if you were moving out) and then getting your partner to open a new account (as if he/she were moving in). There's no easy way to transfer an existing account to another person.
    Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
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