Pre-payment gas meter;...new abode.

Biggus_Dickus

My bezzie mate just got the keys to his new home;...the house was an ex-rental property and has an analogue leccy meter and a pre-payment gas meter.

He’s still living in his Mobile Home at the moment and will continue to live in his Mobile Home until he gets his new abode re-decorated/improved etc.

The gas-supply company is ScottishPower and, at this stage, he’s assuming that the leccy is also supplied by ScottishPower.

He’d like to get rid of the prepay meter and have new meters fitted asap. He’s not averse to Smart meters, btw.

Does having a pre-pay meter cause complications if he’s looking for new meters and a new (and cheaper!) energy supply company?  Neither he, nor I have any experience of pre-pay meters. 

As ever, all replies, help, guidance greatly appreciated.

 

 

  

jbuchanangb

First thing to do is read the meters, take photos and contact the energy supplier, Scottish Power. He is responsible for any used from the day he got the keys, so he has to open an account with them. Once that is done he can engage with them on questions about changing meters.

MWT

Getting new key for the pre-pay meter is essential as if he is using a key left by the previous owner he may well be paying off their debts as well..

Re changing to a credit meter, he can try with SP if it is with them but they are not the fastest at doing meter changes so he may need to switch elsewhere then change.

If he switches, avoid British Gas, they have a habit of refusing to change credit meters until you've got a few months good behaviour on the credit meter then when you ask again they deny a change claiming problems with your the credit rating.

I'd probably avoid BG anyway as there are many cheaper options out there.

Gerry1

His DNO can tell him who supplies him.

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

Biggus_Dickus

MWT said:

Getting new key for the pre-pay meter is essential as if he is using a key left by the previous owner he may well be paying off their debts as well..

Re changing to a credit meter, he can try with SP if it is with them but they are not the fastest at doing meter changes so he may need to switch elsewhere then change.

If he switches, avoid British Gas, they have a habit of refusing to change credit meters until you've got a few months good behaviour on the credit meter then when you ask again they deny a change claiming problems with your the credit rating.

I'd probably avoid BG anyway as there are many cheaper options out there.

Many thanks for the reply;

He has the previous occupiers ‘key’ for the gas meter.

I assumed (perhaps wrongly!) that a pre-payment gas meter means that one can’t run up a debt and the meter must always be kept topped up otherwise it stopped supplying gas;...is that not how they work?

  

Gerry1

You can run up a debt if you don't top up but the standing charge eats up your credit, the power goes off and your account balance goes more and more negative.  Can be a problem if you don't top up before going on a long summer holiday, you can return to find the freezer and your frozen food have to be replaced !

Biggus_Dickus

MWT said:

Getting new key for the pre-pay meter is essential as if he is using a key left by the previous owner he may well be paying off their debts as well..

Re changing to a credit meter, he can try with SP if it is with them but they are not the fastest at doing meter changes so he may need to switch elsewhere then change.

If he switches, avoid British Gas, they have a habit of refusing to change credit meters until you've got a few months good behaviour on the credit meter then when you ask again they deny a change claiming problems with your the credit rating.

I'd probably avoid BG anyway as there are many cheaper options out there.

What is the procedure for getting a new ‘key’ ?

macman

Contact the supplier. Many people who have PPM's installed are only doing so because the provider has imposed them due to debts run up on the credit meter and payment plans breached, so the PPM will be programmed to pay off debt at  a set weekly rate. In which case, you might feed the meter £10, but it might take £2 of that for debt repayment. 
Which is why you must not use the existing key or card.

Biggus_Dickus

macman said:

Contact the supplier. Many people who have PPM's installed are only doing so because the provider has imposed them due to debts run up on the credit meter and payment plans breached, so the PPM will be programmed to pay off debt at  a set weekly rate. In which case, you might feed the meter £10, but it might take £2 of that for debt repayment. 
Which is why you must not use the existing key or card.

Thanks for that;...I'll let him know right away.

macman

He can certainly use it for a few days while you await the replacement, but he may be subsidising the previous user if he does.