Which supplier can actually swap PAYG for Credit meters quickly?

NewLeaf1986

So we moved into a property a couple of months ago which has pre-payment meters for Gas and Electricity (card and key, not smart meters).

They were supplied by SSE beforehand and SSE weren't able to provide an ETA for exchanging the meters for credit meters.

We therefore switched to British Gas on the promise that once our supply is live with them they can arrange an engineer to swap out the meters.

The reality of the situation is quite different however, as they can't be reached over the phone (rediculous opening hours and an automated bot on the IVR that keeps sending us round in circles) and the online chat agents are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Which suppliers are actually capable of answering the phone, fulfilling a simple request, and swapping the meters out in a timely fashion?

I don't want cheap energy, I want competent staff. 

NewLeaf1986

Update: Utilita.

Fab. They actually schedule in a meter replacement appointment as part of the order process on their website.

If we find they're too pricey we can always switch again but we'll have the proper meters then. Magic. 

niktheguru

Yes you'll prob get it with utilita, but they tend to be quite expensive. Octopus may also help

NewLeaf1986

niktheguru said:

Yes you'll prob get it with utilita, but they tend to be quite expensive. Octopus may also help

I've checked the unit price for prepayment and pay-monthly providers in my area and they all sit around 19P/KWH for Electricity and 3.4P/KWH for Gas with @21P/Day standing charge.

There's anly about a 5% fluctuation between providers here if that... My concern was far more to do with quality customer service, transparancy over their meter switching process, and speed of turnaround time on switching out our meters.

Utilita were by a garden mile head and shoulders above the rest on all fronts. We have the meter replacements scheduled in for 22 June, 08:00~12:00.

Gerry1

NewLeaf1986 said:

niktheguru said:

Yes you'll prob get it with utilita, but they tend to be quite expensive. Octopus may also help

I've checked the unit price for prepayment and pay-monthly providers in my area and they all sit around 19P/KWH for Electricity and 3.4P/KWH for Gas with @21P/Day standing charge.

Sounds like you haven't done a whole of the market comparison.  Try again using Citizens Advice and 'Which? Switch', also checking whether separate suppliers are cheaper.

NewLeaf1986

Yeah, these suppliers estimates are wildly inaccurate.

I just put my details in to Avro for example, and despite their per-unit fees working out to be 10% cheaper than Utilita, they're estimating I'll save 50% on my energy bill, which is an outright lie.

So you're right, Utilita are probably about 10% more expensive than the cheapest possible provider in my area but I'm not looking to save 10%, I'm looking to be with a provider capable of swapping out these antiquated old key and card prepayment meters with something grown-ups from the 21st century use, and I'm more than happy to pay the 10% premium for a provider capable of doing this swiftly and professionally. 

My experiences with SSE and BG demonstrated a long string of reps happy to outright lie pre-sale and fail to deliver post-sale without a care in the world for rectifying the issues.

Five minutes on the Utilita website and I have a confirmed engineer appointment for replacing the meters. 

Sold. 

Gerry1

NewLeaf1986 said:

The cheapest electricity provider in my area is 17.99P/KWh and the most expensive is 19.8P/KWH.
I have done my research, thank you. If you would like to name a provider in the Bristol area that is cheaper I'm all ears.

Try these.

12.921p per kWh, Standing charge 12.00p per day
12.968p per kWh, Standing charge 20.18p per day
12.849p per kWh, Standing charge 25.44p per day
13.703p per kWh, Standing charge 21.00p per day
15.067p per kWh, Standing charge 24.52p per day
15.686p per kWh, Standing charge 24.05p per day

And umpteen more, until...
22.421p per kWh. Standing charge 35.38p per day.

So the cheapest is cheaper and the dearest is dearer.  Obviously you'd have to evaluate customer service, honesty, transparency, and upgrading meters.

NewLeaf1986

Those are just numbers without any information as to who the supplier is or what area they serve. Not all tarriffs are available at all geographical locations.

If you've got genuine asisstance offer please let me know the same of the supplier in the Bristol area who can provide electricity at 12.921P per KWH.

I'm sure I won't be the only one here eager to know!

NewLeaf1986

Oh, PFP energy.

That was hard to find! I'm suprised they don't market themselves better. We've been with them before. They refused to supply our new address when we moved as we didn't have smart meters or credit meters installed but weren't prepared to install them for us, hence we couldn't keep our supply with them.

Well, I might consider going back to them if they're that cheap... Once I've recovered from my grievance over their refusal to supply our new address and replace our meters when we moved. 

EDIT: Ohhhhh, its a variable tariff. Hmm. Here today, gone tomorrow type thing. 

Always preferred paying a slightly higher known quantity. 

Gerry1

All the prices are available in the Bristol area.

The first is Symbio, so no more needs to be said.  However, the third is Neon Reef.  I'm very happy with them, and so are many others if you read the forum thread, but obviously YMMV.

NewLeaf1986

Gerry1 said:

All the prices are available in the Bristol area.

The first is Symbio, so no more needs to be said.  However, the third is Neon Reef.  I'm very happy with them, and so are many others if you read the forum thread, but obviously YMMV.

Thank you Gerry1; I'll give it some thought. Bit of a sceptic over variable rates, I prefer a predictable known quantity even if it's higher.