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New home automatically w British Gas Standard Variable by default, should I change to Pay As You Go?

I'm disabled and just moved to a new bungalow, automatically with British Gas for both gas and elec Standard Variable tariff by default. I checked on the MSE Cheap Energy Club and via my British Gas account re changing tariff and both said to stay where I am. But I'd seen on MSE that Pre-Payment Meters (Pay As You Go with British Gas) enables you to stockpile your energy before 1st April price increase. I spoke to British Gas and they said on their Pay As You Go tariff there's no limit on pre-paying for Gas and a maximum of £255.49 for electricity. On the phone British Gas said I can change to Pay As You Go but online when logged into my account it said there were no options to change tariff???

Its boggling my brain when I look at standing charges per day and kwph now and what they will change to from 1st April. Has anyone any advice on any of the above and what the best thing to do is in terms of changing tariff and or supplier???

Thanks in advance!

Comments

  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Posts: 10,848 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 4 March 2022 at 12:23PM
    No, it wouldn't work if you already have a smart meter, and you wouldn't be offered an old-style PAYG meter, let alone by the end of March.
    See Martin's latest video about what to do.
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 18,542 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 4 March 2022 at 12:23PM
    The answer is no, sorry.
    • If you currently have a normal meter, switching to pre-pay will mean a meter swap. You're unlikely to get one before the rates change and even if you do, it's likely to be a smart meter, which brings me on to ...
    • If you have a smart meter, the pre-payment trick doesn't work.
    On top of that, pre-payment is more expensive than paying a credit meter by Direct Debit.

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