How to get meter changed from pre-pay to normal?

BucketFull

Hi all.

I have read the following thread and am a little worried about experiencing the same thing the original poster is experiencing.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6365116/moving-home-and-suppliers/p1

I too hope to be moving into a house soon which was previously rented out by the owner and has a pre-payment system for both electricity and gas. I do not know if they are smart meters or not. I would like to have a 'normal' meter, however, unlike the poster of the thread above, I don't have that much of a credit history. Any advice on how I should go about getting a normal meter and in which order, would be very much appreciated! Do I ask the owner to have the meter changed by the current company first (as the owner will no doubt not have any issues with credit rating, etc.), or do I contact the companies I wish to change to, hoping that they will agree to doing it due to gaining a new customer, or should I do something else altogether?

Thank you.

Astria

I'd say the first step is seeing what the current meters are - if they are smart meters then they are very easy to change over (typically a remote reconfiguration, no need for a visit), but if they are the old type the easiest way might be to ask if you can have a smart meter fitted. Unless you are after a fixed deal there might be a very limited number of companies that will actually want you as a customer and it might be better off staying with the supplier you'll automatically get when you move in.

BucketFull

Thanks for the advice.

I will find out if they are smart meters or not. What would be my options if they are not smart meters (unlikely), but I prefer to have non-smart meters? I was just researching yesterday on how to changeover from a smart meter to a non-smart meter and it doesn't really sound like any company would be willing to do that except in special circumstances.

Astria said:

there might be a very limited number of companies that will actually want you as a customer.

Why? Don't they all want customers??

Astria said:

it might be better off staying with the supplier you'll automatically get when you move in.

I don't think that would be a good idea as it is a company that specialises in PAYG and so, very few of their customers are on non-PAYG, thus, their normal non-PAYG prices would be more than other companies' and I don't want to be stuck on PAYG, which is more expensive than non-PAYG as the last thing I want in the current climate is pay even more!

EssexHebridean

You know you have no choice but to sign up with the existing supplier when you move in, yes? In fact, as soon as you switch a light on you will be a customer of theirs. I believe it’s a few weeks before you can look to switch elsewhere.

on the meter side of things, I don’t think you’ll find a company that will be prepared to fit anything but a smart meter now I’m afraid. 

pochase

Why? Don't they all want customers??

No they don't want customers they are losing money on, and that is the case at the moment as they are not allowed to charge you more than the April cap on SVT.

I don't think that would be a good idea as it is a company that specialises in PAYG and so, very few of their customers are on non-PAYG, thus, their normal non-PAYG prices would be more than other companies' and I don't want to be stuck on PAYG, which is more expensive than non-PAYG as the last thing I want in the current climate is pay even more!

The prepaid SVT is even slightly cheaper for the unit rates in most regions. Standing charges will be about 5p for electricity and 10p for gas more expensive than for credit customers. Even if the supplier is a prepaid specialist (Utilitia?), their direct debit SVT will be the same cost as almost all other suppliers.

You want to have a smart meter as they can be just reprogrammed from prepaid to credit. An old prepaid meter requires a meter change.

As @EssexHebridean mentioned you have no choice who is your supplier, it is whoever currently supplies the house/flat. You are automatically on their deemed tariff/SVT. Just call them and give them the meter reading. Don't take a fixed tariff with them, you are already their customer.

After 21 days you can change to another supplier, but currently only EDF and Octopus might consider you on SVT and only if you call them. Others might accept you on a fixed tariff, but they will be to expensive,

wild666

When I moved into my flat 11 years ago prepayment meters were installed so the first thing I did was ask to have them taken out and credit meters fitted. They asked a few questions and I said I had credit meters at a previous address in Leeds so they checked on the previous address and accepted me to have them changed to credit meters. It took about 3 weeks before they came out but it was a simple change of the old prepayment for credit meters. In 2011 there was no smart meter requirement so I got the credit meters installed.

BucketFull

Well, my knowledge is very limited at the moment. I do not own the house yet, so I'm assuming the current owner can still have the meters changed for when I do move in??

They have been described as 'card' meters, but not sure if they are smart meters, have re-asked.

EssexHebridean said:

I believe it’s a few weeks before you can look to switch elsewhere.

I take it 3 weeks/21 days is a rule of how long you have to wait before you can request a meter change. Wasn't aware of this.
Unfortunately, I don't have any previous electricity/gas accounts as I've always lived with family.

So SVT is the cheapest option at the moment?

Alnat1

SVT is cheapest for now but it's summer and you'll be using much less energy.

In October the cap will be raised again and the SVT will go up at just the time your energy use does, as heating is needed. There are some fixes available but you have to take the higher rates now in the hope it will work out cheaper after the price hike. Nobody knows exactly how much gas and electric will go up so it's all a gamble.

pochase

21 days you have to wait to change suppliers. I am not aware of any rules when you can ask for a meter change.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

'card' meters have not been installed by suppliers for many years now.

Perhaps landlord had private meters fitted.

BucketFull

Hi. Thanks for all the helpful replies and advice. I think I understand things a little better now.

I hope 'private' meters isn't a problem to the process!