Advice On Self-Disconnection Of Traditional Prepaid Meter

fjs85

I am leaving my flat for almost a month over Christmas and New Year. Curious about turning everything in the property off and letting my meters run out while away.

What will happen when I next top up, will I be forced into paying off a debt for standing charges? Are there any reasons not to self-disconnect?

A bit more background:

I'm in a rented flat with a traditional prepayment meter.

EON supplied the flat when I moved in here (May), but when they told me they couldn't switch us to a credit meter due to lack of smart meters available to be fitted, I switched us to British Gas.

British Gas told me that a switch to credit meter would be possible after credit check (which was passed). Turned out to be impossible due to the same issue with EON (no smart meters available).

So we're now stuck on the traditional prepayment system and have received no vouchers at all. Have been on to their customer service once every couple of weeks and made various complaints but with zero success or resolution. Every time I talk to someone I'm fobbed off (at best) or misled/lied to (at worst).

Seems I'm not alone. The whole thing is a shambles and significant fines should be handed out to the suppliers failing their customers.

Gerry1

Beware mould and burst pipes...

pochase

As long as you have a meter you will have to pay standing charges.

So when you top up next time the outstanding standing charge will be deducted.

EssexHebridean

The bigger concern in my mind would indeed be what happens if temperatures plummet while you're away, and you've not even left background heating on? Also - what does your home insurance say about leaving the property unheated?

But yes - as said above, the standing charges will still be payable. 

As for the Vouchers - I take it you've seen the running thread at the top of the board relating to these?

fjs85

pochase said:

As long as you have a meter you will have to pay standing charges.

So when you top up next time the outstanding standing charge will be deducted.

Thanks for this. This is the main answer I was looking for.

fjs85

EssexHebridean said:

The bigger concern in my mind would indeed be what happens if temperatures plummet while you're away, and you've not even left background heating on? Also - what does your home insurance say about leaving the property unheated?

But yes - as said above, the standing charges will still be payable. 

As for the Vouchers - I take it you've seen the running thread at the top of the board relating to these?

Thanks!

I was more thinking about a 'what if' scenario if the credit runs out for a week or so. I'll just go ahead and stick more money in the meters and hopefully avoid them running out.

Yes I posted in there. Just added the context part for a bit of background info. In 20 odd years since leaving my folks I've never been on a pre-paid meter and struggling a bit with the awkwardness of them.

macman

Try a switch to Octopus, they should be able to fit you smart meters within a few weeks: mine took 3 weeks from request.
However, you'll need to switch manually: Twitter is usually fastest.

fjs85

macman said:

Try a switch to Octopus, they should be able to fit you smart meters within a few weeks: mine took 3 weeks from request.
However, you'll need to switch manually: Twitter is usually fastest.

Thanks for the tip!

Alnat1

No guarantee of smart meters with Octopus, I think it depends where you live and if fitters are available in the area. 

SAC2334

fjs85 said:

macman said:

Try a switch to Octopus, they should be able to fit you smart meters within a few weeks: mine took 3 weeks from request.
However, you'll need to switch manually: Twitter is usually fastest.

Thanks for the tip!

Don t forget to use someones referral code if you switch to Octopus (mine if you d like ). They will pay you £50 and also the referrer gets £50. Try phoning as well as Twitter 

macman

Alnat1 said:

No guarantee of smart meters with Octopus, I think it depends where you live and if fitters are available in the area. 

I think the issue with some suppliers is a shortage of smart meters, not so much fitters. Mine was fitted by SMS in the London area and he said there is no supply issue for them as they use a different meter to BG/Eon.