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Do any energy companies offer a meter instead of re-payment?

TUVOK
TUVOK Posts: 538 Forumite
Seventh Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
in Energy
Can any one help with info on obtaining a meter instead of using pre-payment cards.

My son's existing supplier refuses to provide a meter, quoting area in which he lives and also old CCJ

I could provide a guaranteed deposit but at the moment he is unable to find a supplier.

Can any one help please?

Comments

  • PennineAcute
    PennineAcute Posts: 1,186 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    When offering credit, any decent company will run a credit check.  If financial background is negative - again, any decent company would say no.
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,691 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Is the 'area he lives in' meaning that a smart meter would not work - which could be set to prepayment too, but might be more convenient than a card.
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • Jyana
    Jyana Posts: 791 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Energy suppliers won't take any kind of deposit in order to get a credit meter put in place I am afraid. You need to pass a credit check instead, that is the standard.

    Though saying that, this isn't the automatically the most expensive option these days, it depends on what set up you have in your home. For example, if you're electric only and you use at least 5kwh a day, then choosing EDF as your supplier would be a smart move as they offer electricity much cheaper on Prepayment for that situation. So it becomes a case of looking at what suppliers offer, what is being used at the property, and then making the best choice from that.
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 25,885 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    How old is the CCJ? It will drop off his credit file after 6 years, so if it’s older than that he needs to nudge them to do a new credit check. In fact it may be easier for him to simply move to a new supplier - and then request a new meter (which would be smart) and a change to a credit account simultaneously. 
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  • ariarnia
    ariarnia Posts: 4,225 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 7 January 2023 at 1:17PM
    EssexHebridean said:
    How old is the CCJ? It will drop off his credit file after 6 years, so if it’s older than that he needs to nudge them to do a new credit check. In fact it may be easier for him to simply move to a new supplier - and then request a new meter (which would be smart) and a change to a credit account simultaneously. 
    i was also thinking get them to install a smart pre pay meter (which is easier to top up more places and online) because then its much easier to get it changed to a credit meter as soon as the ccj goes away.

    swings and round abouts depending on how old the ccj is.  
    Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott

    It's amazing how those with a can-do attitude and willingness to 'pitch in and work' get all the luck, isn't it?

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  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    He already has a meter, it's just a PPM. No meter means no supply. 
    I agree with the above, request a smart meter FOC and then it's easier to switch to a credit tariff at a later date. Otherwise there would be a charge for the meter change.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • TUVOK
    TUVOK Posts: 538 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks for all replies, I'll be checking on the date of the CCJ and see then the options.
  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Posts: 10,853 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It's an archived page so you'll need to check that it's still correct, but EDF are reported as not requiring a credit check to switch to a credit meter.
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