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Prepayment to Credit Meter Change Charge
jamesredvers
Posts: 14 Forumite
Hi,
I own a building which has 3 flats and have been renovating them for a while. I started the process last year to get the prepayment gas meter changed to a credit meter in one of them because it will be AirBNB going forward. British Gas engineer turned up to install a smart meter but it was too far from the electric meter to work and he left leaving me having to call them back and explain. After trying and trying and trying and raising complaints etc because it was not plain sailing I eventually got through to someone who agreed after a credit check which I had already passed in Sept) to install a standard credit meter - however its a £120 charge! I challenged this and he said that was the charge now but if it was a smart meter it would be free. Obviously I cannot have one of those.
My question is can they charge me to change this meter?
Many thanks,
I own a building which has 3 flats and have been renovating them for a while. I started the process last year to get the prepayment gas meter changed to a credit meter in one of them because it will be AirBNB going forward. British Gas engineer turned up to install a smart meter but it was too far from the electric meter to work and he left leaving me having to call them back and explain. After trying and trying and trying and raising complaints etc because it was not plain sailing I eventually got through to someone who agreed after a credit check which I had already passed in Sept) to install a standard credit meter - however its a £120 charge! I challenged this and he said that was the charge now but if it was a smart meter it would be free. Obviously I cannot have one of those.
My question is can they charge me to change this meter?
Many thanks,
0
Comments
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Some companies, like EDF will install a standard credit meter for no charge. However you might have to insist on a standard credit meter because most companies now will say they won't install them unless you really really insist.
I had the same problem with British Gas a few years ago. However you will probably have to change your supplier to EDF first. Then ask for a standard credit meter.0 -
Explain (having checked 1st) that as they don't charge for going from credit to pre-payment but do to go the other way they are clearly discriminating unfairly. Would they prefer a court case or should they do the decent thing ? If not change supplier to someone who has a brain.
Presumably you rent these 3 flats out (or will in future)? You'll appreciate any tenants will have the legal right to go back to pre-payment, even without your agreement?0 -
There isn't any reason why they can't just install the gas meter anyway - it just means you'll need to use it in dumb mode until such times as things change to enable the comms to work - which could feasibly happen.
I'd stick my tongue in my cheek, call them back and say it's fine, you're happy with the smart meter anyway, and you understand it won't communicate.🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her0 -
Are they trying to move you to a commercial tariff if you have multiple dwellings on a single meter and mentioned going airbnb?0
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Thanks all.
The installation engineer the first time wouldn't install the smart meter because of the comms, its was just a no and I had to do the calling back to BG to explain!?
No its not a commercial tariff as the flats are currently still being renovated and won't have any tenants or AirBNB guests until May/June - this is purely to commission the boiler in the short term.
I am going to take the discrimination line plus my time that has been wasted with the failed visit and loads of calls... Its not like they make enough money on the standing charge alone as it is!0 -
Discrimination on what grounds?No free lunch, and no free laptop
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Please see post above from theartfullodger0
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