Forced prepayment meter fittings to be banned for over-75s and those with young children

MSE_Molly_G

If you are aged 75 or over, or have a child under two, energy suppliers will be permanently banned from forcibly installing a prepayment meter in your home on 8 November. It comes as the energy regulator's current code of practice is to be extended, and become mandatory, in a bid to protect more households.

Forced prepayment meter fittings to be banned for over-75s and those with young children – here's what you need to know

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QrizB

Well that's definitely a thing.

I look forward to last winter's tabloid headlines of "80-year-old granny cut off by heartless energy co's prepayment meter" being replaced this year with "80-year-old granny sued by heartless energy co for unpaid bills".

matt_drummer

MSE_Molly_G said:

 in a bid to protect more households.

.

Protecting them from what, how?

QrizB

matt_drummer said:

MSE_Molly_G said:

 in a bid to protect more households.

Protecting them from what, how?

Also, isn't prepayment cheaper than credit these days? And potentially cheaper than DD, depending on tariff and consumption?

la531983

QrizB said:

matt_drummer said:

MSE_Molly_G said:

 in a bid to protect more households.

Protecting them from what, how?

Also, isn't prepayment cheaper than credit these days? And potentially cheaper than DD, depending on tariff and consumption?

Electric Prepayment is cheaper after around 4. 5 units a day and gas after about a few units a day (unsure of the number) , yes.  A higher standing charge but unit rates are lower. 

Organisation such as the CAB still perpetuate a myth it costs more. 

matt_drummer

Prepayment meters will never be as cheap as not paying your bill.

badmemory

They also need to know that you are over 75 or have under 2.  So do you need to register as vulnerable?

bristolleedsfan

la531983 said:

QrizB said:

matt_drummer said:

MSE_Molly_G said:

 in a bid to protect more households.

Protecting them from what, how?

Also, isn't prepayment cheaper than credit these days? And potentially cheaper than DD, depending on tariff and consumption?

Electric Prepayment is cheaper after around 4. 5 units a day and gas after about a few units a day (unsure of the number) , yes.  A higher standing charge but unit rates are lower. 

Organisation such as the CAB still perpetuate a myth it costs more. 

Do those calculations allow for fact from 1 October EPG will be reducing SC instead of unit rate for pre-payment meters ?

la531983

bristolleedsfan said:

la531983 said:

QrizB said:

matt_drummer said:

MSE_Molly_G said:

 in a bid to protect more households.

Protecting them from what, how?

Also, isn't prepayment cheaper than credit these days? And potentially cheaper than DD, depending on tariff and consumption?

Electric Prepayment is cheaper after around 4. 5 units a day and gas after about a few units a day (unsure of the number) , yes.  A higher standing charge but unit rates are lower. 

Organisation such as the CAB still perpetuate a myth it costs more. 

Do those calculations allow for fact from 1 October EPG will be reducing SC instead of unit rate for pre-payment meters ?

It's as of today. I don't have the figures from 1st October. 

Mobtr

No mention of smart meters being remotely changed to PAYG, just says about forcefully fitted pp meters 

SAC2334

The debt repayment rates are much lower being repaid via a prepayment meter because there's a maximum weekly repay amount they are allowed to install on the meter..It used to be a max of £14 a week even if you owed thousands with much smaller amounts of no more than £4 a week for an amount of around £750 . 
The suppliers will be asking for repayments of much more than that on credit meter debts .