Returning to a credit meter

Hilts

British Gas want to charge me £90 per meter for both our Gas and Electric to return to a credit meter.

Currently it is costing me over £300 a quarter for our Gas and Leccy which i think is steep .

If i switch, am i able to get this done for free on the basis of giving a new provider my custom? And am i best to wait untill the price wars are finished in this market?

Stuart_W

You could switch to ebico to receive a cheaper tariff on your exisiting prepay meter.

www.ebico.co.uk

Cardew

Stuart_W wrote: »

You could switch to ebico to receive a cheaper tariff on your exisiting prepay meter.

www.ebico.co.uk

Whilst I am a fan of Ebico, and accepting that they have the same tariff for all methods of payment, they are only competitive for low users; someone paying £300 a quarter is not a low user.

I don't think BG normally charge to have a credit meter fitted.

However as the OP states they want to 'return' to a credit meter, I assume that BG went through the expense of fitting pre-pay meters because of problems when the OP was previously on a credit meter?

If that was the case, it is perhaps understandable that BG are not willing to take a risk.

I have heard that BG might be prepared to take a refundable deposit in cases like this. e.g. pay promptly for, say, a year and you will get back your deposit.

Transferring to another company on pre-pay and then changing to credit might work, depends what checks the new company will take.

Terrylw1

All Suppliers in the past have accepted security deposits and didn't actually charge for meter changes at your request due to an inability to do so or a lack of willingness to impose it.

Such inabilities don't exist thesedays so they can ask you to pay a charge. Security deposits are up to the Supplier really as there is nothing stopping them using this method if you fail a credit check.

Many don't charge for a meter change though so you could switch to one that will benefit you in terms of a cheaper tariff (but I also mean competitive in regards to BGas's credit meter alternative as well as other Suppliers - don't just grab the first 1 to get the meter changed)

In terms of waiting, will that be worse due to your PP charges?

Hilts

Cardew wrote: »

Whilst I am a fan of Ebico, and accepting that they have the same tariff for all methods of payment, they are only competitive for low users; someone paying £300 a quarter is not a low user.

I don't think BG normally charge to have a credit meter fitted.

However as the OP states they want to 'return' to a credit meter, I assume that BG went through the expense of fitting pre-pay meters because of problems when the OP was previously on a credit meter?

No..i requested this myself some years ago, i felt that by paying as you go so to speak, the bill was always covered and it was one less expense to worry about each quarter

Cardew wrote: »

I have heard that BG might be prepared to take a refundable deposit in cases like this. e.g. pay promptly for, say, a year and you will get back your deposit.

Yes this is the case, i have always had problems getting credit and obviously this time i did not pass. Although i was on a credit metre previously so why check me now? i never had any problems paying in the past?

Cardew wrote: »

Transferring to another company on pre-pay and then changing to credit might work, depends what checks the new company will take.

I was hoping to avoid this method and simply go straight to a crdit metre.... another family member in the same circumstances has just paid his recent bill for both at £130 for a quarter...hence you can understand my frsutration and paying more than two times the amount.

Thanks for you responses anyway people....i might give uSwitch a call and see what they can offer

Cardew

Hilts wrote: »

I was hoping to avoid this method and simply go straight to a crdit metre.... another family member in the same circumstances has just paid his recent bill for both at £130 for a quarter...hence you can understand my frsutration and paying more than two times the amount.

I think you need to get savings into perspective.

There is no way that your £300 quarterly bill will reduce to £130 just by changing your tariff.

It is possible that your pre-pay meter is set high to recover a debit balance that has built up.

Whilst pre-pay is more expensive than other BG tariffs(and obviously worth having) it is a few percent more - not double.

MoneyMiser

Hi,

Why don't you try bargaining with a new company. For example, ask Southern Electric if you switch to them with your pre-payment meters can they then change you to credit meters and agree to pay by monthly direct debit. Maybe as a new customer they will not charge you to change or may be able to offer you a better price.

If they agree get it in writing and switch. Not sure if this will work but it is worth a try

MM

crk81

I remember when i signed up to Powergen when i moved in my property they had prepayment meters in, only had to be with them 3 months and they said they would change it free of charge.

lil_me

I've had pre pay meters taken out of 5 properties, never been charged. If I remember correctly one was EDF, another was Northern Electric (now NPower) and British Gas.

I would get your meter checked, see if you are paying an outstanding debt etc then when the price war calms down look into who is the cheapest provider on the pre pay if they insist on charging. I'm sure if you said you were moving suppliers because of the charge they want they would change them for you.

crk81

Some suppliers don't, Npower normally require a 12month history to do a meter exchange, although normally i often get customers calling that advise the saleman promised when they signed up so i always do what i can to do what was offered and change the meter.

Hilts

thanks all for you replies..

I have no outstanding debts and NEVER been in trouble with any utilities for non payment of bills, which i why i am querying these tarrifs in the first place .

@ Cardew : MY savings ARE in perspective...why do you think i am looking at changing? the low costs my brother in law is achieving is a result of switching to an alternate company and saving money. If it was not possible, then his bills would be higher? But as i said it IS possible as he showed me his new bills and he was pleased he made the cganges. Not that i'm expecting to pay what he is because we will consume different amounts, but he is of similar circumstances and lives less than 1 mile down the road from me. I don't expect to half my bill, but certainly do expect to make a fair saving. Sorry if i don't agree with your post..but i've seen the results for myself. What can't speak cannot lie !