Energy suppliers

[Backonthedatingtrain22]

Hi , I am due to move into a new rental and the current supplier doesn't offer a pre pay meter and I can't afford the monthly direct debit payments . Does someone know of any suppliers that is taking on new customers and offering a prepayment meter/smart meter?

I have been looking online to no avail.

Thank you 😊

Prepayment is more expensive across the board than any credit payment plan.

If you can't manage direct debits and "topping up" weekly works better for you, you can make direct payments to the company via your bank account on whatever frequency you want if you go to a cash payment tariff.

Plus, unless there's a warrant for installation you'd need to check with your landlord if you can have a prepayment meter installed because it costs money to have them switched back.

Do some research on suppliers and switch to one that works for you e.g. being allowed to pay by cash then making direct payments like I mentioned to help budget. Not all are direct debit only.

I know British Gas aren't terribly popular but I know they still allow cash payments. Quite possibly the other big players still do to.

Are they trying to put you on a fixed rate? Ask about the standard variable rate instead

If you can't afford direct debit, you can't afford prepayment, which is more expensive and doesn't allow you to spread the cost evenly throughout the year rather than have to pay upfront for expensive winter bills.

You want to be on a price cap tariff so you should be able to sign up to this with any supplier eg British Gas, and the price is the same no matter who the supplier is.

Also look for advice from www.nea.org.uk/

Thank you everyone, I will keep looking and visit the websites/suppliers you have mentioned. I don't just want to be hit with a massive bill at the end of the month , I want to have control over what I use which is why I thought pay as you go would be better .

You could ask for a smart meter so you get real time usage data.

But as I previously said, if you go on direct debit, your larger winter bills will be averaged throughout the year so you won't have to cope with paying say £250 pm in winter and £60 pm in summer, you'll pay £100 pm all year round.

Plus the unit rate and standing charge will be less. But also investigate help such as grants and cheaper ways to keep warm.

If you are on direct debit then you won't be hit with a massive bill, it will be spread over the year, so you build up credit in summer to be used in winter. Insist on the standard variable tariff despite the pressure to fix. I don't have a smart meter but I check my meters weekly to keep an eye on usage.