Prepayment Energy Meters?

[McDougal]

Does anyone have any experience with these?

We're moving next month to a rented house and have just been informed that it has prepayment meters.

A quick google tells me that usually only the big 6 energy suppliers switch these to normal meters but then surely we'll be tied into a contract with them?

We've just recently switched supplier and they're so much cheaper so really want to avoid the bigger companies if possible.

Any advice appreciated

I think you pay more through having one, that they are set at a higher set. Or so I've read somewhere. Get rid of it if you can.

They are evil. Truly. Is there anyway your landlords will change them.
I rent and for the past 6 years in this property they have cost me fortune. I explained this the my landlady and she said I could get them changed.
I was with sse and spending upto £80 per fuel per month so £160 for both sometimes more.
I switched and got it down to £132 for both then changed after a month to eon for £91 for both fixed for one year.
Plus I don't have the hassle of going out in all weather and at night if it runs out.
Evil evil things

EDF will change it for free. I don't think I'm locked in with them, either.

I have these awful things. Does anyone know if they do a credit check to remove them?

Once you move in, ask your supplier if they will change. If not, change your supply on a standard tariff (one without an early termination fee) and wait 28 days. Then you can have the meter exchanged for a standard or economy 7 meter and agree a contract with another supplier that gives you cheaper unit costs.

Yes they all do credit checks to switch.

Honestly, having worked for one of the big six i would not have prepayment meters

Thank you for all of your replies.

I've emailed the letting agent today to see how the landlord would feel about us getting the meters changed over. I just hope she says yes! I think she may have had issues with previous tenants so might not be keen.

I've done a little more digging and it seems the big 6 change them for free but the problem might be signing up to a tariff tan doesn't charge early exit fees.

It's costing us a fortune to move so could really do without our monthly bills going up too

I hate prepay meters with a passion, they're nothing more than a tax on being poor.

Get rid as soon as possible.

That seems to be the common opinion of them. Marketed as making energy bills 'manageable' but charging over the odds for the inconvenience of having to go out to top up

I hope the landlady agrees but does anyone know where we stand if she doesn't? The rent is already more expensive than where we are (nicer house and area though) so might need to please my case!

*plead my case

My landlord won't let me change. Written into the contract.

I'm with Robin Hood, they're a not for profit company. I still pay more than a standard tariff but I'm not lining some wankers pocket

Robin Hood came up on a price comparison search I did today (hedging my bets in case we aren't allowed to change).

Spark and Ecotricity seemed to come up cheapest but I'd really like to stick with our current supplier - renewable energy, up to us how much we pay per month (and this is true for once, not just for when your account is in credit).

pre payment cost more , it cost the energy company money to fit them maintain them . They have to pay retailer to take payments for them the and the online service cost money. Debit card payments incur charges to the energy provide. All these charges are past on to the person on pre payment rather than making everyone pay more on there bills to finace other peoples pre payment .

Smeaton do you know if you can insist on a smart meter being installed as I'd imagine not all prepayment meters are smart meters?

Sorry if that is completely wrong, I'm clueless about them and just want to go back to what I know.

Please ignore homeowners who comment. As a renter you are not allowed to change meters - it is considered the same as knocking a wall down. I hope your LL agrees but many won't as they wrongly believe that if you leave without paying your bills they are stuck with debt.

Thank you, Mrs. I hope the landlord is aware that any debt would follow us. I just need to find something I can direct them to if they believe that. Back off to google I go

We have a smart meter with British gas electric and gas spend around £70 a month (kids with Xbox Wii etc..) can top up from my phone.

I think the standing charge is somewhere around 22p a day. I prefer it to getting a big bill every quarter, and it's a good reminder to the kids to turn things off!!!!

I'm surprised there are mixed reviews - I thought there was a universal hatred of prepayment meters

I suppose I'll wait and see what the landlord says and go from there. It's reassuring to know it might not be that bad if she refuses!

I can promise you that if it comes down to it, your landlord or homeowner has no say about a meter being changed as it belongs to your supply company. They can, and if necessary will, get a warrant to obtain access to it and can remove/exchange/replace it as they see fit. However, they have no reason to change it from a prepayment meter to a credit one (although they do vice versa). Legally all meters have to be changed in the next few years to smart meters and these meters have the facility to be either credit or prepay. When your energy supplier decides your property is due a smart meter, your landlord will have no choice other than to allow it.

Hi op

I moved to a rented property in Jan and have pre payment had them upgraded to smart meters today (free upgrades from British gas) which I love for the convenience of being able to top up from home instead of trudging out with a key and only being able to pay cash!

In all honesty the meter has cost me less since we moved it may be that I'm watching the pennies more since we moved

Thank you, Fuzzy.

Smeaton, did you request a smart meter or did the supplier want to install anyway? I'm interested to know whether we'd need to pay to get a smart meter.

Stupidly, we haven't checked the house so unsure what kind of meter is already in.

Mermaids it's interesting that you've spent less since having prepayment. I'd hope that seeing the numbers go down would be incentive over to make us a bit more aware of what we're using which can never be a bad thing.

If only DH wasn't a cold arse who watches TV and plays PS4 whenever he has a spare minute