Orange electric key

[moggiek]

My son has just purchased his first flat, and didn't notice until key picked up the key from the EA that the electricity is via a pre paid meter. How can he get this removed?

I had this 3 months ago when i moved into a rented property.

I rang up the supply of the electricity, got the bill in my name, and asked for the meter to be removed. Its free of charge, but they have to do a credit check on you before they will remove it.

That's great, thank you. Does the name of the supplier appear on the meter?

It will be on the key hes been given i think!

I dont think the name of the supplier was on the meter as when you change providers, they dont change the meter. Im guessing it will be the same company who supplies the gas.

Thank you. It sounds daft, but it is quite high up and it took us a minute or two to work out what it was! The details are there to set up a DD for the gas supplier, so I'll check with them.

Im almost certain the company name will be on the electric key. It will take afew weeks for them to take the meter out.

Do check the meter reading very regular to see how much electricity you have left as if your not used to checking it, you forget about it, and then your electricity goes off unexpected and only certain shops accept those keys to top them up!

They are a pain

the prepayment key tariff is more expensive than a credit meter. He may get door to door criminals offering to sell him a counterfeit key. He should retain all receipts for topping it up.

if it is a flat with storage heaters he might get better value with an E7 or E10 tariff, unless he is out all day.

He should browse the advice websites for a good tariff. EDF may have a good fixed rate.

He is allowed to change suppliers whenever he wants, but it willl be less tiresome to stay with the current supplier until it is off the prepayment meter. It will be easier if he has previously been a Utility customer or has a good credit rating.

YYY to taking the meter readings frequently and recording them on calendar/diary/notebook/PC, and entering them online once he gets a credit meter, at least monthly.

Argh, this is why you need to ring gas and electric before you move in.

Don't use the key for the previous people, you go to the shop and get a "new customer key" which will clear the credit or debit of the previous people.

If he contacts the electricity company they will be able to tell him where he can purchase electric until the meter is changed to a credit meter.#

Pre payment meters are sometimes set to collect back a debt owed to the electricity company so never use another persons keycard.

When you obtain a new card, it is programmed at the shop, when it is put into the meter it transfers the credit over that you bought and then the meter gives info to the key like the meter number etc. The next time it is topped up, the info is passed from the key to the shop and from there it goes to the electricity company. Hope that helps.