PAYG electric

[AGreatUsername]

How do you know if a house is on pay as you go on normal direct debit? That’s probably a really stupid question.

We’ve had an offer accepted on a house, when we first viewed the agent informed us the vendor had rung and said there was no electric. The house was previously a rental and I know that when I viewed it as such it had token operated electric.

However the meter looked normal so I specifically asked the vendor whether it was PAYG or not and he said no, it’s a normal direct debit job. So why no electric the first time?! We are going to measure the windows on Saturday so is there anything we can look for that will tell us one way or another?

Thanks.

Just to add, I viewed it as a rental about 8 years ago so it may well have changed since! I know the board is 4 years old because he said.

If the house has been empty for a while, they may have turned the electric off.

or been cut off...

you can find the supplier online here if it is London and the south east:

www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/internet/en/help-and-advice/need-help/who-is-my-electricity-supplier.html

if not, follow this to get to the network operator for the postcode, who can then tell you who the supplier is:

www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/connections-and-moving-home/who-my-gas-or-electricity-supplier

and they should know if it is token or direct debit.

If you go in again, photograph the meter and the boxes and cables around it. There may be a label or sticker.

If the company fuse has been removed that's easily changed by the supplier.

If they were a non-payer and the supply was cut off by digging up the road, harder.

I once bought an empty house where the power had been cut off and the wiring was in such a bad state they wouldn't restore it until I disconnected all the old and fitted a new temporary builder's circuit.