Changing from a gas pre payment meter onto direct debit - advice

[laughalot]

When we moved into our house 9 years ago it was on a gas pre payment meter and we just left it as it was. We are spending a fortune atm on gas in four weeks we have spent £ 80.00 and I do control our heating it isnt on constantly. I rung british gas today to ask about going onto direct debit and he was trying to talk me out of it. He said the pre payment gas meter prices have dropped and I should leave it a bit longer to see if I can see the difference. They said they would have to do a credit check if we want to change to direct debit which I know will be fine but why did he try and put me off a direct debit option ? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

No the price is very expensive the way you are buying it - of course they dont want you to change as then not only will they make less money from you you may also change supplier and take your custom elsewhere.

Please change and save yourself some money.

I live in a three bedroomed house and the gas is for central heating water and cooking, the dd is £40 per month - was for £65 per month but just had a £200 rebate and they lowered the dd.

They'll set you an unnaturally high DD payment to start so they can monitor your usage. Its a PITA for them and for you as you'll end up probably in loads of credit they'll have to give you back before dropping the monthly amount.
PLUS your 'true' DD monthly amount will probably end up being less than you spend now (meters being a rip-off) so they'll lose money

And shop around - you can change supplier and you might find someone cheaper

Thankyou we too live in a 3 bed its costing a bomb we need to change to dd.

Who are you with Ivykaty44?
I am on a prepayment meter too and am paying £20 per week for a tiny 2 bed house and use gas for the same as you.

OKlbnoo - I set the amount as I didn't want to go into debt with the gas, as it had risen so much last winter I was aware that I may get in debt (didn't though as raised amount to 65 and was careful with usage)

I am with the french company edf? They are one of the most expensive (although they reckon that there is only £30 in reality between all of them per year)

I have the heating on from 5am-9am then 5pm - 12 and it is not on really hot but far from cold.

You can get them to change your meter and if they will not get on to your MP - as it is blatant discrimination of the poor. Telephone them back and tell them you want to come of the pre paid meter and want to pay either a monthly bill or dd - dont let them wiggle out of it.

I used to work for npower and the reason they don't want to change your meter is it is quite a big job for the meter person. I have actually helped change a meter it is very fiddly and takes time!

Just tell them you want a credit meter (normal meter) and you can either set up a DD OR you can set up a standing order that way you have control over what you pay. Take your last year's worth of consumption and divide that by 12 to give you an idea of what you will be paying on a monthly budget scheme.

Also once the meter is changed it is much easier to change supplier and they obviously want to keep as many customers as possible.

Hope this helped.

Fizzy I dident relise that if you change from prepayment to dd that you have to change the meter aswell. I wish we had changed ours when we moved in I understand that they are fitted for people on a low income which I dident realise. We are very fortunate that my dh gets a very good wage and even at that we are struggling with gas prices. I am defo going to change we are with british gas on the prepayment and I went onto martin lewis website and did a check through there and it looks like in my area they will still be the best price one to go with. Thanks for the advice.

Price comparison websites: uswitch and simply switch - also moneysupermarket I think. Problem is you need to know how much gas you've used in the past year, also the compnies keep on leapfrogging over each other in price. Used to be that British Gas was worst for Gas, and your original leccy supplier worst for Electricity, not sure if still is!

Prepayment meters these days are very clever and can be set to be a credit meter but I think companies are reluctant to do this as people will of course try to make them into a credit meter themselves to.

Bobs is right usually you are worse off if you stay with your regional electricity supplier and British Gas.

If you do change supplier (and I am going to start sounding like a broken record) on the day you go over write your meter readings down on something that you will not throw away by accident such as an address book/diary etc. That way if the readings are needed in future you can refer back to them.

Prepayment meters get a bit of a bad press. They are for people who sometimes find it hard to budget and prioritise. It forces people to question whether they want light and the washing machine on tonight or to spend the money on something else.

Some people use it as a savings account!! If we set the meter to collect a debt once the debt it paid they want it left as it is. That way they have a nice cheque usually for Christmas

Good luck changing supplier.

This is interesting - do you have to pay a fee to have the meter changed from prepay to direct debit? I live in rented and hate it, we spend in excess of £100 per month on gas.

hi i am with npower and am putting in on average £40 per week in gas prepayment meter,im on benefits and also put on average £35 per week electricity(also prepayment meter)this is absolutly killing me every week to keep my head above water,i have been in touch with npower many time they have said there is not a problem with the meters and to send proof of benefits(which i have)yet i seem to be putting in more every week,any help would be much apprieciated thanks

its £50 for a meter change....but i went with southern electric who did both my meters for free!!!

how much is your heating on sammie? If i had mine on all the time it would cost that.(PP meter, cold 2 bed house)