How to switch from a Prepayment Energy meter.
How to switch from a Prepayment Energy meter to any of the UK Big Six.
British Gas
Any decision will be subject to a credit check and British Gas will take away your prepayment meter and replace it with a credit meter for nothing provided that you have no outstanding debts with them or if you have moved into a new property where a prepayment meter is already installed.
EDF Energy
EDF Energy will also remove a previously installed prepayment meter and fit a credit meter free of charge, and the process can take up to a couple of weeks depending upon where you live and the lead times set by the meter installers.
One stipulation is that you have been an EDF Energy customer for at least 28 days to ensure the all of your energy usage information is accurate when your account is set up.
EDF Energy will only refuse to change the prepayment meter if it has been installed because you are significantly in debt, which means by over £500.
E.ON
E.ON will exchange your prepayment meter provided that it has not been fitted to recover debt and on the condition that future bills are paid by direct debit.
E.ON also stipulates that you must have lived at the property for at least three months and may also charge a fee for installation of the new meter.
You may also be charged a fee to cover any credit checks that are taken out against you.
Npower
Npower will replace your current meter with a credit meter free of charge if you moved into a property that already had a prepayment meter installed. This will be subject to you passing a credit check and you may also be asked to enter a payment plan to help you with your budgeting.
If you have been an Npower customer for less than 12 months Npower may charge you for the removal of your old meter and may also refuse to change your meter if you are still significantly in debt and owe more than £500 in unpaid energy bills.
Scottish Power
Scottish Power will change your meter provided that you have been a customer for 12 months and that you are prepared to pay your bills by direct debit and you may also be required to pay a cash deposit that will be refunded to you should you successfully meet all of your payments over the course of the first year.
You may also be charged a fee to have the prepayment meter removed.
SSE
SSE will replace your prepayment meter with a credit meter provided that you successfully pass a credit check and that you are prepared to pay future bills by direct debit.
You will also be charged £52 per meter, this is to reflect the costs that SSE incur for removal and installation, and once the credit check has been passed and the fee paid, you should have your new meter installed within 10 working days.
We hope you've found this helpful. Feel free to contact us if you have any queries or comments on this articles.
F7 | UTILITIES
