southern electric pre-payment meter removal

[angnnig]

Hi thier,about 3 years ago we had prepayment meters fitted as we had debts with southern electric,we have now paid the gas debt off .We want the gas meter out as we feel that we are paying more for the gas on prepayment.Can southern electric refuse to remove our meter.I sent a letter to them asking them to take it out, but had no reply and i think they are ignoring us.thanks for any replies

[MARTIN3030]

According to their website they can do this but for a charge.

here's what they say;

 

Arranging a meter change

 

If you want us to remove your pay as you go meter we’ll charge you for the work involved. We'll also check your payment history before making a decision to change your meter. However, there are special occasions where we’d do the work free of charge.

If you’ve moved in to a new home with a pay as you go meter, we’d expect you to keep that meter. But if you wanted to remove it and were with us at your previous home with a credit meter we’d consider your payment history before making a decision.

If you want to remove your pay as you go meter

contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

[angnnig]

Hi Martin,Thankyou for your help ,it doesn,t seem fair that they can do that,We,ve paid our debt in full now,how can they judge on wether we can afford to pay or not ,with us bieng stuck on the meters a year after paying up.Does anyone know if we can change companies ,We are paying a fortune with this gas meter, it seems to suck up the gas too fast.

[sillygirl1]

Try contacting NPower they fitted me a normal meter (the original meter was a pre-payment one and in three weeks I had fed it £50 - for one person in a one bedroomed flat out between 7am and 7pm!).

 

You can change supplier whenever you want and as you have no arrear they should co-operate, but if not then I would threaten them by getting your local MP involved, and the regulatory authorities.

[silverfox1961]

There is another option although it means you keeping the pre-payment meter. Southern electric run accounts for a company called Ebico. They charge a flat rate and don't include any premium for a pre-payment meter

[angnnig]

Hi Sillygirl,Thanks for your reply,I will take your advice and try and move to another company.Most of our appliances are electric,we only use the central heating and hot water for the gas and its costing us around £30 weekly in a small end terraced house.kind regards angnnig

[angnnig]

Hi silverfox thanks for your reply,regards angnnig

[MARTIN3030]

Reading around at the policies of all 6 majors on this-it seems that all of them charge-or may ask for a security deposit which is refundable later.

Obv your first consideration needs to be the tariffs of any new supplier-since that is key.

No good moving to a provider that will do the exchange free if their tariffs are proportionately higher.

You need to factor this in with any considerations.

[angnnig]

Hi martin ,Thanks for your advice,Do you know were i can find out who,s the cheapest,I know southern electric, the ones who were with now are one of the cheapest ,when your not on a meter that is.thanks ,regards angnig

[MARTIN3030]

It can be very difficult to keep up with this as prices keep changing-but 4 of the 6 have already announced price increases with others planning.I think only one has said they will wait until Feb/March.

Myself I think prob a good way is to check comparison websites.

[MARTIN3030]

heres one to try;

 

http://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/

[MARTIN3030]

https://www.ebico.org.uk/customer-care/pre-payment

[MARTIN3030]

http://www.energyhelpline.com/energy/rg_home.aspx?aid=107

[angnnig]

hi silverfox ,thanks for your reply ,How would we go about changing to Ebico,do we ask southern electric to do it for us or contact ebico directly,kind regards angnnig

[MARTIN3030]

Changing to a credit meter

 

If requested, we can change your pre-payment meter to a credit meter, following a discussion about how you plan to pay future bills. If you would like your pre-payment meter removed please phone our Pre-payment Meter Team.

If you should still have money owing on your meter, we will ask you to pay the outstanding amount in full. We may also ask you to pay a security deposit.

If we agree to remove the meter, we’ll make an appointment to do so within 10 working days. When your meter is removed we will also arrange for an up-to-date bill to be sent to you.

[silverfox1961]

hi silverfox ,thanks for your reply ,How would we go about changing to Ebico,do we ask southern electric to do it for us or contact ebico directly,kind regards angnnig

 

I did the application online and once it was set up (about 6 weeks) just rang them with the meter readings. I have been with them for nearly 4 years with no major problems. Once you have got your meter changed, do a comparison and if you are happy to have online billing, you could switch and save more

[angnnig]

Thanks for all your help guys,kind regards angnnig

[angnnig]

Hi ,I hope someone can help me about 3 years ago SOUTHERN ELECTRIC put prepayment meters in my home as i owed a debt on the gas and electric that i couldn,t afford to pay all at once.I paid both debts up in july last year and have recently just changed to EBICO ,who have just changed my old card electric meter for a key meter but they haven,t changed my gas meter.Now SOUTHERN ELECTRIC have sent me an electric bill for £795 ,I daren,t ring them up as i am so annoyed, i will probably get abusive.Can anyone advise me on this matter please.Kind regards angnnig

[brackleshamdavid]

This may sound silly, but have you written/emailed them pointing out the miscreant error and/or asked what the new bill relates to if the dates overlap?

 

I just sorry for you ever being with them in the first place! WHATEVER you do MAKE/KEEP COPIES!

[angnnig]

Hi BHdavid ,thanks for your reply ,my partner phoned them up and they they said it was a bill from 2010,We argued that they put the meters in in 2008 and that the debt was being taken at £10 a week.They still insist that we owe this money,so we have asked for a breakdown of the bill and dates relating to it and said that we know we don,t owe the money and will fight them through the energy regulators.kind regards angnnig

[brackleshamdavid]

Hi BHdavid ,thanks for your reply ,my partner phoned them up and they they said it was a bill from 2010,We argued that they put the meters in in 2008 and that the debt was being taken at £10 a week.They still insist that we owe this money,so we have asked for a breakdown of the bill and dates relating to it and said that we know we don,t owe the money and will fight them through the energy regulators.kind regards angnnig

 

Hi there. Just checking a few things, but the obvious is you do have proof of the payment you've made which cleared the debt?

[silverfox1961]

Hi,

Just noticed this.

 

I think you need to contact Ebico. Ebico use Southern Electric to manage their accounts for them so there may be an error somewhere in their systems

[angnnig]

Hi BHdavid ,The proof of payments are in the prepayment meter that has just been taken out,the prepayment meter was taking the debt so there was no proof that we had paid .regards angnnig

[angnnig]

Hi silverfox ,Thanks for your reply,your right ,I will write to ebico and let them know about this ,kind regards angnnig

[smokester]

On a similar note, last year (due to them not sending me a bill after 100's of calls) they gained a warrant to my property to change my electric meter. When the warrant officer was here I asked for a copy of the warrant - he couldnt provide it was told to phone up, which i did and they said phone the court for a copy, and the court could find no copy of a warrant being issued in my name or address, so after 5/6 months of going round in circles, I still think they gained access illeagally. So I am going to start legal action, does anyone have any idea of a letter / email i can send to warn them, unless i get a copy of the warrant.

 

Many thanks