Setting up a new energy account

[SerenaV]

Hi

 

I'm new to the forum and hope I can be a valuable contributor in some small way.

 

I am about to move home and having a bit of a problem with Scottish Power - they are the providers in my new house. Well the people who provided the previous tenants with power anyway. I spent an hour on the phone trying to register for an account with them to no avail. It is a prepayment meter in the new property and my question is this. Do I have to register with Scottish Power initially or can I go straight to another company - I will be changing anyway as their rates seem a bit high. Also as a joint tenant do both of us have to resister or can just one of us? We were going to split the bills between us - one pay water/phone the other gas/electric.

 

Many thanks

 

Serena

[Mr.P]

Only one of you needs to be registered on the account. As you are a "new customer", you are free to go to which ever supplier you like. Just make sure there are no outstanding debts allocated to the meter from the previous tenant otherwise you will end up paying for them.

[SerenaV]

Thanks very much MrP! So I can just register with the cheapest and will they send me out a new card? It is all very confusing!

[Mr.P]

So I can just register with the cheapest and will they send me out a new card?

 

One would hope so. But be warned: Some suppliers will put you on a more expensive tariff to cover the additional admin costs of a prepayment meter.

 

If you are a low energy user, it might be worthwhile having a look at a supplier such as Ebico. Although their costs per unit of energy are higher than the mainstream suppliers, they do not have a separate standing charge or additional fees for prepayment meters.

[ericsbrother]

If there is no reason as to why your credit record would force you to have a prepayment meter considercomplaining and getting the ombudsman involved as soon as possible they are supposed to offer you the best deal they have unless they can show a good reason as to why not. The last tenant being a bad payer isnt one of the acceptable reasons but a short term tenancy may well be.