Forcing conversion to prepayment meters

[lookinforinfo]

Does an energy company need a Court Order before
forcing one to convert to prepayment meters. If they do try and force the change, would they use bailiffs or
a DCA along with the meter changers? Can they do this while the debt is still under dispute?

[noggsy]

Under normal circumstances the answer is yes. However in the case of one of the Companies, if there is an outside meter and there is a debt attributed to that meter they have been known to be changed by an Engineer on what is known as a PDV - Pre-Warrant Visit.
The normal routine is, however, you will receive notification from the supplier, of a Magistrates Court date, normally 28 days notice but I have known 7 days, at which you will have the right to attend and object in front of the Magistrates. If you do not attend, the Warrant will be granted and the Warrant of Entry will be actioned within 28 days of issue. Normally you will be advised on what day the visit will be made and attempts will be made by the supplier to resolve the matter. If the visit is made it will normally consist of an Engineer, a Locksmith and an Agent. If a PPM is fitted beside the "debt" there will be the Warrant Fee charged to the meter - normally £350. Hope this explains the proceedure.

[lookinforinfo]

Thanks for the response Noggsy.
I take it that when you said under normal circumstances the answer is yes, that you were replying to my first question-do they need a Court Order?

In this instance DCAs turned up with engineers to effect the change without warning or notice. They seemed to think they could batter down the door
had no one been in, or not answered. From the letter they produced, there was no mention of a Court Order and the amount claimed was inflated and taken from an estimate [which was widely different from the actual reading].

The meter is inside the house.
The bill though inflated did not appear to have any Court costs added which would lead me to believe there had been no Court case, and no letter was ever sent advising that there was going to be one.

[PeacoTard]

When changing to a pre payment meter, I was under the impression that it was a legal requirement for the bill payer to be present before the work could be actioned whether or not a warrant was issued. I read this on the EDF energy website.

[noggsy]

To answer the Peaco first, no as long as a Warrant of Entry has been issued by the Magistrates the property can be accessed whether vacant or occupied, BUT the Warrant only allows direct access to the meter and no other part of the property.
To answer Lookin, Yes they do need a Court Order. A DCA cannot turn up with or without an Engineer and fit a PPM without your permission, unless they have a valid Warrant of Entry. Who was the DCA in question ?