How do i get prepayment meter removed?

[Tillysocute]

I moved into this property in june 2008 and there was a prepayment meter already here for both gas and electric,both with E-ON.The previous tenants left me their payment cards and i have been using them to top up the meters.........I did phone my old supplier EDF and told them i would like to stay with them and they said they would send me new cards...........But i have heard nothing from them.I also phoned E-ON and they said to carry on using the cards we have until the switch over.........
I have asked both companies if i could have the meters replaced as they are to expensive for us..
My husband is very ill and i am his full time carer we are currantly living on benefits and I am putting £20 a week plus into the meters,but both companies refuse to take them out........ They both said i would have to be a customer with them for a year.......Well i have been with E-ON but apparently as i have moved and currantly paying another company the years i was with them before is irrelevent!!

Am i stuck with these meters now???

Any advise would be welcome.tilly

[nottslad]

Even if you had been with E.on for a year at your current address, there would be a £50 charge to remove each meter.

Have you been offered a credit check? E.on can do this to assess your ability to manage credit meters rather than the prepayment. With you topping up so much on the current meters, have you had the account changed over into your name? There may still be a debt collection rate on the meters if they were installed for debt recovery purposes

[enamae]

There are several reasons for concern which I will try to cover:
1)By using someone else's card you are paying into their account NOT yours.
You really need to get a card in your own right. I would ring E.on and insist that they issue you with a card and account immediately. Keep all receipts(including any debit card payments), as if this has happened you should be able to claim it back.
2)The chances of having the prepayment meter removed are unlikely as (Reading you other posts) it seems the previous tenants may have had a debt with the power supplier which makes them less inclined to remove the pre payment meter.
3) Switching supplier would take about 4-6 weeks and EDF have just increased their prices by 22% gas and 17% electric.(E.on will probably increase theirs as well)
Some power suppliers do operate a social tariff to help those in financial hard ship but I'm not sure what the qualifications are.
If I think of any thing else I will post again later.

[MK_One]

Take a look at Ebico, they do not charge extra for prepayment meters and for us they are the cheapest around even though we have a "normal" meter.

[Tillysocute]

Thank you for all your good advise.I emailed EOn again and stressed that i must have gas and electric cards in my name and to date have not heard from them...Will be ringing them monday!!

I am as we speak signing up for Ebico....... Thank you again tilly

[mree]

Whoever you spoke to at EDF gave you duff information - they only ask that you're a customer with them for 28 days before they'll change the meter, and they don't charge. They also don't charge prepayment customers more than customers with credit meters. The reason you've not heard from them is probably because the change of supply process takes about 8 weeks, and they only write to you when they have a date set. You should have received a contract pack after signing up with them though?