British Gas Prepayment charges

[Nath1310]

I support a gentleman with learning difficulties who has just moved into a privately rented house, both gas and electricity are supplied by BG prepayment meters. The charges - particularly for gas seem very high (about 5p/kWh). I can only compare this to my own home charge on a credit meter of 1.7p/kWh.
Can anybody tell me is this the normal charge rate?
Can I arrange to switch him to another supplier or can this only be done by the landlord?
Any info/suggestions would be gratefully recieved as this is way above the rate he was paying before on a credit meter via a housing association.

[bazak1]

hi nath,
i dont know if its the standard rate, but i do know that its the dearest way to pay.
there was a piece in the press about ten days ago claiming that the cheapest way to pay is quartely. i'll see what i can find out and post you more if and when i do.

[george1939]

Originally Posted by Nath1310

I support a gentleman with learning difficulties who has just moved into a privately rented house, both gas and electricity are supplied by BG prepayment meters. The charges - particularly for gas seem very high (about 5p/kWh). I can only compare this to my own home charge on a credit meter of 1.7p/kWh.
Can anybody tell me is this the normal charge rate?
Can I arrange to switch him to another supplier or can this only be done by the landlord?
Any info/suggestions would be gratefully recieved as this is way above the rate he was paying before on a credit meter via a housing association.

Not seen any supplier at 1.7p usually over 2pence per Kw.. Which supplier are you using?

[Caz1974]

Hi
This happened to me once if you ring the supplier you might find out that the previous tennant was using the meter to pay off an existing debt and that the meter needs to be reset.
I think meters can be a good idea for people who are useless at budgetting because they don't run up a big debt.

[ozzywizard]

If he is a new tenant he needs to ask for a decom recom to decommission and then recommission the meter ensuring correct tarrif is set and no debt is being collected, they will even leave 10 pound credit on meter. Then yes he can change supplier without landlords permission. This is a same day emergency appointment.