Can they force you to have prepayment meter?

[Jhawc24]

My daughter is moving into a property that already has prepayment meters. She currently pays by dd, it's the same supplier. She has been told they cannot change the prepayment meters cos they like to see how the customer gets on first? Is that right? How can they see how you get on when you have to pay before you get any supply anyway - it's not like your going to get into arrears.

 

Any advice kindly appreciated.

[Wolly]

The person your daughter spoke to, clearly does not know what they are doing! you CAN request for a credit meter to be installed, however, this is subject to a credit check, and (depending on the supplier) there may be a fee for this. saying that they like to see how the customer gets on first is just a load of bull!

 

Hope this helps!

[rockhag]

Is this the energy supplier saying this or the landlord?

 

I work for an energy supplier and sometimes you need have been with them for 28 days before they will do this but sometimes not. The 28 day rule normally only comes into effect if they've just taken over the supply at a property so...

 

Bit trickier if it's the landlord saying the meters cant be changed.

[2Grumpy]

Makes perfect sense to me

 

Why not force your daughter to stay on the more expenive meter rather than changing it to an ordinary meter & get more money!. Has she asked for the DD discount etc even if she pays on the PP meter since its their arbitary choice and she has already proven she pays ok? After all, they get paid in advance!

 

Would a landlord be able to say "No" to a PP meter being fitted if a tenant wasn't paying? I doubt it, so can a landlord say no to an ordinary meter, other than charge for changing it backj at the end of the lease? (Just a thought)

[mrsfoot]

A lot of landlords prefer to have PP meters installed. There was a huge rise in unpaid bills at houses with private tenants in and then the tenants leaving with no forwarding address. The [problem] was to not pay the final quarter that they were in residency for. Most times the tenants were not getting deposits back as they had caused damage to the house and so they were not losing out.

Also Landlords were [causing problems] the tenants by with holding the deposits and saying that the bills were unpaid and that no deposit was due back. Thank heavens for new legislation where all deposits have to be held.

 

If it is the company saying no to DD then I would contact the meter company and ask them to refer back to her previous address and note there was no problems with the payment and remove the meter. If it is the Landlord then I dont think you have much of a case as he has the last say.

[demon_x_slash]

The landlord has no right to withold a deposit for unpaid bills if the bills are in the tenant's name. The deposit can only be witheld for (documented) damages, and all monies used for repairs have to be accounted for.

 

The new TDS should be able to resolve things like this with a lot less hassle to both parties concerned.

[gondukin]

They are not obliged to give her a credit meter, it is down to the company. I suspect she has been given duff information, but if the comany continues to refuse to change the meter I can only suggest she finds a new provider.