Moving Supplier With Prepayment Meter

[Hurricane Puffrose]

I'm posting this up as until yesterday, I was unaware of this.

Did you know that if you are paying off a debt on a prepayment meter and the debt is under £100 that your new supplier can legally take this debt over, and there is nothing that your old supplier can do about it??

Ask for a final bill from your old supplier and, it takes 6 weeks for a transfer, they cannot say no.

Also, if your reason for leaving is bad service, ask for written confirmation of their service failiure guidelines (they have to by law send them), you will be amazed and how much they can end up owing you!

If in doubt contact your new supplier and explain the lot, they will guide you through it all

[rainydb]

Re: Moving Supplier With Prepayment Meter

Thanks for this. Do you have anything I can use to quote it? My friend is currently stuck with Southern Electric on a prepayment meter on a stupidly high tariff and they will not release her supply. She just cannot afford the amount they are demanding she repay weekly which is £13. She called them today and asked to lower it to £10 and they have refused.

Any advice very greatly appreciated. She is falling apart over the debts and I am trying to get her sorted. I've managed to get her to call Payplan for the others but utilities seem to be a law unto themselves.

Thank you.

[rainydb]

Re: Moving Supplier With Prepayment Meter

Her debt is £500 which is mostly made up of charges.

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: Moving Supplier With Prepayment Meter

unfortunatly with a debt of £500 she cant do a great deal, they are in a position to say you must stay with us, however if she has made a complaint and 8 weeks have gone by she can go to the ombudsman to ask for help, if she has asked for letters/phonecalls which have not happened legally she can claim £20 per letter and call.
She needs to ask where her complaint has gone, and if it hasnt been escalated to a higher authority she can ask for a deadlock letter and go to the ombudsman.