WARNING REAL TIP
when moving into a new home check the gas and electric meters especially if they are pre-pay. Often pre-pay meters are installed to recover a debt typically at £5 a week. Even though the original debetor has long since vanished the debt is still being collected. This means that YOU are paying someone elses debts which can easily run into hundreds of pounds. Get your landlord or estate agent to sort this out BEFORE you move in.

Likewise check for any signs of tampering of the meters as you could be in for a rude shock next time the meter reader comes round .
(welgar, Fri 15 May 2009, 16:22, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

Hmmmm.....
I would be very shocked if a meter reader came to read my prepayment meter because that would be stupid.

Your gas or electric company cannot recoup bad debt (whether is is your debt or not) by adding some sort of premium charge to the units of gas and or electricity you purchase in advance. Typically by buying your gas and electricity in advance it is impossible to acrue any form of debt (this is obvious from the pre-pay part of the transaction).

Before ranting at your new landlord/estate agent to fix this perceived problem before you move in, please contact your gas and electricity provider on the day you begin occupying the premises and give them an accurate meter reading and inform them that you are the new account holder. This will close the previous account-holders account (and forward their details to a debt-collection agency if there is money outstanding) and create a new account in your name.

If you are still worried that you are being charged additional monies to cover the cost of a previous debtor you can always use the information on your bill to calculate the cost of each unit (kilowatt-hour) of electricity or gas (cubic foot).
(aroe_m0rre, Wed 20 May 2009, 15:01, Reply)

experience talking
as an ex electricity baord employee i can tell you that any debts are recovered via the meter. As you say you cannot accrue debt by pre purchase but im talking about PREVIOUS debt from a monthly billing situation.

The debt is recovered in the form of an additional standing charge as oposed to a premium on the per unit charge.

For the record pre pay meters still get read the only difference is that a bill isnt sent out. But rest assured that anysigns of tampering are noted.

This info is more aimed at people who may be moving into shared houses where the bills may be in the name of someone who moved out 3 years ago. Most people just move in and think "ok prepay meter whatever" and dont check things out properly and dont inform the supplier as to the new residents.
(welgar, Thu 21 May 2009, 17:24, Reply)