Scottish Power

[jambutty]

My brother when he rented his house out had a normal meter in - when the people who had it did a moonlight flit - left him with the leccy and gas bills..... which were sky high. So before he rented it out again he asked for a prepayment one put in.

That’s fair enough as far as it goes. Except for one tiny detail. Energy is supplied to a person at a particular address not the other way around.

Social housing landlords like the local authority or housing associations are not liable for their tenant’s energy bills if they renege and neither is a private landlord unless the property is rented as part or fully furnished. Canny private landlords rent a house out with carpets already laid thus making it partially furnished and that’s how they get away with insisting on pre-payment meters and re-selling the energy.

These pre-payment/card meters are just another way of extorting money out of others. Far too many ordinary folk who cannot get council or housing association properties to rent are forced into the private market and fall prey to sharp practices. Who are these people? Why the most vulnerable.

It wouldn’t be so bad if the Tenancy Agreement stated the facts about energy meters but it doesn’t.

 

[Neil]

When I was private renting the meter belonged to the supplier not the house owner. I had a pre payment meter changed to a standard one just by phoned my supplier. It has nothing to do with the property owner. I also did it the other way round many years ago. I rented a house and then had a prepayment meter fitted.

I think people forget the extra cost of these meters. Put that together with the way you pay, at a local shop often so they want their cut for allowing you to pay their. Then there is the cost of these pay zone type machines as well. Is it any wownder that the energy costs you more money when on pre pay?

Why should it cost the same on pre pay and direct debit? Those on direct debit would in effect be subsidising the expensive equipment needed by pre pay customers.

The Government appear to be moaning about the cost of pre pay. I wonder if they actually know why it costs more.