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Pre-Payment Meter Standing Charges.

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If somebody moves into a new house and there are pre-paid meters as used by the previous owner, is the new owner responsible for any standing charges if no electricity or gas is consumed for a period of months? The new owner has not contracted with the energy suppliers in his own name or credited the meters with a key thingy.


Z.
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    The meters should have been read and the ownership of the debt clarified at the moment  the property changed hands.

    Otherwise, if you buy a house with a debt attached and just start to use the existing keys,  the electricity company are likely to come after the new owner for the existing debts.

    The Citizens advice Bureau say the following  

    Contact the current supplier straight away if your new home has a prepayment meter. Try not to use a key or card, or put any money on the meter, until you’ve done this. Otherwise you risk paying extra for debts owed by the people who lived there before you.



    If you do need to put money on the meter before you contact the current supplier, tell them this when you get in touch. They will pay you back for any extra charges you’ve paid, as long as you can prove when you moved in.



    Ask the supplier to:




    • take any debt off the meter so you don’t end up paying extra




    • give you a new prepayment key or card so you can put money on the meter



    ......




    Which makes it all sound so easy.


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  • 0
    The meters should have been read and the ownership of the debt clarified at the moment  the property changed hands.

    Otherwise, if you buy a house with a debt attached and just start to use the existing keys,  the electricity company are likely to come after the new owner for the existing debts.

    The Citizens advice Bureau say the following  

    Contact the current supplier straight away if your new home has a prepayment meter. Try not to use a key or card, or put any money on the meter, until you’ve done this. Otherwise you risk paying extra for debts owed by the people who lived there before you.



    If you do need to put money on the meter before you contact the current supplier, tell them this when you get in touch. They will pay you back for any extra charges you’ve paid, as long as you can prove when you moved in.



    Ask the supplier to:




    • take any debt off the meter so you don’t end up paying extra




    • give you a new prepayment key or card so you can put money on the meter



    ......




    Which makes it all sound so easy.


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