Changing Credit Meter To Pay-As-You-Go

[Ch49]

Sorry - first attempt got lost !
For the past five weeks we have been struggling with British Gas to change our credit meter to a pay as you go meter.
It all started so well - our Direct Debit was cancelled and we were told we would be changed over in about forty eight hours. Nothing happened. We rang again the next week and were promised we would be changed cover in the next forty eight hours. Nothing happened. We contacted them again and were told that we needed to insert a code into the meter. Nobody had mentioned this before and we had to tell them that we live in an apartment block and our meters are in a cupboard in the entrance hall - our meter being high up in a corner and unreachable for us as we are both of a certain age and very good at climbing. British Gas finally said they would send an engineer to have a look at the meter. A very nice young man arrived and on first looking at the meter he said it was far too high up. He had a closer look and said that the meter was still in Direct Debit mode and not payg. This being late Friday afternoon he said he would ring the necessary department on Monday morning. He rang Monday morning and was told we would be changed over within twenty four hours. Nothing happened. He rang again on the Wednesday and was told again the meter would be changed within twenty-four hours. Nothing happened. This morning we decided we had had more than enough. We contacted British Gas and told them the whole sorry saga again. Again they told us we needed to enter a code in the meter. Once again we said we were unable to access the meter and they asked if a neighbour could do it for us. As most of our neighbours are over eighty we said that would not be possible and could they send an engineer to sort out our problem. They said they could not send an engineer just to do that but as it seems that our meter needs to be moved lower down they said they would arrange that for us and somebody would be coming to us within five days.
Do you think we will ever have our meter changed?

[Canary42]

Tell them you've smelt a gas leak. Then when they turn up and accuse you of lying to them, you reply,"Now you know how it feels. While you're here sort this bloody problem out".

[Ch49]

Sounds very good but don't think it would work !

[goodgoalie]

Why do you want to change to a pay-as-you-go meter - their tariffs are nearly always more expensive. How would you top it up if it's so high up, would there be some accessible slot for the way you would pay?

[Ch49]

You can top it up on a phone or tablet. We want to be in charge of our money instead of having inflated estimates

[goodgoalie]

There's no need to have estimated bills (or have a smart meter). All you have to do is give them regular readings - I send mine every 90 days and that generates a bill which is taken out of the credit in my account.

I really think you might regret getting a pay-as-you-go meter. Some advice here from a reliable source:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity/

[Karamia]

I read and send my gas and electric readings in every month (online) and so get a monthly bill which I can read online, so I always know exactly what I use each month. I can alter/lower my direct debit payments if I end up in too much credit etc. Would not want to change to a payg meter.

[Gettingonabit]

I'm exactly the same as Goodgoalie. I send my readings in every quarter and my due payment is then taken by direct debit a fortnight after they have issued the bill.

[10ClarionSt]

Canary, there are two depts in gas, domestic and mains. The person who comes to investigate a leak is from the mains supply section. He could only cut you off, then arrange for repair. He couldn't do anything about this particular situation.