[Charlie2309]

Am I on the wrong rate ? I’ve been on economy 7 pre pay meter for nearly 20 years. Desperate to have credit meter but eon still saying they’re not currently installing credit meters. Should I come off economy 7 at least as most of our usage is daytime. I don’t even know what time economy 7 is ? Think I enquired years ago and it was a couple of hours here and there late evening. Then again early morning ,Not all night. I Was advised then to leave it on economy 7 though as the standing charge was less. I’m So confused. Here’s last years statement for an idea on units used, and currents rates from 01/04/22

[DebF_EONNext]

Hey @Charlie2309,

Deb here i'm one of the community co-ordinators. Thanks for taking the time to post 😊 Just to let you know that I have edited your post to remove the images as they contained some of your sensitive personal data.

one of the options that we can offer is a flat rate economy 7 tariff, this would mean that you don't need to have meter exchanges or anything and you could change back in future if you decided you need an E7 tariff again in future.

Our Flat rate tariff charges the same rate for day and night and is the same as our single rate tariff 😊 If you contact our energy specialists they will be able to talk you through what options might suit you best 😊

[theunknowntech]

Hi @Charlie2309 ,

I've had to ask a moderator to edit your post as it revealed personal information. Sorry about that.

Based on what you've described though, I don't see any value in staying on Economy 7 anymore, so you may wish to discuss switching to a flat rate with customer service. Realistically, unless over 2/3 of your usage is during the night rate, Economy 7 will never be suitable for your usage patterns.

[Charlie2309]

@theunknowntech thank you for your reply. I will endeavour to get through to customer service. I’ll have a flask and snacks to hand :)

[CustomerOfLastResort]

@Charlie2309

Hi. To endorse what @theunknowntech has said, I've been through that process. I'd found that the shrinking differential between day and 'night' rates, combined with cutting down use of the installed storage heaters wasn't saving me anything. I also realised that my monthly direct debits were being set on the frankly ludicrous assumption that all my usage would be at the higher day rate in the year ahead. So, I'd already switched to a single-rate before being transferred to Eon Next by Ofgem. Your bill clearly says you'd save too.

The issue with Eon was that I was automatically put back on Economy 7 dual-rate, and Eon treats Next Flex as its only variable tariff despite it having several different versions so you can't actually use the website's 'tariff change' function. It can be done, but only via customer services. They recommend using online contact, but by phone it took me about 30 minutes (including hold time).

With regard to the meter issue, they're also quoting you an even greater saving with a 'credit meter' so I'd say it's totally unreasonable for them to refuse to change your prepayment one because they're "not currently installing" them. Especially because their programme for replacing those with smart meters is still continuing, as far as I know. I'd hope any passing rep here responds directly (if they haven't already).

I'd actually suggest you seriously consider lodging a complaint, including for any compensation due for higher bills you'll be paying, and may well already have (plus time and trouble). It'll probably help to log the date when your request to change was first refused for that reason, even if it was by a previous supplier, and every time since (to the best of your recollection). Certainly, dig out any previous documentation (bills/letters/email etc) you can and keep that, everything you get in future with your own notes of your contact with the company (as well as asking customer services to make sure they have logged their responses on your account-record at their end).

I think it would be best if you contact Citizens Advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ to check on what I've said. There's also the free Resolver independent resolution service https://www.resolver.co.uk/ that can help guide and support you through the whole complaint process, including going to the Energy Ombudsman if necessary.

Wishing you every success.

[Charlie2309]

Thank you. I’m still trying to contact them. I can’t call them as they are only open 9-5 Monday to Friday. The same hours I work too. And so far I’ve had no response to my email sent last Tuesday. Or Facebook messenger sent yesterday morning and again earlier today 😩
unfortunatly I cannot prove dates from my first couple of requests as was this was by phone probably 3-4 years ago.
originally i didn’t want direct debit ( I was self employed with varying income each week) so they refused.
then about a year ago I asked again saying I was ok with direct debit (by now I’m full time employed )
They cited covid as the reason for not doing house calls even though my meter is outside the front of my house.
asked again by phone late last year they said no because the switch over to eon next.
I did email asking again a few months ago. And was sent a reply just stating i could contact them to ask to go on a waiting list for when meters installation is restarted. But With no indication of how much longer that would be.
I can’t even change to a supplier who will fit a credit meter atm as non taking on new customers. I’ve been with eon at least 18 years I think. And even then I was tricked to signing up on my doorstep. ( I had refused to join , and the agent said can you sign here just to say you’re not interested )
But I let it go as they did seem cheaper than what I was paying my current supplier at the time. This was in the days before we had internet here and I was a young naive single mum.

i will check out your suggestions. Thank you so much xx

[Charlie2309]

My reply two months ago via email Hello Charlotte, Thank you for your email. Unfortunately we are not offering the service for Pre Payment to Credit meters at the moment, but I do know it is something that will be available in due course. Unfortunately I am unable to give a time frame of when this will become available. I can however register your interest for a credit meter, so as soon as it becomes available someone will contact you to let you know. Kind Regards Naomi

Naomi from E.ON Next

[Charlie2309]

I’d even offered to pay an upfront deposit