Basically you and your future tenants are receiving less fair treatment from Scottish Power because of the irresponsible actions of your former tenant. The less fair treatment could be related to the cost of the power or the convenience of paying.

I would write to them explaining this, and request that either they remove the meter free of charge, or you will pay the card meter bills for a period of time at your discretion, and then claim back the difference between those bills and the bills that would have been due if the tenant had not been so irresponsible. The so called 'small claims court' is good for this, and the court costs get added to the costs that Scottish Power would have to pay. The courts do not look kindly on large corporations bullying consumers in this way, so I think the odds of success are in your favour!

Good luck!

Suppliers do not need the householder's permission to install a pre-payment meter as the meter is not owned by the homeowner but the supplier. As has been mentioned it has more-than-likely been installed as your tenants were unable ro easily pay for the energy they had already consumed - the installation of a pre-payment meter gives yours upplier security of payment and your teants on-going use of energy. As you are requesting work to be conducted your current provider is not willing to pay for this out of their own pocket and are passing this cost onto yourself.

I understand you are angry at the situation but try and step back and remove yourself from the situation. All your supplier did was protect their investment, installing a pre-payment meter guarentee's payment and ensures no further arrers cna be accumulated, its also a means of managing a balance. It's really no different to landlords requesting as ecurity deposit when they let a property.

Depending on usage prepayment meters can be the same cost or cheaper than a standard metering. Standard meters usually have a primary unit and secondary unit charge. (for example 900 units per year at 21p and everything else at 9p), a meter with a standing charge will then have a flat unit rate for all consumption.

The installation of the prepayment meters will not have been the tenant's choice. All suppliers will usually insist on this type of meter for tenants who do not have a proven record of managing their finances. Some suppliers charge for removal, some don't. I suggest that you investgate which suppliers do not charge for a meter change and then change supplier to them before organising the meter change.

You should be aware that, had prepayment meters not been fitted, you could quite possibly now be facing the expense of paying a reconnection charge or similar. You should also be aware that, unless your next tenant has a good record of paying fuel bills, the meters could be swapped back to prepayment meters when they move in.

I was unfortunate enough to allow a concern to install a tenant in my property ( my parents former home) who needed time and support to re integrate into the community. As this tenant terrorised the neighbours, tortured a puppy she acquired (against tenancy agreement and which must have been seen by the "support workers" who visited daily ) and caused police to be called to the area I was asked by my agents to give notice to quit. This took place. The 2 main room carpets had cigarette burns all over them and were damp with what we are pretty sure was animal urine. These have been removed and all the other problems the tenant caused are being remedied. However we have discovered that pre payment meters were installed for gas and elctricity from Scottish Power. On contacting them I was initially told that the price for gas and electricity was the same as any "normal" ie settle quarterly account. As I sounded incredulous at that I probed further and we then tell me that it is -5p dearer per unit. So the comment about it being the same was entirely false. My daughter has since told me that there is a weekly standing charge for this "facility". When I informed SP that I was the legal owner of the property and that I certainly had not authorised their installation I wanted them removed. I was then informed that this would be £130 per meter!

I would like to know has anyone else had this sort of problem and did they manage to get it sorted? ie not pay £260 to have a property returned to the state you wanted it in?

At least I think it should serve as a warning to others to make sure if you rent properties to tenants to make sure that they don't do this to you.

I find it dreadful that any utility company can do this seemingly to any property on anybody's say so. I intend to try to get them removed.

( and yes I did not return the bond put down by the tenant but that doesn't cover the renewal of the carpets let alone the missing shower parts, missing keys... had to have the locks changed etc etc )