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New home supplied by Boost but wish to change to Direct Debit, is this an option?


Hi there

I have just picked up the keys to my new house and the vendors advised me that the gas & electricity are both provided by OVO. A smart meter is installed and payment is by way of PAYG using separate top-up cards.

I am eager to change the payment method to Direct Debit.

How can I go about this? I can't find any details on the OVO website and an email to customer services has been met with a particularly unhelpful response suggesting that they can't offer any advice because my email address isn't registered with them.

Thanks

Best answer by Mw2870

Updated on 26/06/24 by Shads_OVO

 

Welcome to the OVO online community and your new home!


Sorry to hear about the difficulties you’ve had when contacting our Support Team

 

As you already have a smart meter at the property, you’d be able to request a mode change from prepayment to Pay Monthly. You’d just need to contact our PAYG team to do so.

 

How to get in contact about my OVO Pay As You Go account

 

  • The best way to get in touch with us is via chat here. Just click the green chat icon on the bottom right of your screen. We’re here to help anytime from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm on Saturday.
  • Or call us on 0330 175 9669 during the same times.

 

If you’re with Boost

 

These threads should also be helpful:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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45 replies

Mw2870
Carbon Catcher***
  • Carbon Catcher***
  • 28 replies
  • Answer
  • November 6, 2018

Updated on 26/06/24 by Shads_OVO

 

Welcome to the OVO online community and your new home!


Sorry to hear about the difficulties you’ve had when contacting our Support Team

 

As you already have a smart meter at the property, you’d be able to request a mode change from prepayment to Pay Monthly. You’d just need to contact our PAYG team to do so.

 

How to get in contact about my OVO Pay As You Go account

 

  • The best way to get in touch with us is via chat here. Just click the green chat icon on the bottom right of your screen. We’re here to help anytime from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm on Saturday.
  • Or call us on 0330 175 9669 during the same times.

 

If you’re with Boost

 

These threads should also be helpful:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  • Author
  • New Member***
  • 1 reply
  • November 7, 2018
This evening I received an email from Robyn at Boost which completely contradicts the advice given by Mw2870.

She states "We currently can't swap meters between pay as you go and Direct Debit. The pay as you go meters are part of a sister company of OVO called Boost. As the two sides have been separated we can't change between the two modes unfortunately."

All I can say is that I'm not in the least bit impressed and am seriously considering a switch to another provider.

Mw2870
Carbon Catcher***
  • Carbon Catcher***
  • 28 replies
  • November 7, 2018
That is disappointing to hear @Manicheather. Especially given that article I linked to on OVOs website probably needs to reflect that they can’t do it, even though they say:
Can I apply to switch to a prepayment meter and Pay As You Go?
Yes, almost certainly.

Sounds like your options are to transfer to an energy company that can facilitate a swap, but it might involve a change of meters and maybe a charge?

I found this article on the boost forum which seems consistent with what you were told:
https://forum.boostpower.co.uk/my-account-my-boost-24/can-i-change-from-pay-as-you-go-payg-to-pay-monthly-paym-credit-45

It seems like seperating into two companies means they are unlikely to offer this in the future.

Mw2870
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  • Carbon Catcher***
  • 28 replies
  • November 7, 2018
Just found this too:
https://forum.ovoenergy.com/i-m-joining-ovo-i-m-leaving-ovo-56/could-ovo-change-my-meters-from-prepayment-to-pay-monthly-1533

Seems like the official advise from OVO is to do it through a different supplier!!!!

Mw2870
Carbon Catcher***
  • Carbon Catcher***
  • 28 replies
  • November 7, 2018
There is some more useful information here:
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/gas-and-electricity/prepayment-meters/

As an existing boost prepayment customer, is it possible to switch over to ovo energy credit meter? I know we will need work done on our meter, but with prices coming in averaging over £200 per month, we need to look into this asap. Thanks 


Blastoise186
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  • April 15, 2022

Hey @DaveJones1403 !

Sure thing, this is indeed something that can be done. You’ll need to have a chat with Boost Customer Service and they can explore the options with you. If you decide to go ahead from there, they’ll make the arrangements to switch your account over.

If you do switch, the meters will likely be replaced with smart meters, which will make things easier in the future.


  • Carbon Cutter**
  • 4 replies
  • July 12, 2022

Hi, I joined OVO last month, 14th of june after recently moving into my new home. On one of the emails sent OVO stated they would start providing power to my new home from the 2nd of July. Up until today I have not been able to access most of my online profile, meter readings and what not due to the switch. I assumed that the reason no energy has been supplied is because of my profile and account not being finalized. But now that a direct debit payment has been made for the month, I have access to my online account and can see meter readings, usage there is still no electricity or gas being supplied to my new home. I phoned OVO today and raised the concern with them but from what was briefly muttered, OVO are supplying my new home and that they have not cut off the supply. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 


Blastoise186
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  • July 12, 2022

Hi @Azerith ,

Just want to check, is the problem that you’ve got no gas or electricity coming into the property at all? If so, would you be OK to show us photos of both meters and everything near them please? I’d like to check a few things to see if I can help figure this one out.

Thanks!


  • Carbon Cutter**
  • 4 replies
  • July 12, 2022

@Blastoise186  There is electricity and gas being provided or should I say can be provided through the use of emergency credit but I do not have an account with the energy supplier who the old occupant used (I believe it was sse) as I applied for OVO almost immediately, and as I was not moving in straight away I wouldn't need the use of electricity/gas until I do move in. But now that payments have been made to OVO and them stating from the 2nd July electricity and gas would be provided I'm just unsure as to what's happening. I'll send a picture of both of the meters aswell just incase


  • Carbon Cutter**
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  • July 12, 2022

 


Blastoise186
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  • July 12, 2022

Emergency credit suggests the meters are in Prepayment Mode. If you are actually with OVO, this shouldn’t be the case. Please check that you’re not with Boost. Certainly the screens you’re showing me don’t indicate Prepayment Mode being active...

Also, there appears to be a fault with your meters. I’d suggest phoning this through on 0330 303 5063 and request an emergency engineer visit to investigate further.


  • Carbon Cutter**
  • 4 replies
  • July 12, 2022

@Blastoise186 I will have to phone for an emergency engineer then, I would not believe that I am with Boost as when I joined ovo there was no mention of boost, or any pre payments for electricity or gas, just a monthly direct debit payment. 


Blastoise186
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  • July 12, 2022

No worries. Hopefully my advice helped either way. :)

Getting the meters changed over to Credit Mode is definitely possible. From a technical point of view, it’s a simple case of pinging them with a SMETS Command which automatically does the rest in the background. However, fixing a fault with the meters themselves is another story.

It’s quite possible the meters will need to be replaced. If the replacement meters end up NOT being Smart Meters, you’ll be able to ask OVO to upgrade you back to Smart Meters again at a later date whenever you’re ready.


  • New Member***
  • 1 reply
  • July 16, 2022

Hi there .I have recently just took over a property that  is supplied by boost pay as you go ...I have requested to change this to Ovo pay monthly account as my previous property was pay monthly with SSE I was advised by SSE they would not be able to take my supply with me as they had been taken over by Ovo and  that account will be closed by them when I left that property...  on my new property the agents I talk  to at boost  keep telling me that a switch to direct debit is not possible as I do not have medical needs ....I've read your forum and it states this is no longer the case..please can you advise on who can help with this ...I've been going round in circles for 2 weeks now  all I want is pay monthly account as I have done for many years before....due to working from home I can nun the risk of running out of electricity

 

 


Blastoise186
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  • July 17, 2022

Sounds like one for @Tim_OVO and @Jess_OVO . Please wait as they’ll be back tomorrow.


Jess_OVO
Retired Moderator
  • Retired Moderator
  • 593 replies
  • July 18, 2022

Hi @Gavbrum78,

 

Welcome to the OVO online community.

 

Firstly I’m so sorry to hear that you may have been mis-advised when contacting our PAYG sister company, Boost. As outlined in the topic above, we now offer a change from PAYG to Pay Monthly for those passing certain criteria. You’ll need to pass a manual credit check and be able to set-up a Direct Debit to pay for your energy use in future. It’s worth mentioning that your meters would also need to be capable of supporting Pay Monthly, so we’d recommend getting smart meters installed (if you haven’t already) as these can be remotely switched in to a Pay Monthly mode. 

 

As long as these criteria are met there should be no issue requesting a switch to a Pay Monthly plan with OVO, however this does need to be processed by the Boost Support Team. I’d encourage you to reach out the Boost Team via webchat, linking to this thread so there’s no confusion.

 

Let us know if you need any further help here.


  • New Member***
  • 1 reply
  • August 2, 2022

Has anyone had any luck changing from Boost to Ovo DD yet ? I’m going round in circles.

We were moved to Boost by Ovo, but now it seems impossible to return to DD even if there has been no energy debt since the initial transfer (years ago).

Any advice greatly appreciated.


Tim_OVO
Community Manager
  • Community Manager
  • 1878 replies
  • August 3, 2022

I’m sorry to hear about these difficulties switching from Boost to OVO ‘pay monthly’, @charlotteh

 

OVO Support won’t be able to help at this stage as this process is managed by boost, their support team and operations team. Speak to them on web chat on the bottom right of their homepage

 

We hope to see you with OVO soon! 


  • Carbon Cutter*
  • 3 replies
  • December 19, 2022

I started a new account with OVO for when i moved into my new house. But when i got there the meter shows Vend Only, as the previous occupant paid the electricity by card at a local shop. The meter screen wont change from Vend Only no matter what buttons i press, so i guess it is locked. Any ideas, as im not sure who is supplying my electricity and trying to get through on the phone to OVO is a nightmare

 

Graham


Blastoise186
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  • December 19, 2022

Hey @gpayne2508 ,

Sounds like you need to set up an account with Boost first, rather than OVO. Please call them on 0330 102 7517. Once you’re set up, they’ll arrange a key/card for you. You can then request to migrate to OVO Pay Monthly via their support team if you wish.

It also sounds to me like the meter is probably dead. Mind showing us some photos?


  • Carbon Cutter*
  • 3 replies
  • December 19, 2022

im at work, away from home at moment so cant get picture until friday. Regarding Boost, do i need to cancel with OVO first, then reregister with Boost, then go back to OVO after?  Its just that OVO have already taken my first payment


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 7965 replies
  • December 19, 2022

Let me ask for some advice on this one then. Back in 24 hours max, hopefully!


Emmanuelle_OVO
Community Manager
  • Community Manager
  • 2562 replies
  • December 20, 2022

Hey @gpayne2508,

 

Welcome to the OVO Online Community,

 

Unless you’ve specifically requested to be changed to pay monthly with OVO, if the previous tenant was pay as you go, this means you’ll need to contact Boost Energy with any queries. 

 

Your meter is a top up meter, once you’ve set up an account with Boost you’ll be able to add credit to your meter using the App. You can also request to switch to pay monthly if you’d prefer. 


  • Carbon Cutter*
  • 3 replies
  • December 20, 2022

Thank you for the advice, now I need to get first monthly payment off OVO


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