Hi JockDock

You must be very frustrated. Unfortunately, it does prove that lender decisions are outwith our control after our best efforts to correct our credit record.

Did they quote it was Experian?
When did you see your last Credit Reference report?
Have you opened any new accounts recently that might show on the report?
Are there any late payments (amber or red circles in payment records)?
Have you checked the other credit reference agencies to see what they are showing?
Did your Trust Deed include anything from British Gas that they may still have on record?

Just some thoughts, but the truth is, they can make their own decisions.

On the other hand, other companies have different criteria and ironically you may be approved for a loan for something else.

It's true jockdock - one of the things we've seen here time and again is that the users of credit reference agencies rely on these scores much more than lenders do. It's a misplaced confidence.

It can work both ways. For example I've heard stories of credit card providers turning down people for 0% interest balance transfers because their credit profile indicates that they'll not use the card for further purchases and will pay all of their bills on time. They might be creditworthy, but they're not likely to be profitable.

Likewise some credit card providers (like Vanquis who we hear about here quite a lot) know that many of their customers will default but the interest rate is set high enough for everyone else (who do pay) to make the exercise profitable.

Basically, lenders use credit files to profile customers against a model that they believe will make them money. This is very different to relying upon an arbitrary credit score provided by a credit reference agency.

Have you had sight of your Experian report?

Hi Jock dock
Did you arrange for this meter to be fitted or did you inherit it when you moved in. If you inherited it you should consider raising a complaint with BG. If that still fails and you are still unhappy you can take the matter to ofgem, after you have exhausted their complaints procedures to adjudicate.

If you don't fancy that you could try advising them you intend to switch providers and see if that works.

Prepayment meters are the most expensive way to purchase your energy and the potential savings you could make are substantial. If you have never had debt on your power account with them they are on dodgy ground, bear in mind it's costly for them to change the meter over and they will be reluctant to do so and will try to avoid doing so.

In your shoes I would be exploring every avenue. Every penny counts these days!

Sorry for the delayed update.

After a LOT of time on the phone and demanding to speak to a Manager (with an OFGEM threat thrown in) British Gas finally deemed to complete a "manual check" of my credit file and surprise it came back positive and a credit meter will be installed.

There really is something wrong with the whole Credit Score fiasco, if I hadn't been 100% confident that my report was completely clear I could have been stuck on high price energy indefinitely.

Well done, just shows what sticking to your guns can do. Useful info for others that might have similar problems, so thanks for sharing.