Oooops:
This also applies to prepaid users. You may feel its prepaid meter... Some of those meters have accrued arrears. This is how it works. When a bill owes so much, and a prepaid meter is bought or given to the premises, The debts from the bill is factored into the prepaid meter and scheduled to be paid within a specific period of time.

HAH:
For example when my brother moved to his current house it has a prepaid meter, but when he went to buy credit he saw that there was outstanding 5000 naira to be paid upon further enquiry from nepa he was told that the house never had a prepaid meter but on instalation of the prepaid meter the outstanding debt of over 100k was transfered to the prepaid meter but to be paid installmentally he was told every month he will be paying 1000 naira that means it will take about 100 months to clear the debt,

If my brother tenders 5000 for airtime purchase every month only 4000 naira worth of credit will be given to him as they deduct their outstanding 1000 naira. This is what the op is asking us to be aware of when paying for rent.

In the case of my brother the landlord agreed that any outstanding paid will be deducted from his next rent.

HAH:
You will see it on the token from nepa, for example when you tender 5000 you will see l narrative like VAT 250. Unit 3750 and outstanding 1000. Whenever you see outstanding it means debt, from there you make further enquiry from the nepa staff he will tell you reason for outstanding, the balance remaining and duration of payment.

Juxtified:

Ok, this is helpful. Haven't used a prepaid metre before but planning to get one. I actually met a bill of over 320k that I'm still slugging out with my landlady, who by the way has stopped picking calls.

But is there a way to know even before you pay the rent and move into the house?

Oooops:
This is especially for my brothers and sisters in the everyday hustle... Lagos as a case study!
After gathering money for months and you finally decide that you want to rent another apartment and upgrade your status, which is of course a very good thing! Please put this into consideration!
This is an advice from my few months experience staying in Lagos and meeting with clients... Now enough of much talk!

Please, When you get that dream house of yours, I know d compound is cool, the rooms are big, and the neighbour's daughter is very pretty! But NEVER FAIL TO ASK FOR THE NEPA BILL/PREPAID RECEIPT OF THE HOUSE.

This is my point... I've seen many people rent a house after which they receive their bills for the next month and see an arrears of hundred's of thousands... some even more than the money used in renting the house! Trust me... NEPA bills are attached to properties and not individuals hence a former tenant can accrue debts and move out of the apartment while u Innocently go and rent it. The agents/Landlord will not show u the bill... You have to insist on seeing it.. else the bills will be on you as the new tenant and you will be held liable by NEPA... Afterall na u dem meet there...


This also applies to prepaid users. You may feel its prepaid meter... Some of those meters have accrued arrears. This is how it works. When a bill owes so much, and a prepaid meter is bought or given to the premises, The debts from the bill is factored into the prepaid meter and scheduled to be paid within a specific period of time, E.G

Benson owes 200k before he got a prepaid meter, NEPA (d distribution companies) wants to assist Benson since he can't clear it once, They factor the money into his meter say for 20months... That means Benson will be paying 10k as debt every month aside his normal recharge for the month!
So Benson moves out and you move in to meet a prepaid meter which makes you happy, only to recharge and discover you have a debt of 10k which you are to pay every month for a long time!!!

This you should put into consideration cos I have seen so many people in debt not incurred by them.

Have a lovely weekend

codemaniacs:
You're wrong about prepaid meters.. It uses card once the credit on the card has finished the light goes off...

Ranchhoddas:
How the person manage to owe them like that? You too start to owe your own.

greggng:
Estimated billings can make one sick that's why people find it hard to pay

Juxtified:

Ok, this is helpful. Haven't used a prepaid metre before but planning to get one. I actually met a bill of over 320k that I'm still slugging out with my landlady, who by the way has stopped picking calls.

But is there a way to know even before you pay the rent and move into the house?

xerxes456:
I will not pay for what I didn't consume... PHCN can come and disconnect till they are ready to do the right thing or sue me n c if they will win the case... Gennys and inverter full market... non it's high time bills are tied to the very consumer not buildings, IN FACT WE HAVE WHOLE LOT OF STRUCTURING TO DO IN THIS COUNTRY... #WENEEDANATION

murmee:
Just like the OP said, ask for the last electric bill of the apartment you want to rent. Do not pay until you see the bill.

obinna2nv:


You have to DEMAND to see the electricity bill(the very last month), for prepaid, you ask for the last recharge slip. If you have doubts, take the slip to the nearest disco office and ask the cashier for the debt profile of the meter, if its owing. Before you pay the rent. You don't plead or beg to see it, its your right to know, no matter how nice the place looks, no matter how sweet tongued the landlord or agent is. Unless its a brand new house, if they don't show you the bill, move on to the next search. You'll definitely get the house and peace of mind you're seeking for.

2packer:
The blame is not just on the previous tenant only. Sometimes after the tenants move out without outstanding arrear but phcn keep producing bill for such houses even when they know that no one is staying there. If it's five months before a new tenant enters the apartment then automatically you will find five months bill outstanding. Long story short PHCN is dubious, these rubbish will only stop when citizens start suing them and the judiciary waking up to their responsibilities as well

Oooops:
This is especially for my brothers and sisters in the everyday hustle... Lagos as a case study!
After gathering money for months and you finally decide that you want to rent another apartment and upgrade your status, which is of course a very good thing! Please put this into consideration!
This is an advice from my few months experience staying in Lagos and meeting with clients... Now enough of much talk!

Please, When you get that dream house of yours, I know d compound is cool, the rooms are big, and the neighbour's daughter is very pretty! But NEVER FAIL TO ASK FOR THE NEPA BILL/PREPAID RECEIPT OF THE HOUSE.

This is my point... I've seen many people rent a house after which they receive their bills for the next month and see an arrears of hundred's of thousands... some even more than the money used in renting the house! Trust me... NEPA bills are attached to properties and not individuals hence a former tenant can accrue debts and move out of the apartment while u Innocently go and rent it. The agents/Landlord will not show u the bill... You have to insist on seeing it.. else the bills will be on you as the new tenant and you will be held liable by NEPA... Afterall na u dem meet there...


This also applies to prepaid users. You may feel its prepaid meter... Some of those meters have accrued arrears. This is how it works. When a bill owes so much, and a prepaid meter is bought or given to the premises, The debts from the bill is factored into the prepaid meter and scheduled to be paid within a specific period of time, E.G

Benson owes 200k before he got a prepaid meter, NEPA (d distribution companies) wants to assist Benson since he can't clear it once, They factor the money into his meter say for 20months... That means Benson will be paying 10k as debt every month aside his normal recharge for the month!
So Benson moves out and you move in to meet a prepaid meter which makes you happy, only to recharge and discover you have a debt of 10k which you are to pay every month for a long time!!!

This you should put into consideration cos I have seen so many people in debt not incurred by them.

Have a lovely weekend

masties2:
I am in exactly the same crises. Moved into a house with accumulated bill of 80000. I do not intend to pay for what I did not use. I will only pay the current charges. The landlord should handle that.

singlessubway:
modmatty! Longest time

masties2:


I hail!