Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

y-o-r-k-y

Burbage_Fox_2 said:

y-o-r-k-y said:

Been waiting over 6 weeks now for an outcome , now replied to original confirmation email to chase.

I will be interested in how you get on I will be 7 weeks on 25/04/23. 

I’m just told by council there is a backlog 🙁 not a lot work’s in the UK lately for me.

Got the same reply from .gov.uk this morning . Lets hope the council catch up with back log soon.

Historian_2

Tried to cancel my account with Avantigas. Been out of contract with them since end of last year. As I have plenty in my tank I haven't signed up with anyone else yet. But Avantigas seem reluctant to say goodbye -

What do you make of this?  Do they own me? It seems very bizarre. 

 

JerryW

Historian_2 said:

Tried to cancel my account with Avantigas. Been out of contract with them since end of last year. As I have plenty in my tank I haven't signed up with anyone else yet. But Avantigas seem reluctant to say goodbye -

What do you make of this?  Do they own me? It seems very bizarre. 

 

They don't own you but in all probability they DO own your tank. If you have been paying a standing charge, that is what it is for. And the tank ownership needs to be settled. You have options:

- take out a contract with another supplier. They will transfer ownership of the tank from Avanti to them. This is the most common way of dealing with the matter

- have Avanti remove their tank. There will be a charge for this.

- it may be they will sell the tank to you, when it would become yours. I don't have experience in this area, perhaps others here do. I have always shied away from it, because frankly I don't want to own a tank. Also there are outgoings. Calor replaced my tank and all the pipework from there to the house.. not something I would want to consider myself.

Whichever option you choose, it all needs to be settled before the tank can legally be filled by anyone but Avanti. Let us know how you get on!

Goldie99

Agree with 'JerryW', ownership of the tank is the most likely issue - assuming it's owned by Avanti, what happens when you change supplier is your new supplier requests, and agrees, a 'transfer' price with Avanti, to assume ownership of the tank (I believe it's now regulated such that Avanti cannot refuse, but I'm not sure of the details).

I've likewise always avoided any question of purchasing my own tank - technically,the tank will be classed as a 'pressure vessel', and therefore has to be periodically tested and formally certified, I believe every 10 years. The owner is responsible for said testing & certification, and obviously the costs thereof...the last time I queried my tank certification date (which was > 10 yrs previously at that point  - it's marked on the tank), my supplier quickly sent a brand new certified tank, plus truck with crane, and simply swapped the tanks, and contents, over.

I've switched supplier probably 4 times in the past 20 yrs, and it's typically straightforward, albeit a PITA... the whole LPG market could use better regulation, but I'm not holding my breath...

Good luck anyway.

Historian_2

Thanks, guys. Really appreciate your comments and guidance. What a shame Avantigas couldn't have given me such a helpful reply. 

Burbage_Fox_2

Finally had confirmation that my AFP will be in my bank in 5 days.  

Odd how I raised a formal complaint the same day.  

Maybe a coincidence ! 

y-o-r-k-y

Burbage_Fox_2 said:

Finally had confirmation that my AFP will be in my bank in 5 days.  

Odd how I raised a formal complaint the same day.  

Maybe a coincidence ! 

Still not got mine. Did enquire again last week but just fobbed off with council back log excuse. They have not even confirmed weather I've qualified.

Lisa_mj

y-o-r-k-y said:

Burbage_Fox_2 said:

Finally had confirmation that my AFP will be in my bank in 5 days.  

Odd how I raised a formal complaint the same day.  

Maybe a coincidence ! 

Still not got mine. Did enquire again last week but just fobbed off with council back log excuse. They have not even confirmed weather I've qualified.

Sorry to hear this, very frustrating, not acceptable that you've been waiting so long.  Maybe try the helpline again (hopefully it's still being manned) and make a formal complaint like Burbage_Fox.  Good luck!

Bethmiss

If you're having problems getting your AFP, you could try contacting your MP/MSP Member of Welsh Assembly etc to ask for help. 

Sorting_Hat

Goldie99 said:

Agree with 'JerryW', ownership of the tank is the most likely issue - assuming it's owned by Avanti, what happens when you change supplier is your new supplier requests, and agrees, a 'transfer' price with Avanti, to assume ownership of the tank (I believe it's now regulated such that Avanti cannot refuse, but I'm not sure of the details).

I've likewise always avoided any question of purchasing my own tank - technically,the tank will be classed as a 'pressure vessel', and therefore has to be periodically tested and formally certified, I believe every 10 years. The owner is responsible for said testing & certification, and obviously the costs thereof...the last time I queried my tank certification date (which was > 10 yrs previously at that point  - it's marked on the tank), my supplier quickly sent a brand new certified tank, plus truck with crane, and simply swapped the tanks, and contents, over.

I've switched supplier probably 4 times in the past 20 yrs, and it's typically straightforward, albeit a PITA... the whole LPG market could use better regulation, but I'm not holding my breath...

Good luck anyway.

The self owing route made sense when the switching process involved the physical exchange of tanks. If you had an underground one switching was pretty much impossible.
However since 2009 the switching process became a mere paper exercise this meant that the focus on marketing and promotion (better lpg rates)  is on the contracted customers

With contracts of course what that refers to is the exclusivity period, so during the two years the customer can only buy LPG from that firm and no other as long as they live at the property. 
After the two years the contract rolls on (tank rental still needs to be paid etc) but what does change is the customer can now choose another LPG firm if they want to.