Npower isn't letting me switch suppliers? Help pls

theone999

Hi:

This is my first time renting outside of student halls and my first post here.

Basically, I decided that Scottish Power for electricity would be cheaper than Npower which is my current supplier. And as far as I understand it, you can switch suppliers any time.

So I rang Scottish Power to ask to switch suppliers to them on 14th November. I get the 6 weeks warning on the phone blah blah.

Around 20th December, I am wondering why it is taking so long, especially on the Application Status it says the switch should have been done by 22nd.

So I ring Scottish Power. -> They tell me that an application had been sent to Npower on 12th Dec BUT apparently I've already transfered to another supplier and they have to wait a bit to try again.

I did not consent to switch to any other supplier.

So I ring Npower -> They tell me that I havne't switched to any new suppliers and I am still with them. They also deny having ever received an application to switch from Scottish Power on 12th Dec.

I head back home for uni holidays.

Tonight -> I've found that the estimated switching date is 15th of Jan on the Scottish Power application status page.

I'm heading back to flat later so I'll suppose I'll see if they've sent me any letters over xmas, which I think is unlikely.


I don't understand why Npower is not allowing me to leave. I paid the last bill I received and I assume that when I switch suppliers Npower will send me a final bill?

Is Npower doing something illegal? Should I complain to Ofgem?

Thanks for reading and hopefully answering.

trinidadone

Hey bro, sorry to hear you are having difficulty with switching electricity suppliers.

Also, a warm welcome to Moneysavingexpert, well done for posting your first thread, i am sure you will post many more soon.

You ask if it is legal if Npower can stop your transfer process, but you also said when you contacted Npower by telephone and they informed you they have not received the transfer request from scotish power.

Sounds strange!!

I had a simular problem when i transferred my Individual Savings Account from one bank to another. The home bank said they had contacted the new bank, but the second bank told me they had received no paper work from the first bank. I got so frustrated, I decided to use the complaints process of both organisations. I did not tell other organisation that I was complaining and guess what, my ISA account was switched promptly and I received compensation from both parties.

I guess what I am getting at is maybe you should log a complaint online using both companies complaints process, what do you think?

I always think getting things down on paper often gets things moving!!

let me/us know what you do

Vestra

Sounds like Scottish Power have registered the wrong mpan/meter point possibly one that someone has recently just switched with and that's why it has been blocked.