Is Switching Possible When You Owe Utilities Money?

Stan73

I am certain I can save money by switching tariffs/companies for both electricity and gas. However I was underpaying for ages and so I am now overpaying to catch up.

My question is that I do not want to switch and then have to pay a reasonably large balance figure in one go - is it possible to switch and avoid doing this?

My original plan was to switch when I was close to parity but thought I would find out if I could do this without having to wait.
Your hopefully

Stan

Quentin

No, they won't release you if you have a debt with them.

1carminestocky

Not actually 100% true, Quentin. There have been instances on here where people have had a debt and still been allowed to leave. The 'ruling' if it exists certainly isn't cast in stone...

Stan73

Is it possible to switch tariffs with the same company? IE from the tariff I am on to an internet tariff etc? Or will they want me to pay off all that I owe and then let me switch?

Snakeeyes21

it would depend how much of a debt it is and wether you already have a seperate payment plan set up against the debt.

Stan73

No separate plan - just that my monthly DD was increased to cover the higher usage PLUS the amount owed over the next 12 months (from the date they did the calculation which was in December with large payments starting in Jan)

Quentin

Stan73 wrote: »

Is it possible to switch tariffs with the same company?.....

Switching tariffs with the same company should be ok. Ring and ask them.

ADIE2805

Hi Stan,
I had outstanding bill's with Gas(npower) and Electric(eon). But had no problems switching both to Atlantic.
They got passed to DCA and now paying both at what I can afford.;)

Adie

1carminestocky

ADIE2805 wrote: »

Hi Stan,
I had outstanding bill's with Gas(npower) and Electric(eon). But had no problems switching both to Atlantic.
They got passed to DCA and now paying both at what I can afford.;)

Adie

Precisely. You have to be careful about what you read on here.

Businessgirl

Basically, like the others said, it really does depend. If you were a Business site, it would be a lot more complex, but it does sound as if you are a domestic site!

Get in touch with your current supplier and check what you can do!

stewie_griffin

ADIE2805 wrote: »

Hi Stan,
I had outstanding bill's with Gas(npower) and Electric(eon). But had no problems switching both to Atlantic.
They got passed to DCA and now paying both at what I can afford.;)

Adie

And what happened to your credit rating??