Moving into New Home - Help with gas & electric suppliers

ZarZar_2

Hi everyone
I hope someone can help me as i have spent hours searching through posts and forums to no avail.
I am moving into my new home in 2 weeks time (completion date) and i am moving from my parents house so i have no 'previous' suppliers.

I have tried various comparison sites to get prices but not one of them will allow me as a 'new' customer without a previous supplier information. I even went on to British Gas site direct and filled in all details for 'New customer' but when it got to the part of "how long have you lived at this address?" it would NOT accept my input of 0months,0years!

I seem to be going round in circles!!
Does anyone out there know how i can get:
a) a good deal/price for gas & electric
b) can i get cashback or discounts the same as someone 'switching suppliers'

Any help would be appreciated.

lemontart

first of all is it a new build property?

If not there will be registered gas suppliers and you can find out who they are by calling 0870 608 1524 in the first instance, if they hold no details and it is not under an igt (independant gas transporter) who may hold details then you are free to go to any supplier of choice but you must check first.

If there are details then you register with them giving them the meter readings you take as soon as you move in, once that is done you are free to move to another supplier if you wish.,

ZarZar_2

It is not a new build house and i know that the present (and soon to be past) residents have a Dual Fuel contract with NPower.

Are you saying that i will have to stay with NPower until i get in there, read the meters day of moving in and report them to NPower, and then start to shop around once in? How long will i have to stay with them?

Seems a bit of a backward way of doing things because how would i know if i wanted to stay with NPower until i have checked out all the comparison sites which at present I cannot do - because they all want 'previous suppliers' of which i have none.

Obviously i would want gas and electricity from the day i move in so was trying to set up as a 'new customer'. Seems I cannot do that.

Fire_Fox

Yes you will have to start out with NPower under a 'deemed contract'. This is so that you have a guaranteed supply and NPower have a guaranteed way to get paid for that supply. The alternative is what is often done with phones and internet, to cut you off. Not ideal for energy!

You only have to stay with NPower as long as it takes to switch. You can use a price comparison site now with your predicted usage to get an idea of who is cheapest, then start the switch in your first week. For the switch to complete takes four to six weeks, so you will only have to pay NPower for that time. On your first day in the new house be sure to ring in a reading AND ask to be put on a cheaper tariff than 'standard' (automatic one).

Gerrard_8_lfc

The BG app will not process as they need 3 years of your previous home to get supply.

The best option is to use cashback sites and join your supplier but I know BG ask for 3 years of your property history.

lemontart

You cannot switch power companies before you move in as it is not your property until the day you move in and it takes approx 6 weeks for a transfer to another supplier to go through.

As signing any contracts on someone else's property is simply not legal. It may seem backwards but that is the way it works, you can start the process once you move in but you have to register with current supplier first so they know who you are and can transfer it over to your new supplier. at present supply is in present occupiers name and you cannot have it transferred out their name to another company the way you want to,

ZarZar_2

thank you all for being so helpful - great advice

at least i know i will have a light on when i get there