Which Scottish Power plan am I on? Confusion reigns...

cashcoward

Like most others posting here, I am on an SP contract which terminates on 31 August. However, for reasons known only to themselves, the energy companies take something like 6 weeks to transfer customers between them and Scottish Power tell me they will charge penalties if they are notified by another supplier that I am moving before 31 August - despite the fact that I will still be with them for at least a month beyond the end of my contract. What is especially frustrating is that my "best" switch is to Eon who, as someone has mentioned, are currently offering £80 cashback via Quidco - until 12 August!
Also, SP have just advised me by email that they will transfer me on 1 September to a new one-year contract on their "Capped Price Energy September 2010" tariff, or, if I request it, to their Standard Tariff, with no end date. In either case, the cost will be the same, as the Capped Tariff is currently equal to the Standard Tariff.
This strikes me as grossly unfair as SP are firstly threatening to apply penalties although there is no possibility of my leaving prior to 31 August and, secondly, are tying me to a "standard" (and presumably seriously uncompetitive) tariff for around a month beyond the date to which I am under contract with them.