utilities, moving, bankruptcy

sparkle83

Hiya, have tried this on the bankruptcy board but waasnt sure if here waas more appropriate.

We went bankrupt on 3/3/09, waiting on possible early discharge that could come any day now. Moving house next weds, obviously new property will have different suppliers for gas and electric, both metered to the best of my knowledge.

1: how difficult will the companies be when they set up my account?
2: will companies even let me have an account with them once they see I'm bankrupt?
3: will they put me on a really high rate?
4: should I try and switch back to the companies I already have a good established history with?

wasnt expecting to need to move, so all very overwhelming atm.

thanks
Crystal

spiro

1: they may demand a security deposit and that you have a prepayment meter.
2: as 1
3: most ppm rates are higher than monthly direct debit or quarterly cash/cheque.
4: Before you move (i.e. today) you can contact you existing supplier and ask them to supply you from the day you move in that way you dont need to move to another supplier at all.

Joyful

Not true Spiro. It can take from 4 to 6 weeks to move supplier. Sparkle 83 will have to set up an account with the current supplier at the new property until the supply leaves them.

If by metered you mean they already have PP meters there will be no problem. If Credit meters they may ask for a security deposit which will be returned back to you when you move suppliers. It will then be up to the supplier of your choice whether to take a security deposit or insist on a PP meter as they have your history with them to back their decision..

spiro

Joyful wrote: »

Not true Spiro. It can take from 4 to 6 weeks to move supplier. Sparkle 83 will have to set up an account with the current supplier at the new property until the supply leaves them.

Why do people keep saying this. If it is a change of tenancy coincident with Change of Supply the new supplier can set the Supply Start Date to 1 day after he registers to take on the site. Because it is a change of tenant there is no objection window so this decreases any possible delays. Given they are no moving for a week their supplier should be able to start the process as soon as they phone them. He should also state he wants to be his supplier from that date when he phones them. Any delays is due to poor performance by the supplier.

Cardew

spiro wrote: »

Why do people keep saying this. If it is a change of tenancy coincident with Change of Supply the new supplier can set the Supply Start Date to 1 day after he registers to take on the site. Because it is a change of tenant there is no objection window so this decreases any possible delays. Given they are no moving for a week their supplier should be able to start the process as soon as they phone them. He should also state he wants to be his supplier from that date when he phones them. Any delays is due to poor performance by the supplier.

That I am afraid is not an option.

It might be possible if the new property has been unoccupied for several weeks.

It takes several weeks to set up a change. You firstly have to give your present company a meter reading.

How do you do this if there are other occupants in the house?

Who pays for the gas/electricity used by the present occupants after that meter reading?

Might the present occupants object to you switching them from their present tariff??

Lastly do you think any Utility company will set up a new account for a new property(even if they could get meter readings) in anticipation of your move.

If that were the case I might tell them I am moving into your house on November 28th, so please set up an account for me on that date.;) No need to contact Spiro - just set it up OK

sparkle83

the property was bought in march, but has not been lived in for many months as it was being refurbished ready to rent. Will this make a difference?

stewie_griffin

spiro wrote: »

Why do people keep saying this. If it is a change of tenancy coincident with Change of Supply the new supplier can set the Supply Start Date to 1 day after he registers to take on the site. Because it is a change of tenant there is no objection window so this decreases any possible delays. Given they are no moving for a week their supplier should be able to start the process as soon as they phone them. He should also state he wants to be his supplier from that date when he phones them. Any delays is due to poor performance by the supplier.

The only supplier that I'm aware that can do this is SSE and even then they can only do it in the Southern region (area 20).

spiro

Cardew wrote: »

That I am afraid is not an option.

It might be possible if the new property has been unoccupied for several weeks.

It takes several weeks to set up a change. You firstly have to give your present company a meter reading.

How do you do this if there are other occupants in the house?

Who pays for the gas/electricity used by the present occupants after that meter reading?

Might the present occupants object to you switching them from their present tariff??

Lastly do you think any Utility company will set up a new account for a new property(even if they could get meter readings) in anticipation of your move.

If that were the case I might tell them I am moving into your house on November 28th, so please set up an account for me on that date.;) No need to contact Spiro - just set it up OK

Below is a direct quote from the industry rules for registering an MPAN:

A Valid Application for Registration for the purposes of this Clause 15 is one that:

is received by the relevant MPAS Provider no later than the last Working Day before the Supply Start Date included in the Supplier’s application under Clause 15.5.1 and no more than 28 days in advance of that date;

As you can see a supplier is allowed to specifiy a Supply Start Date of 1 day after they register to take on a site, therefore if I am moving into a house tomorrow and supplier is perfectly entitled to register as the supplier from the day I move in.

Vestra

spiro wrote: »

Below is a direct quote from the industry rules for registering an MPAN:

A Valid Application for Registration for the purposes of this Clause 15 is one that:

is received by the relevant MPAS Provider no later than the last Working Day before the Supply Start Date included in the Supplier’s application under Clause 15.5.1 and no more than 28 days in advance of that date;

As you can see a supplier is allowed to specifiy a Supply Start Date of 1 day after they register to take on a site, therefore if I am moving into a house tomorrow and supplier is perfectly entitled to register as the supplier from the day I move in.

But whether they will do it or not is another story.

spiro

Vestra wrote: »

But whether they will do it or not is another story.

Dont disareee with that but if you ask them they should not fob people off with 'it is not allowed', its poor system design or processes that is stopping consumers doing what they should be entitled to do.

ex-energywatch_adviser

If the OP has been responsible for the property since March then they have also had a deemed contract with the existing supplier since then so they can't just contact another supplier and say I want you to supply me from tomorrow.


Clause 15.13 of the MRA states: [FONT=&quot]
The New Supplier shall use its reasonable endeavours not to commence supplying electricity through any Metering Point or make any material changes to that Metering Point until it has received a notice confirming its Registration in respect of the Metering Point.

Clause 15.2 of the MRA also states:[/FONT] Where a Supplier has entered into a contract to supply electricity, the Supplier shall not apply for Registration in respect of that Metering Point until the expiry of any initial period during which the Customer has the right (whether contractual or statutory) to terminate the contract.

So the new supplier can't commence supplying until it has received notice confirming it's registration and it can't apply for registration until the expiry of the cooling off period, therefore it cannot take over the supply one day after the consumer agrees a contract.

Spiro already knows this unless he stopped reading the posts on http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1464981&highlight=