Impossible to switch suppliers!!!

lady_fuschia

Well. I have just switched a switch on one of the mysterious electrically boxes on my wall to the off position and apparently everything still works. This is interesting. I've decided I'm going to phone Southern Electric and ask them what on earth its all about (hopefully I get a plain English explanation!) Wish me luck.

erewyn

Hi, I'm new to posting replies so bear with me. Your story sounds very similar to what my husband and I have experienced. We are with Powergen, have storage heaters so we have 2 meter numbers (listed on bill), we have no choice in the tariff we are on, and have tried twice to switch from Powergen (Scottish Power and more recently to British Gas) - both times the transfer has failed because of the 2 meters.

We have a 2 bedroom house and are using the energy saving bulbs etc. Our DD increased from £30 to £46 over the past 2 years and I'm still not sure if we are covering our usage with this DD. I have just started to turn off at the plug to see if this makes a difference.

Powergen have explained that the storage heaters make the best use of night time tariffs to charge up the heaters, it is a 5hr slot between midnight till 8am that the night tariff applies (7hrs with Economy7), it is possible to change the meter to a single one but I'm not sure how much this will cost, but then I would be free to move supplier.

Hope this all made sense, glad that we are not the only people who find it frustrating being tied down to one supplier.

irnbru_2

lady_fuschia wrote:

I have just switched a switch on one of the mysterious electrically boxes on my wall to the off position and apparently everything still works. This is interesting.

That fuse box controls your storage heaters.

Try the other box.

Ken68

I don 't believe it....the meter gets sold on to the next supplier...failing that EBICO has just quoted me £40 to change it.
My meter still reads "Property of Eastern Electric" and they were bought out years ago, and I've had two transfers since then.

lady_fuschia

Thanks, it's reassuring that I'm not the only one with this problem. At least I know there's an explanation for all this hassle now! You'd think it would be quite a common problem with the amount of people using storage heaters, but you're the first I've come across- I suppose trying to change supplier is the only instance in which you'd find out really.

Does anyone know if there is a way of getting around this and being able to switch, or is the only option to change to a single meter?
Any ideas how much this would cost?

irnbru_2

lady_fuschia wrote:

Have prices really risen that much? I only moved ten months ago.

Price rise has to be factored in. What you don't know is if the £60 p/m is applicable to your usage profile. It may be what they estimate is the typical usage for your property type.

Time to work out your bill ..... and how the numbers relate to those on your meter.

See if you can identify the tariff and post the usage and rates in this thread.

lady_fuschia

Right- Ok I'll do that. Could take me a while so bear with me!

Mike_by_the_Sea

Hi lady_fuschia

I have just read your thread with interest. It is very strange that a new supplier wouldn't want to take on your account, perhaps they have too many customers already?

Is it possible that when you asked for the change, that you didn't mention that you had two meters, one standard and one for economy 7? This wouldn't explain why they wouldn't take you on, only that the answer might be different.

Has anybody read your meters, or are they basing the usage on estimates - shown as either an (A) or an (E) next to the meter readings on the bill? It is possible that they are basing their estimates on the previous occupants usage, or are just trying to get loads of money up front - perish the thought.

Good luck with switching off at your box and seeing if anybody complains - probably a good idea to switch it off and then pop round and knock on the other occupants doors, otherwise they may just phone their suppliers and complain. You might even get the chance to explain why you are knocking and find how much they pay.

All the best and I hope you manage to sort it all out.

Mike

Ken68

Chance to meet your neighbours too.
Dying to know the reason.

lady_fuschia

OK- just to update you, I gave British Gas a call at the weekend and they explained that they would be happy to make the switch, although the rates would probably not be as competitive as if I was on a single meter, hence why they cancelled my original switch request (I actually think this is rather admirably honest of them, seeing as they could just have ignored the difference and switched me anyway). I'm currently waiting for them to send me a new quote by post, so I'll let you know the outcome when I get it! Phew- maybe there is some light ahead!