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Leaving Scottish Power

Natatores
Natatores Posts: 1 Newbie
edited 5 November 2009 at 8:24AM in Energy
I work for a small company who have three different supplies on contract with Scottish Power. I made the mistake last year of not changing the supplier and ended up being contracted at an inflated price for the contract year. This time I contacted uswitch in plenty of time. They suggested British Gas. I agreed and in August I sent a letter to SP terminating the contract for the three supplies and received their agreement to this a few days later.

In October I received notification from BG advising me that the direct debit had been set up. So far so good but I was a little surprised that I had only received one letter. Knowing how much these companies like to shower you with a blizzard of paperwork and the fact that we are talking three separate supplies here, I contacted BG. After the exchange of a number of phone calls over several days it transpired that due to a miscommunication between uswitch and BG, only one of the supplies had been taken on.

I spoke to a helpful guy at BG who said they would apply to take the other supplies on and he gave me a slightly reduced rate to compensate me for the !!!!-up. I can now announce to my boss that not only have I managed to get away from the clutches of SP but that I also have got a better rate than was originally agreed for the two supplies.

This monday I received an email from BG saying that SP have objected to the transfer and that I need to contact them and find out what is going on. After being cut-off three or four times I speak to an operative who tells me that because the supplies were not taken over by another supplier within 30 days of the end of the contracts I am now contracted to SP for another year. I impart this information to BG who say that it does not sound right and the worst that should happen is that I pay a non contract rate for the period that I am not in contract. I speak to Consumer Direct who agree with this statement. I have to say that logic would suggest to me that this is the correct view since I have terminated the contracts and they can surely not be reinstated without my express agreement.

I am now in the process of obtaining a deadlock letter from SP so that the matter can be referred to the Energy Ombudsman.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Comments

  • Premier_2
    Premier_2 Posts: 15,141 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What does your contract with SP say about terminating?
    "Now to trolling as a concept. .... Personally, I've always found it a little sad that people choose to spend such a large proportion of their lives in this way but they do, and we have to deal with it." - MSE Forum Manager 6th July 2010
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