MSE News: Ban on unsolicited energy lock-ins mulled by Ofgem

KimYeovil

[STRIKE] I received this email yesterday (nearly two weeks after my previous contract expired), However I can't see anything which states that I will be locked in for another 12 months if I don't take out the new discounted offer.

[STRIKE]3 We may apply cancellation charges inclusive of VAT of £30 for electricity and £20 for gas if you switch to the Discounted Energy April 2011 Offer but then cancel your supply contract or switch to another tariff before the 31st March 2011. These charges will not be applied if the supply contract is cancelled due to a home move.[/STRIKE]

!!! It's 2010 today, isn't it?[/STRIKE]

Arrgh, sorry, never mind. But if you do not choose to switch to the new offer you have been switched to a more expensive tariff. But, yes, you are not 'locked' in if you default to the more expensive tariff.

who-the

It must be very difficult to come up with a plan whereby at the end of any contract you simply cannot be rolled over - but must actively choose a new fixed-term contract, if that is what you want, at a time of your choosing - or be left on a standard monthly rolling contract.