Moving into my first house soon need advice

jonathandaws

Hi I'm all new to how it all works with setting these things up so please be gentle.

I'm moving into a 2 bed masionette soon and need some advice.

As I have never had to get a provider for Electric and Gas before.

1. How do I find a good tariff it I don't have any idea what my usage is going to be?

2. What will happen with the previous owners provider. I'm guessing they will write to me to see if I want to stay on the same tariff etc?

My plan is to go for a dual fuel monthly direct debit deal but their are so many tariffs to choose from and the detail seems more complicated than say a mobile contract.

Any advice would be welcome.

jem16

jonathandaws wrote: »

Hi I'm all new to how it all works with setting these things up so please be gentle.

I'm moving into a 2 bed masionette soon and need some advice.

As I have never had to get a provider for Electric and Gas before.

1. How do I find a good tariff it I don't have any idea what my usage is going to be?

That's always the difficult bit. The current provider may give you an idea.

2. What will happen with the previous owners provider. I'm guessing they will write to me to see if I want to stay on the same tariff etc?

First thing you must do is take meter readings as soon as you move in. You then need to phone up the provider that currently supplies the house so make sure you get those details. Give them you meter readings and say that you have just moved into the house and they will set up an account for you. With a bit of research before you can find out what their cheapest tariff is and ask to be put onto this.

Once you have done this you can decide whether or not to switch providers.

My plan is to go for a dual fuel monthly direct debit deal but their are so many tariffs to choose from and the detail seems more complicated than say a mobile contract.

As I said you have no option but to take your supply from the existing suppliers in the first place. You can then organise a switch away which will take around 4/6 weeks.

moonrakerz

When you do select a supplier and agree a monthly payment makes sure you read your meters every month and calculate how much energy you are using (in money terms).

In the summer you should be using considerably less than your payments to prepare you for much higher use over the winter.

A common ploy by the energy companies is to offer you very low monthly payments so that after a year:

1. They can increase your monthly payments hugely
2. Because you owe them money it becomes difficult to move to another supplier

I'll say it again - read your meter !!!!!

markharding557

You can switch tariffs with your existing suppliers most have cheaper online ones