scottish power and eon charging exit fees!!!

goldrush1984

I need some advice if possible!!

I was with scottish power for a while and realised they were too expensive. Through Moneysupermarket I found a better deal with EON. A month into being with EON I received a call from SP asking me why Id moved over, then told be that because I had I then have to pay an exit fee. They said that if I went back to them I would not have to pay the exit fee. So I did!! I have since had a call from EON telling me that I now have to pay an exit fee with them. How can I avoid this?!
Please help, im stuck in a rut now!!

Scottish_Power

Hi goldrush1984

Sorry to hear about your situation. Cancellation charges are becoming more and more common within Energy Retail to try and encourage customers to stay with a given supplier for a set period of time. If SP have confirmed to you that we will remove the cancellation charge for the original change to Eon then thats covered. In relation to the Eon cancellation charge - did they confirm to you that the tariff you were agreeing to had a cancellation charge, either via telephone or correspondence received? If they did then I do not see why Eon would remove this charge for you. If you were never notified by Eon then that is a different story and they may remove this for you.

To save this from happening again I would suggest doing the following before changing supplier:

1. Contact your current supplier and find out if there is a charge for changing supplier.
2. Contact your current supplier and see if you can be changed onto a better tariff without incurring a cancellation charge.
3. Ask for your current annual gas/electricity consumption level (in kWh) based on your current meter readings (provide these at the time if you can).

Having the answers to the above questions will help you make a decision on whether it is in your interest to change supplier or whether you can remain with your current supplier and still be charged competitive rates.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Kind Regards

Colin @ ScottishPower

JasX

yup, thats the way things work these days, make sure you're aware of exit charges before switching (or switching twice in your case).

if you use 'cashback' sites like topcashback the switch cashback you get is usually alot more than the exit fee anyway but although you don't lose out still factor it into any decision to switch.

if you opt to use sites like moneysupermarket rather than cashback sites you're stuck covering any and all exit fees you incur from your own pocket...

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi goldrush1984,

Unfortunately there is very little we can do here. The information given by Colin@SP and JasX is spot on.

It sounds like you signed up for our FixOnline tariff and unfortunately this does carry a cancellation fee. The details of this would have been given to you if you signed up for the tariff online and also on the welcome letter sent when you joined us.

If you signed up by phone, this really should have been relayed during the call; however you would still have received the info in the welcome letter.

Brian