How long to switch?

Nicky321

Im currently with Npower for gas & electricity, they have just amended my direct debit from £85.00/month to £209.00/month. I cannot afford this and have spoke to them and now having changed my gas tariff with them to V19, but left my electricity on V16 (as I intend to switch to Scottish power as they are cheaper for my electricity) they have told me my direct debit will be changing from 1st September to £158.00/month, an amount I still cannot really afford, along with normal living expenses. Npower have told me I will lose my £45.00 yearly cashback if I switch before the 26th September 2010. How long does it usually take to switch suppliers? Am I alright starting the ball rolling with my switch to SP? can I tell SP I dont want to switch to them before 26th September?

Nicky321

Ive heard it takes between 4 and 6 weeks, is this about right? Shall i leave it another week, before switching?

macman

Yes, 4 to 6 weeks is typical.

Nicky321

macman wrote: »

Yes, 4 to 6 weeks is typical.

Thankyou for your reply. So if I switch now its likely to be completed between 4 weeks (16th Sept) and 6 weeks (30th Sept). My tie in period with Npower ends on 26th September. Could I start the switch but ask scottish power to hold back the switch until after the 26th September? Obviously if it takes 6 weeks im fine.

Scottish_Power

Hi Nicky321

I would recommend speaking with NPower first and get confirmation from them whether or not the cashback will be provided to you if you begin the transfer process before 26th September. If they confirm to you that they will still provide you with the cashback, on the condition that the supply does not actually change over until after the 26th September, then I would think you are safe to make the initial application anytime from 1st September (any earlier than that and your running the risk of the transfer going through before the 26th and you missing out on your cashback).

Hope this helps. Any questions let me know.

Kind Regards

Colin @ ScottishPower

KimYeovil

As has been suggested, I would wait and apply 27 days before the end date (of tariff penalty charges or annual rebate) before applying for the switch to cover your back. In your contract with nPower it states that you have to provide 28 days notice and that is what you have to cover.

In practice, the new provider has to provide you cooling-off period of seven or fourteen days (not sure which is the actual figure) but there is no reason (other than expense for them if you do cancel) why they can not initiiate the transfer process immediately - so you should not gamble by applying earlier than the 27 days. (And I suggest 27 days rather than 28 days just to avoid an unnecessary five minutes scratching head trying to work out whether a date is inclusive or not).

Of course there is a risk when nPower receive the notification two or three weeks before the annual entitlement date that they will play silly !!!!!!s and pretend you are not entitled to your annual discount. That is a nonsense but that is in your favour - just make a formal complaint and you will end up with an extra £20 or more compensation.

But finally if you are spending £209 or £158 per month on average then that is what you are going to have to pay to Scottish Power anyway - they are not going to magically give you that amount of energy for £85 per month.

Nicky321

KimYeovil wrote: »

But finally if you are spending £209 or £158 per month on average then that is what you are going to have to pay to Scottish Power anyway - they are not going to magically give you that amount of energy for £85 per month.

My energy consumption is not £209 or £158, this amount is to pay off a debt of £490 to Npower, which occured when I switched to them 11 months ago. They asked for accurate meter reading which we provided, but they used estimated reading, and didnt take any direct debits from my account for approx 2 - 3 months. They estimate my payments of £158 or £209 per month to pay off this debt and pay for future use, estimating I will use 7766kwh gas and 7862kwh for electricity which is estimating my annual bill at £987.81. Even if I clear the outstanding debt they still work my Direct Debits to be £104.00 per month or so. However if I switch to Scottish power for my electricity they estimate my annual electric bill to be £594.39 compared to Npower £740.65 using 7862kwh of electricity

brewerdave

But if you switch NPower will want their final balance paid off in one go - £490 ???

Nicky321

brewerdave wrote: »

But if you switch NPower will want their final balance paid off in one go - £490 ???

By the time the switch is completed I may have the enough money to pay any outstanding balance. But I have just received another email from them saying

"Although normally we can not include your £100 annual discount in your payments, in this instance as the discount is due within 28 days, we are able to consider this.

We are able to set your payments at £130"
Surely this means I can start switching within the next few days without losing the anual discount, cant I?