Can I switch if I owe them money?

Fencing-fanatic

Hi

Sorry if this is covered elsewhere but I have had a look and couldn't find it. We are currently with Southern Electric and I planned on switching to save some money. However because they set the electric direct debit too low and because of their erratic meter reading we now owe them hundreds of pounds, which will be paid back over several months by a hefty increase in the direct debit. Does the fact that we owe them money mean we cannot switch? We cannot afford to pay that money back in one go?

On a separate point I seem to have people turn up and read my meter quite frequently, yet the bills are nearly always estimated. Why is this?

Thanks.

Antispam

Probably not would you if your a bushiness allow a customer to leave when they owe money?

If your direct debt was low surely you should have known you were in debt and then asked to pay a bit more, its not always the fault of the energy supplier to ask

If you move then you will still have the problem of paying a debt assuming they allow you to move

12bdebt3

You cannot switch without paying any debits first.

Fencing-fanatic

Hi

Thanks for the replies. I realise it is partly our fault and do expect to have to pay that money. I was just wondering if there was some way of switching whilst still paying them back over time.

dogshome

Hi Fencing-fanatic - Yes they do read the meters and then issue Estimated Bills, BUT you do not have to accept this.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS phone in your present reading whenever an Estimated bill is recieved so a new and true one can be issued

Fencing-fanatic

Yes your right I should have kept a better track but this can be time consuming and a bit of a pain. I tend to think direct debit means you can just forget about it, but that isn't always the case. Still - at least I have some money to spend at Argos from them.

Antispam

It always worth telling the company your readings. I wish people would be notified more of this on there bills or leaflets. Its also only worth moving if you find it cheaper for that you need accurate consumption of your energy usage and use a few on those switch sites

I think MSE has advice on this

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/

Antispam

Its not very time consuming it takes less than 10-15 minutes tops once a month or once a quarter

Some tariffs actually make provision for you to supply meter readings

Fencing-fanatic wrote: »

Yes your right I should have kept a better track but this can be time consuming and a bit of a pain. I tend to think direct debit means you can just forget about it, but that isn't always the case. Still - at least I have some money to spend at Argos from them.

Hooloovoo

Antispam wrote: »

Its not very time consuming it takes less than 10-15 minutes tops once a month or once a quarter

I was going to say this as well. I think even you are over estimating the time required. I would say it takes me less than one minute to jot down the meter readings and enter them online. I do this on the first of every month.

I've no sympathy with people like the OP. Some people really like to make life hard work for themselves don't they?:(

Fencing-fanatic

It is true it is not very long in itself, but when time is pressing and there are an impossible amount of other things that need doing it can seem like a low priority. After all the direct debit is set up to take care of it and the meter is being read.

undaunted

You can still try switching if you wish though your current supplier may decide to use their "discretion" to prevent it.

If your new supplier were to agree to take on the balance, or you are on a pre payment meter you may be able to switch despite the debt.

Cynics (realists?) may wonder about just how many people become trapped by such regular estimated bills, debts & objections

As to companies not allowing it & would you the fact is that most companies & industries don't in fact have such a choice! Whether it is really legal for the energy industry to do so is open to question too (I'm aware of the Electricty Act provisions etc but other legislation suggests otherwise)