Moving into new house, want new supplier, but T&C's seem to say must use old supplier

kate_b

We are completing the purchase, and moving into, our new home in 3 days time. We are staying with friends, as we sold our old house last month, so have no current elec/gas supplier. The property is currently supplied by EDF, but the comparison sites tell us that we can save about £300 a year by switching to Scottish Power's online saver tarriff. Which seems like a very good thing.
BUT... the comparison sites can only do "switches" not new accounts - I spoke to energyhelpline.com's call centre to confirm this. When I tried applying directly to Scottish Power via their website it gave me a "active" date of 23rd Feb, rather than the 13th Jan that we move in. Reading the terms and conditions for SP and EDF, it seems that you have to take the current supplier, and whatever tarriff they want to put you on, until your new supplier has completed all the "paperwork", typically taking about 6 weeks.
Given that most people exchange and complete within a week or two on a new house, this seems like a nice little moneyspinner for the original supplier.
It's too late tonight to call ScottishPower's call centre - I'll do that in the morning. But does anyone have experience of this - is it possible to have your new supplier active from your move in date, or do you have to pay the old one at their (higher) rate for a few weeks?
Any advice gratefully received
many thanks
Kate

themull1

You cant do it from the date you move in, the seller will send final readings, you have to do a reading when you move in, then tell a new supplier, so it will take a few weeks i would have thought.

Cardew

Under the Gas and Electricity Acts as soon as you move in and use any gas and electricity, you have entered a legally binding deemed contract with the Utility company supplying that property. You can then apply to switch but between the losing and gaining company it takes about six weeks for the change to take place.

You can of course take over the house, not move in and therefore not use any gas and electricty if you wish!!;)

It is theoretically possible to arrange the date of changeover to coincide with the date you own the property. However you firstly have to persuade the gaining company that you are going to own the house six weeks ahead and they might not want to take your word without solicitor's letters from both parties confirming that the move is 'set in stone' and can't fall through. (I tried to tell British Gas that I was moving into 10 Downing Street in a few weeks time; but they wouldn't believe me;))

It is hardly a money spinner for the old company. Years ago before privatisation, when someone moved out the supply was cut off until the new occupant visited the gas and electricity offices and signed a contract.

spiro

The industry processes allow a supplier to register as the supplier with the central system the day after they send the request so it is perfectly legal for you to arrange with your current supplier that they take over the supply of the property that you are moving into as long as you give them a days notice because not only is it a Change of Supply (which can be objected to) but it is also a Change of Tenant (which can not be objected to). The issue is typically with the suppliers IT system in that is uses a 'fixed' timeline to undertake the process.

If you phone EDF before you move in you can go onto any tariff you like but if you intended to swap to SP make sure its not a tariff that ties you in or has any penalties.

kate_b

Thankyou for the replies - it is indeed impossible to start with a new company on your move in date.

Cardew wrote: »

It is hardly a money spinner for the old company.

I disagree - I have very little choice at this point - I have to start with EDF (the current supplier), and either go on their very expensive standard tarriff (with no lock in), or relatively expensive saver tarriff (with lock in/exit fees), whilst I'm waiting the 4-6 weeks for my much cheaper Scottish Power switch to go through. It's going to cost me at least an extra £50, and with a tiny baby in the house, I can't really keep the heating low and not use elec appliances whilst waiting. It is some comfort that we'll rapidly save that £50 by switching, but it would be even better to have been able to sign up with SP from day 1.

spiro wrote: »

it is perfectly legal for you to arrange with your current supplier that they take over the supply of the property that you are moving into as long as you give them a days notice

To summarise:
- if you have an existing supplier, you should be able to get them to transfer your account to your new house from the day you move
- if (like us) you have broken your chain and are in temporary accomodation, so don't have an existing supplier, then it is worth arranging your switch as soon as you have exchanged contracts, to minimise the time on the higher tarriff

In the context of house buying expenses, it's not a lot of money, but I'm still irritated.

Thatchapdean

Its because you are entering a contractual agreement. The regulator stipulates there has to be a 'cooling off' period and all the information in relation to properties is passed through a central independent distribution network which takes time hence the time period to change suppliers. It is not as simple as saying 'I would like for you to supply me from tomorrow' because as it has been mentioned, it is a legally binding contract.

Wickedkitten

Babies are more hardy than they look,after all people have been having them looooong before the advent of central heating. Just wrap the baby up with an extra layer in the meantime and the day that you complete your purchase, phone up Scottish Power.

Cardew

kate_b wrote: »

Thankyou for the replies - it is indeed impossible to start with a new company on your move in date.


I disagree - I have very little choice at this point - I have to start with EDF (the current supplier), and either go on their very expensive standard tarriff (with no lock in), or relatively expensive saver tarriff (with lock in/exit fees), whilst I'm waiting the 4-6 weeks for my much cheaper Scottish Power switch to go through. It's going to cost me at least an extra £50, and with a tiny baby in the house, I can't really keep the heating low and not use elec appliances whilst waiting. It is some comfort that we'll rapidly save that £50 by switching, but it would be even better to have been able to sign up with SP from day 1.




To summarise:
- if you have an existing supplier, you should be able to get them to transfer your account to your new house from the day you move
- if (like us) you have broken your chain and are in temporary accomodation, so don't have an existing supplier, then it is worth arranging your switch as soon as you have exchanged contracts, to minimise the time on the higher tarriff

In the context of house buying expenses, it's not a lot of money, but I'm still irritated.

This happens with every company(so a moneyspinner for all) as they are all obeying the law as laid down in the Gas and Electricity Acts.

These Acts forced the companies to leave electricity and gas connected for the new occupant to use - with no knowledge of who that customer is, or his ability to pay.

The companies would have preferred to have retained the old system where gas and electricity was disconnected as the old occupant left, and only be connected again when the new occupant had contacted the gas and electricity companies, arranged payment or paid a deposit and arranged a date for re-connection.

Under the current system, people can move into a property without notifying the companies(they have no way of knowing) and in the case of short term rentals move on without paying anything.

Petition the Government to get things changed if you wish - people won't thank you!!!!!

Premier_2

kate_b wrote: »

Thankyou for the replies - it is indeed impossible to start with a new company on your move in date....

In the context of house buying expenses, it's not a lot of money, but I'm still irritated.

If it irritates you that much, as others say, I do think it is possible to get the supplier switched so that you can be with the supplier on the desired tariff from the moment you are responsible for the supply.

But the reality is, for those that have tried, most end up in tears. Hence, the advice here is always to register with the existing suppliers when you first move in and then use the usual switching facilities. It's what the industry is set up to do, happens every day and so rarely goes wrong.

Trying to do something that rarely happens, and so most in the industry haven't a clue how to do, is what results in things ending in tears for the customer.

But I suppose it depends what irritates you most. Doing what everyone else does, or going it alone and trying to sort out the resultant mess that invariably occurs.

kate_b wrote: »

...It's going to cost me at least an extra £50,...

Nonsense!

It takes about a month to switch supplier. What tariff switch and usuage do you plan that will save you £600 a year?
Even Martin only suggests an average of about £300 a year saving ... and thats by moving from an expensive standard rate to the most efficient online account. When you originally set up the account with the existing supplier, there's no need to opt for the most expensive tariff - choose the cheapest without any early exit fees if you plan to switch ... but if you think you can save £50 a month, that will more than cover most early exit fees.

Whats more, you can probably get more than £50 from a cashback site when you switch

samtheman1k

kate_b wrote: »

I disagree - I have very little choice at this point - I have to start with EDF (the current supplier), and either go on their very expensive standard tarriff (with no lock in), or relatively expensive saver tarriff (with lock in/exit fees), whilst I'm waiting the 4-6 weeks for my much cheaper Scottish Power switch to go through. It's going to cost me at least an extra £50, and with a tiny baby in the house, I can't really keep the heating low and not use elec appliances whilst waiting. It is some comfort that we'll rapidly save that £50 by switching, but it would be even better to have been able to sign up with SP from day 1.

It's quite simple then, as Cardew says, don't use EDF's energy when you move in! The Inca's used to leave babies on the top of mountains for one night to toughen them up, I'm sure a few weeks of no heating can be managed when there are plently of blankets available or your own generators mCHP can be bought/hired, it's what everyone used to do before central heating came along in the last few decades!!

t0rt0ise

Premier wrote: »

there's no need to opt for the most expensive tariff - choose the cheapest without any early exit fees

Are there any left? Any cheaper tariff seems to have an exit fee now. I do sympathise with the OP because I had to do the same and it is annoying to see your hard earned cash being whisked away through no fault of your own. But still, that's the system and they can by and large do what they like.