Moving house the MSE way!

Storm

Hi,

I'm going to be moving at the end of this month and want to try and ensure from the start I get the cheapest suppliers for everything - gas, electric, phone, internet etc. However, when I look at USwitch to try and find the cheapest gas & electric suppliers it wants lots of details of my current supplier (which I don't have!).

Any ideas how I could find the cheapest deal going? I want to do the monthly direct debit payments, which I know saves some money with a lot of suppliers anyway.

The place I'm moving to is rented, so not sure what the arrangements currently are there - would I be better off moving in then trying to switch after a month or so? The place I'm in at the moment is very different size-wise and only has electric, so I can't even really use that as a comparison!

Thanks!

Storm

Cardew

You can't change supplier until you have taken over the account and it is in your name.

To find out the cheapest supplier go to one of the comparison sites and simply put in the post code and 'invent' a supplier, say, BG and IMPORTANTLY put down a figure for the kWh you think you might use.(not a DD figure)

They will list the suppliers and prices.

straddie

I'm a first time buyer and complete this Friday. I didn't really know what I was supposed to do about utilities (still don't really!) as nobody's ever explained it all to me and there doesn't seem to be a great deal of info out there on the web aimed at FTBs. I too wanted to make sure I started off with the cheapest supplier, but had no existing supplier details to enter into comparison sites.

As it happens, I know that Powergen are the current supplier, so I put them in and guessed at the tariff and estimated usage in order to find the best supplier (Atlantic). I then rang Atlantic up, explained my situation to them and asked what I should do and they said they could set me up there and then. I haven't heard anything from them since though, so I'm not entirely certain what's going to happen on Friday, and whether I'll still be receiving a bill from Powergen or not!

Woby_Tide

until you are the actual named bill holder at the property I doubt they can do anything at all i.e. if you fail to complete on Friday for whatever reason why would Atlantic change the existing occupier over without permission. It's only a matter of days to wait and then do it once you are in and the nominated account holder, given the contrived process that most companies use, simplifying it as much as possible is always the best option, the phone calls, time and effort to sort out the mess will always cost more than the energy bill saved.

Mo'_Money

Once you are settled, use Uswitch to find your cheapest suppliers. Then use Quidco to get your cashback bonus too! But I find that it is better to get cashback directly through the energy supplier than to get cashback from Uswitch:

For example, I found out that British Gas was cheapest for me at the moment. By using Quidco, I would get £18 for switching via Uswitch. But by going directly to British Gas via Quidco, I have made £40!

Also, Quidco offer £16 for a home telephone or broadband switch via Uswitch. But say for example you were to switch to Talk 3 International Landline connection with up to 8MB Broadband, you would earn £22.50 cashback. pays to do your homework!

tripled

Most suppliers will arrange the changeover before you move in; you have a cool-off period so te onus is on you to make sure it doesn't go belly up. However it still takes 4-8 weeks for your transfer to go through so straddie you will need to call up Powergen on Friday and give them your details and the meter readings.