Supplier switch problems

lostinrenovation

Hi,

I'm currently having some issues switching suppliers.

After a home purchase I inherited standard tariffs for gas (British Gas) and electricity (EDF).

I tried to switch to an EDF dual fual tariff online. A few weeks later EDF contacted me to inform me that the switch had failed because they could not contact my current electricity suppliers (EDF!). I soon became aware of the fact that EDF had proceeded to try and re-register my gas account to themselves. When contacted, they admitted they were at fault and would contact British Gas to roll back the process. I subsequently called British Gas who confirmed that they were still my suppliers. This was in early January 2011.

A few weeks later, I again tried to switch to another dual-fuel tariff with Atlantic. This has also failed because they were informed that there is a lock on my gas account due to an outstanding re-registration request from EDF.

I called British Gas who informed me that the objection that they lodged as part of the process back in January will take up to 12 weeks to process and until them my supplier status was "in limbo" and cannot be switched.

Today, I have received a "Welcome to EDF" e-mail (via a no reply address of course!). I am now getting quite upset.

Can anyone help me out here?

Who should I be contacting to sort out the original erroneous switch problem? I have been talking to British Gas because they have the courtesy to pick up the phone which EDF do not.

Is this 12 week lock-down on my account standard?

I have received nothing in writing from EDF or British Gas about sorting out the problem. Should I have?

What's the best way to sort this out?

Thanks!

devildog

Sorry I can't answer the specifics of your question but can say I am hardly surprised that EDF is involved!! I switched from them September 2010 and didn't get accurate closing bill until January 2011. They didn't answer/reply to calls and when I rang them, they always blamed the new supplier. Maybe you could write a strongly worded letter to EDF (be warned you may have to write several of them) and if I were you I would stay well away from EDF supplying electricity

Address EDF Energy,
Freepost RRYZ-BRTT-CBJS
Osprey House
Osprey Road
Exeter
EX2 7WN

My final act was to write one letter to both suppliers,(exact same letter to both of them, showing both account numbers for each company etc( each bit of writing that was aimed at a particular supplier was put in one colour) I listed all their failings, all the phone calls,letters and all the excuses that each company had given regarding it being the fault of the other company and told them to sort it out between themselves cause I wasn't going to do anymore.

Premier_2

lostinrenovation wrote: »

...
I tried to switch to an EDF dual fual tariff online. ...I soon became aware of the fact that EDF had proceeded to try and re-register my gas account to themselves. When contacted, they admitted they were at fault and would contact British Gas to roll back the process. I subsequently called British Gas who confirmed that they were still my suppliers. This was in early January 2011.

Yes they would have done as you asked them to when you asked them to be your dual fuel supplier.

It appears, due to a number of issues, the resolution was to put everything back by agreeing to an erroneous transfer.

lostinrenovation wrote: »

...
A few weeks later, I again tried to switch to another dual-fuel tariff with Atlantic. This has also failed because they were informed that there is a lock on my gas account due to an outstanding re-registration request from EDF.

I called British Gas who informed me that the objection that they lodged as part of the process back in January will take up to 12 weeks to process and until them my supplier status was "in limbo" and cannot be switched.

Today, I have received a "Welcome to EDF" e-mail (via a no reply address of course!). I am now getting quite upset.

Can anyone help me out here?

Who should I be contacting to sort out the original erroneous switch problem? I have been talking to British Gas because they have the courtesy to pick up the phone which EDF do not.

Is this 12 week lock-down on my account standard?

I have received nothing in writing from EDF or British Gas about sorting out the problem. Should I have?

What's the best way to sort this out?

Thanks!

The reversal may take up to 12 weeks, but I would have thought about 4-6 would be more typical.

However, it sounds like you tried to switch to SSE (Atlantic) even before this. I would suggest you wait until you get confirmation everything is back to how it was before trying to switch your gas.

You have the choice of letting EDF or BG handle the erroneous transfer. As you appear to have used BG so far and prefer to speak with them, let them manage it for you

lostinrenovation

Thanks for the replies.

I was intending to wait for the 12 weeks to pass after the nice person at British Gas (kind of) justified the procedure to me. Today's e-mail from EDF threw me slightly, it would be the nightmare scenario if they were still trying to take over the gas account.

Agree totally about EDF, can't deal with a company which makes you wait 20 minutes every time you try and call them.

I really cannot see why these switches should take 12 or even 4 weeks. Nothing physical is happening, all sounds like excuses for an inefficient process to me.