SPARK energy and changing suppliers

dodger1

maggirl wrote: »

Sorry for delay in replying. I seem to have sorted it out, fingers crossed. My tactic was to just ignore SPARK completely.

I contacted my old supplier (Scottish Power- although with the price hikes I may be regretting this now!!) and asked to transfer to them. I have move in readings and readings taken on the day that SP were supposed to take on the energy supply. So if SPARK contact me about a final bill I can give them all the readings, but so far have heard nothing more from them.

Wouldn't worry about Scottish Power, the rest will be following suit very shortly.

fran98110

Can any one offer any advice?

We have just been stung by Reeds Rains who, without our permission have change our supplier from Scottish Power to Spark Energy. We were not away of this until we got a final bill from Scottish Power a few days ago. Looking into this further Spark energy have been supplying out utilities from the 25th May and just sprug £125 bill for our small 2 bedroom terrace for 1 month! (usually our bills with scottish power are £45) Not only have Reeds Rains charged us high agency fees they have also wasted even more of our money without our permission!

Does anyone know if we are legally bound to pay this bill to spark energy? We are currently in the process of drafting up a complaints letter to reeds rains but they seem so incompetant I doubt we will get anywhere!

tbs624

If your tenancy agreement requires you to be personally responsible for the utility bills and hold the accounts in your own name then the contracts for the utilities are strictly a matter between you and the providers for the full duration of your tenancy and nothing to do with RR.

Don't be fobbed off by RR. LAs get a handout from utilty companies for getting properties switched but they should not simply arrange a switch without seeking your agreement.

Did Scottish Power not notify you that a switch had been requested?

jojo2910

We were in a similar position. When we rented a house a few years ago and the agency told us to use Spark. They were very expensive and customer service was terrible. They quite often refused to accept the readings we gave them.

Less than 6 months into the rental, the agency had received enough complaints from tennants to tell everyone they could leave Spark. And we did swiftly.

poison

fran98110 wrote: »

Can any one offer any advice?

We have just been stung by Reeds Rains who, without our permission have change our supplier from Scottish Power to Spark Energy. We were not away of this until we got a final bill from Scottish Power a few days ago. Looking into this further Spark energy have been supplying out utilities from the 25th May and just sprug £125 bill for our small 2 bedroom terrace for 1 month! (usually our bills with scottish power are £45) Not only have Reeds Rains charged us high agency fees they have also wasted even more of our money without our permission!

Does anyone know if we are legally bound to pay this bill to spark energy? We are currently in the process of drafting up a complaints letter to reeds rains but they seem so incompetant I doubt we will get anywhere!

If they have transferred you to spark without your permission, then there is no proper contract in place therefore i doubt you would have to pay them a penny. The exact same thing was done to me with a different letting agency and i refused to pay them. However, i would advise speaking to the citizens advice bureau about this to get the proper advice. i wouldn't pay them until you can get proper advice. if you do pay them and later find that you weren't legally bound to do so, then i doubt you will ever get your money back from spark so please be very weary. hope this helps.

ubergill

Your Move letting agents in Liverpool set up Spark as our energy provider despite declining this service twice, they went ahead anyway.

Now we can't apparently cancel with Spark as they say it must come from the agent Your Move who apparently cant cancel either.

I'm not sure what do to.

Does the contract hold up? If I switch providers, can the new provider terminate the existing supply from Spark?

Any help much appreciated!

zappahey

If you're paying the bill, then you choose which provider you use. It's your contract and has nothing to do with the agency. The agent is taking the P*** by changing the supplier.

thelem

Just contact the provider you want to switch to and they'll sort out the transfer away from spark.

theartfullodger

I wouldn't do business with these clowns if you paid me.

And I hear they give backhanders to the letting agents.

chris_m

ubergill wrote: »

Now we can't apparently cancel with Spark as they say it must come from the agent Your Move who apparently cant cancel either.
I'm not sure what do to.
Does the contract hold up? If I switch providers, can the new provider terminate the existing supply from Spark?

Bill hooks, you're paying the bill so YOU choose who you pay.
If the agency are adamant that it must be Spark, then tell them that they can foot the bill.

theartfullodger wrote: »

And I hear they give backhanders to the letting agents.

What a surprise - so THAT's why agencies pull this one is it?