change of supplier without signed consent

efc66

EON cold called via telephone and convinced my wife to change to them, with some offer or other! My issue is, that the utility account is in my name, and I have not signed anything to say I agree to the change. She did not tell me until it was too late and I have had to stay with EON for 6 weeks or so. Which is bad for me cos I had just managed to reduce my monthly payment with Npower by £40 pm (due to overpayment).

Can they do this without signed agreement?

Thanks all

Alex

Ferr96

The old account is in your name, that does not mean a new one cannot be created under a different name. Providing she set up the account and the DD with her own bank details there is nothing illegal about it. You should check the unit rates between the 2 packages as u might find its a better rate. If not, theres no doubt in my mind Npower will call you shortly anyway to try and win you back.

Cardew

When you set up your account initially, they didn't check if you were the account holder and that the account was in your wife's name, your son's name etc.

If I had your address and meter details, I could open an account for your address!

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi efc66

Many transfers are carried out over the phone but then followed up with a welcome pack detailing the tariff and terms of the agreement.

The welcome pack also advises of a cooling off period where you can cancel the contract without affecting your original account.

I'm afraid, once this period has passed we're able to continue the switch. However, there should be no problem in transferring the account to your preferred supplier. From what you say, it looks as though this is already underway.

Malc

Elixiress

Phone contracts are becoming common place in the current utility market, to save the to-ing and fro-ing and risk of loosing the written contract in the post. If the contract was set up in your name by your wife then this is wrong, if it is set up in her name then nothing you can do about once you are out of the cooling off period.

energycompanyemployee

Unfortunately if she's over 18 and is 'responsible for the bills' (in some sort) - then she can agree to change suppliers etc

Ron2

Everytime someone phones and if my wife answers it and does not know the caller she always says my husband deals with that but he is not in, goodbye.

This may sound harsh but how can anyone be so stupid as to be persuaded to sign up for a new fuel supplier over the phone when they aren't even the person who deals with it?

I have just recently joined this site and I can't believe how people are so gullible.

Why don't they just hang up?

Devils-Advocate_3

Ron2 wrote: »

Everytime someone phones and if my wife answers it and does not know the caller she always says my husband deals with that but he is not in, goodbye.

This may sound harsh but how can anyone be so stupid as to be persuaded to sign up for a new fuel supplier over the phone when they aren't even the person who deals with it?

I have just recently joined this site and I can't believe how people are so gullible.

Why don't they just hang up?

That's not really helpful though, is it. These things happen. I believe the OP's question was 'can they do that without written agreement', not 'can you tell me how stupid my wife is'....

And to answer the OP's question, yes, a verbal contract is all that is required, unfortunately.