Switching suppliers but currently in debit

Duvaljones

Hi

My mum is looking into switching providers for her electricity. She's currently with e-on (who have announced an 11% rise in September according to USwitch) and pays a monthly direct debit of £53.00 and is £66 in debit.

Having gone on USwitch, I've found that NPower can supposedly save her £165 a year by switching (paying £42pm). The price per kWh is lower with NPower.

However, the quote is based on 'consumption of 4441kWh for electricity with E.ON.' I don't know what her consumption per year is so can't be sure this assumption can be a good measurement of whether or not a switch would be good for her. I have her meter readings from her bills, going back to March 2010. I may be simplifying it here, but is it just a case of taking the reading from March 2010 away from September 2010 (the result is 2101), this being the amount of kWh used for 6 months? Apologies if this sounds like I'm being dumb but I want to be sure!

Also, the issue of currently being in debit - I assume that this is because her current monthly direct debit is too low for her usage (which consists of the use of a small tv, cooker, fridge and water heating for an hour and minimal lighting), although it only went to its current rate of £53pm in June. If she was to switch, would she have to pay off the debt before switching or would this be absorbed by the incoming provider?

Thanks for any contructive comments for a novice!

jalexa

Duvaljones wrote: »

Hi

Not a problem. See here...

http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/files/2010/01/Debt-blocking1.pdf

In any event the issue is "debt-blocking" not "debit-blocking", which is your concern.


Regarding the "unknown" consumption, it is better to compare and switch using annual consumption. You supplier will tell you the annual consumption if asked, however "ball-park" figures will produce fairly accurate "ball-park" results. Instead of looking at the headline savings, just look at the % savings. But never compare or rely on monthly payments or savings (as I think you did in your post).

I take it you are aware that *probably* the NPower tariff is a "deferred discount" tariff and you undertstand the circumstances in which you could forfeit the discount?


Later edit acknowledging "jhp", see jhp's post

NittyGritty

if you thinking of switching, then you would recieve a final bill from your previous company that would need to be paid off, they take a meter reading shortly before switching,

jhp

Plus N Power have not announced there price rises yet.

jalexa

NittyGritty wrote: »

if you thinking of switching, then you would recieve a final bill from your previous company that would need to be paid off, they take a meter reading shortly before switching,

No, that's not right.

In the case described there would be no bill from the losing supplier until they receive the transfer reading from the gaining supplier taken by, or for, the gaining supplier on or around the date of the switch.

Duvaljones

thanks for replies so far guys, all very helpful.

update, my mum is 66 years old, i don't know if that makes any difference, if energy suppliers do tarriffs for older customers? i've not found anything yet.

also, a lot of the plans being suggested on the comparison sites seem dependent on signing up to online billing and supplying e-mail addresses etc - mum's not online so this would be a stumbling block i think.

HalloweenJack

npower havent announced there increase yet - so any prices on the websites do not reflect this

jalexa

Duvaljones wrote: »

update, my mum is 66 years old, i don't know if that makes any difference, if energy suppliers do tarriffs for older customers? i've not found anything yet.

E.on either do (or did) one or two. Research or ask about Age Concern and Staywarm

Duvaljones

i've looked at e-on age uk and that looks good, they credit the account with £50 (for elec users) after 12 months of being on the plan, although not sure if it's just for new customers or for those who simply switch plans.

on the consumption question, is my maths correct or are he meter readings just numbers by which a reading is taken, as opposed to actual kWh used?

keith1950

Hi, electricity meter reads are kwh's, but gas are not.

If it needs to have online billing just sign up using your email address and monitor her account for her from your computer/smartphone.

I don't think £66 in debt would block a switch, it would probably have to be considerably higher unless there had been a poor payment history.

As has already been pointed out Npower will be announcing their price rise soon.

npower havent announced there increase yet - so any prices on the websites do not reflect this

Duvaljones

ok, so my usage figure in the first post would be correct, which would mean their consumption assumption (that sounds horrible i know) would be there or thereabouts.

thanks!