A dodgy move by Airtricity? advice please help.

Nadine_h

Hello,

Dont know much about the legals of things but I received a letter this morning from Airtricity about the price increase of 18.6%.

Now what my issue is, is that today's date is 2nd november 2011. The prices will increase from 1st OCTOBER 2011. I have received this letter a month after the notification of price increase.

Surely this is not allowed?? Companies should give you notice of this prior to this hike? which means I have been using electricity on the top end price and I have not been informed and received a bill which is rather high.

If I had of received this letter before the 1st October I could have shopped around for cheaper electricity.

Any advice or info would be greatly appricated. I dont want to go ahead and call them and make a fool of myself if they are allowed to do this even though I think this is very wrong.

Thanks in advance!

dogshome

In recent months, Ofgem the regulator have clarified what the Utilities have to do so far as notifying customers of price rises.
They must give 30 days notice, and from then till the day the new prices take effect the customer has the right to give them notice they are switching because of the price rises - If they do and start the the Switch process immediately, the original supplier has to continue to supply them at the old prices.

The only problem is that you are in N. Ireland, and whilst I can't see any reason why Ofgem's rules should not apply, there may be a problem - Best bet is to phone Ofgem and ask.

In the event that they do, get a letter off quickly to Airtricity headed Complaint - Spell out the failure to give the 30 days notice and tell them you consider that your 30 day notice period runs from the day you got the letter, that you are Switching and require your original prices to be maintained till the Switch is complete
'orrible thought - You do have more than one Utility supplier in NI?