Stopping energy supplier transfer, Please help

Dfects

We recently moved into a new rented property, and despite requesting not to be transferred to another supplier it looks like the letting agent did it anyway :-(

We'd already moved our british gas account over and we're happy with that, but now spark energy have started the transfer of the supply.

Its due to swap over on the 31st of May On the 22nd of May (first i'd heard about it via an automated robot phone call) spark energy apparently put an objection in to try and stop the transfer. British Gas say there's nothing they can do to help now.

Spark Energy seem awful based on the reviews, so I really want to stop this going ahead Does anyone have any advice? They say I won't know if the objections worked until the 31st of May, but I'm really starting to worry about this.

Is it worth trying to get British gas to object again?

Thanks,

Ste

Anubis_2

Some rented properties use the energy supplier that the LL wants to use (crazy, but true) so find out if it's in your rental agreement that you have to use a company specified by the LL first.

macman

You can't 'ship an account over' from one property to the next, you are in a deemed contract with the existing supplier (who is that?). Once you've registered with them and submitted readings on day one, you can start a switch.
Complain strongly to your letting agent. You are aware that they get a commission from Spark to switch you?
If it's gone beyond the cooling-off period, then nothing you can do except start a further switch process on 31/5. But it appears that leaving Spark is harder than joining them...
I'm not clear who the current supplier actually is-Spark, BG, or another?

Dfects

The current supplier is British Gas. The previous tenants were on British Gas too, so I called them and just got it swapped over. Its all set up and they're currently supplying. The previous tenants used the same letting agent (your move) and they were at some point with spark energy too and swapped

In the tenancy agreement, there is the following clause:

The Tenant agrees that data about the Tenant and the Premises may be supplied by the Landlord or
the letting agent to the Utilities or the telephone supplier. The Tenant understands that at the date
the let commences, gas and electricity supplies will be supplied by Spark Energy Limited or be in the
course of being supplied by Spark Energy Limited.

I brought this up twice with your move before signing, both times they told me it was optional and I'd have the choice to decline. Seems that was a lie, but it does read like its up to me if I want to switch.

I called British Gas again and they've started an erronous transfer proceedure and put in an objection too, so there should be an objection from both spark and british gas now so hopefully that will stop supply from being taken over.

If not, I fear I may have a fight on my hands with Spark, they've already shown their incompetence to me.

Dfects

I've also just phoned the letting agents (your move) who are apparently going to get in touch with spark energy to try and stop it too.

Losing confidence in both companies

dogshome

OK - The lease you signed allows the L/agent to switch you to Spark, and as already posted the L/Agent is paid a bung by Spark to put this clause in the lease.
Not only are Spark an expensive supplier, but there are straws in the wind that seem to indicate that the L/Agent also gets a further 'commision' on every payment you make to Spark.

The good news is that when the present switch to Spark initiated by Rightmove is completed, you have fully complied with the terms of the lease and there is nothing to stop you doing another switch to a supplier of your choice

The bad news is that Spark have earned a reputation for inventing all sorts of excuses to block a switch to another supplier, and some L/Agents have threatened to invoice tenants for 'expenses' of unkown value if the tenant switches.

You are quite right, you do have a fight on your hands and whilst Ofgem the industry regulator have been tardy in reacting to these abuses, they now taking an interest.
Write to Ofgem at:
9 Millbank London SW1P 3GE Tel 020-7901-7000
Setting out your concerns and listing the additional Utility costs you are faced with from Spark v BG, then at each and every every response from Spark and/or the L/Agent, report it further to Ofgem in writing.

It would be of great help to other tenants enmeshed into Spark, if you kept your post up to date with your progress

Dfects

Thanks for the replies

Well the your move guy we dealt with has phoned spark energy and told them that we don't want anything to do with them and that your move are ok with that. I also confirmed with him that there should be no charges for us not using spark from your move and they're fine with us using another provider.

Hopefully this is the same stance the head office takes too. I'll definitely be keeping a log of any payments or corrispondence in case of issues.

I'm still holding out some hope that the 2 objections will stop the transfer taking place at all. I don't want anything to do with spark energy. I've already been told twice i'd have a call back which hasn't happened which for me is a huge no no. I'd never do that to a customer at my work, so I don't expect it from anyone else.

jalexa

Dfects wrote: »

A lot of good stuff in dogshome's post. The only thing I would add is don't get bogged down in "objections" but concentrate on who is the legal registrant for the supply.

At the end of the objection process that may be whichever supplier was the incumbent supplier to the previous tenant, or it *could* be Spark. Be aware that suppliers are registered to the "property" but customers are linked by "account".

TBH what you described as "moving your account over" is a "nonsense" that British Gas should have handled more intelligently. And if the incumbent supplier was British Gas as you say, for the agent to switch while the let was void was not illegal, though it may have been unnecessary sharp practice.

Dfects

I agree it was good advice but when you say not to get bogged down in objections, are they not the only way I can stop the supply from being changed in the first place? Surely it would be better if they never actually take the supply so I don't have to deal with them at all.

Your move have confirmed on at least 3 occasions that it is fine if I don't become a customer of spark energy, despite the clause in the contract.

jalexa

Dfects wrote: »

I agree it was good advice but when you say not to get bogged down in objections, are they not the only way I can stop the supply from being changed in the first place?

I understand where you are coming from there, but I see the eventual outcome is what is important. There is only a small cost in spring/summer by being on the "wrong" tariff for 28 days which was always your maximum exposure. You have a customer right to switch (unless a tenancy agreement prevents) but that is not being applied.

Based on what you have said, technically I do not believe there are objection grounds (though the agent *may* have "cooling-off" grounds to "cancel"). If not, it seem to me that Spark are the legal suppliers until you switch to your choice of supplier. I would much rather make a "legal" switch from Spark than a questionable objection (given dogshome's "bad news").

Sadly you will find supplier failure to call back (as promised) not uncommon. Universal even.

Dfects

In dogshome's bad news, he mentions how hard it can be to switch after they have a hold of the supply. So surely if a "questionable objection" stops the transfer, thats still a better outcome then letting them take over the supply then having to battle with them to release the supply back to BG.

In regards to call backs, thats one thing I've always liked about BG. For example the other day I asked a simple question and my mobile phone lost reception. 30 seconds later, they called me back to give me the answer. They're so much nicer to deal with than other companies i've had to phone.