Eon Assumed Contract

billybear1

We are moving in a house that has Eon and currently we have no supplier, they stated they would need to do a credit check (I assume this is to take out a full contract with them) but what if we do not want them to do a check, do we still have to have the 28 day supply? Will they give us this on the proviso that we are going with another co in the meantime? Will they refuse us supply if we refuse the credit check?

We have just got a mortgage and do not want any more dents on our credit file, especially for a supplier we have not event chosen.

lemontart

You appear to be contradicting yourself if Eon is the current supplier to the property then you have a registered supplier and must register with them upon moving in, you have no choice regards to a credit check - all suppliers will do this.

Once moved in if you wish to move supplier you can do so, but again will face credit check with a new supplier and expect it to take approx 6 weeks to go through. In the mean time you are a customer of Eon until transfer goes through.

billybear1

Sorry I meant we have no supplier currently as we are living with my Fiancees parents.

This seems a little unfair as we do not want a credit check. What would happen if we failed it?

brewerdave

If you have managed to get a mortgage - can't see you failing a Utility supplier credit check!!!

jalexa

billybear1 wrote: »

Will they refuse us supply if we refuse the credit check?

As soon as you move in you have a deemed contact with the existing supplier, credit check or not. The first challenge is to get a customer account setup without being coerced into providing a date of birth. Up to you how you handle that. They cannot refuse to continue to supply the property, however you could be stuck on a standard non-online tariff which is not the cheapest.

Once you have moved in I suggest you use a comparison website to choose your preferred supplier and tariff. If you find a supplier which does not force provision of date of birth then you will not be credit checked. A year ago, E.ON was in a minority of suppliers which required date of birth provision. Not sure what the situation is today.

Make sure you keep a careful (photographic) record of the meter readings on entry (and change of supplier) and attempt to pass the entry readings to the current supplier.

That said a single check will not "dent" your credit file.

billybear1

Thank you ever so much Jalexa, great post. True, one check shouldn't. But the mortgage check about 2 weeks ago, plus this one, plus one if we decide to move supplier shortly after would really start to leave a few marks on the file. I will do what you suggest.

Would it be wise to state from the off that I do not want a credit check dome for reasons stated?

lemontart

I do not think you can refuse a credit check after all you will be using a credit meter if that is what is in place - this means you use their gas or electricity then pay for it and the supplier has every right to ensure that you are good for the money, They do not have to take your word for it. If there is a card meter or prepayment meter in the property then you may get around it that way as you pay in advance for the gas or electricity.

jalexa

billybear1 wrote: »

Would it be wise to state from the off that I do not want a credit check

If you provide "date of birth" it is inevitable that at some stage a credit check will be undertaken regardless of your instruction (even though that would be a data protection breach). For that reason I am with a supplier that did not require DOB. That is a personal thing, you may or may not share that concern about "unnecessary" provision of personal data.

chanz4

Suppliers can reserve the right not to supply, or to install a pre-payment meter. If its an outside meter, they can just turn up and fit one.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi billybear

Already some excellent advice on here. Thanks guys.

As has been said, if you're moving into a property we already supply, we'll continue to provide the energy until you change supplier. This can take approx 4-6 weeks.

To make sure everything is accurate, please let us have meter readings for the date responsibility changes. We'll close the old account to these readings and open another in your name based on the same readings.

Unless you tell us differently, we'll automatically put you on a standard tariff. As Jalexa says, this won't be the cheapest but there are no tie-ins leaving you free to change supplier whenever you wish.

We credit check all customers joining us with credit meters to make sure, as lemontart says, they're 'good for the money.' If a customer joins us and fails the credit check, we won't just cut them off. We'll continue to provide the energy but reserve the right to fit a prepayment meter.

Hope this answers your questions billybear and good luck with the move. Give me a shout if you need any more info as will be happy to help.

Malc

jalexa

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

As has been said, if you're moving into a property we already supply, we'll continue to provide the energy until you change supplier. This can take approx 4-6 weeks.

We credit check all customers joining us with credit meters to make sure, as lemontart says, they're 'good for the money.'

Hi Malc and commiserations that you find yourself working (like power station workers) when others are on a holiday shopping jolly.

There is a narrow issue here which I'm curious about the answer. If a new "consumer" activates a "deemed supply" by moving into a property where E.ON is the current supplier, passes readings and billing details (but declines to provide date of birth), what action does E.ON take and on what timeframe?

For the benefit for others there is a MSE article from 2011 which tabulates the then supplier approach to the "credit check" issue.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/switch-prepaid-gas-electricity#tableone