How far in advance to switch?

synky

My deal is ending on 30th Sept and I want to switch as soon as possible without incurring leaving fees. Last year I did it 4 weeks in advance and got stung as the new supplier came back with a date before the end even though I asked for it after.

My question is, how far in advance do you think I can switch?

Thanks.

Terrylw1

It takes 21 days after your cooling off period ends, but this is for the whole process.

Its a common misconception that your switch date is at the end but its not. The switch process starts with the proposition of your switch date and since a lot of the process is sequential, it must be before this to even achieve the 21 day target.

Factors to consider:

- a proposed switch date must be future dated
- it cannot be sent with a date more than 28 days ahead (but they can just send it later)
- there must be an included objection window, usually 5 working days
- there may be a day or 2 for data transfer of requests from new supplier to distributor and onto the old supplier
- will the new supplier work your request to switch on the day after your cooling off period ends

So, at a minimum, allow for your cooling off period and the objection window.

Man_Overboard_2

Terrylw1 wrote: »

The switch process starts with the proposition of your switch date and since a lot of the process is sequential, it must be before this to even achieve the 21 day target

Terry, your posts are extremely precise, but mostly unintelligible!

Most of us know nothing of 'switch date propositions', or 'sequential process', or even '21-day targets'!

We simply wanna know how many days it will take to change energy supplier, and it is hard to avoid coming to the conclusion that the energy suppliers themselves do not want us to be able to get a precise answer to that question.

synky

Thanks for your posts.

Yep, I don't really understand that post Terry!

How long is the cooling off period? Then I can add that to the objection window and use that?

Thanks again.

macman

If you switch 3 weeks prior you will be fine- around 9/9.
Typical time is 4-5 weeks.

jalexa

Man_Overboard wrote: »

We simply wanna know how many days it will take to change energy supplier, and it is hard to avoid coming to the conclusion that the energy suppliers themselves do not want us to be able to get a precise answer to that question.

You may think Terrylw1 is hard to understand but the supply regulations are 142 pages:( (not all to do with transfer I should add) not including the master registration agreement.

Unfortunately your (or Synky's) question cannot be answered precisely because while the maximum period is specified by regulation (14 days "cooling off" + 21 days transfer) the minimum possible period is not specified. A supplier's stated "cooling off" period can be less than 14 days, down to a minimum required by contract law (not sure exactly but I think IRO 7 days).

Most customers who ask this question want to avoid the double whammy of early termination charges and liability for current standard tariff rates but the comparison site switching process is not designed to achieve that.

However there is one supply regulation relevant to what you want to achieve...

14A.1 (a) The Customer requests that the Supplier be completed at a later date.

...which could overide the 21 day maximum requirement. Terrylw1 has mentioned that previously but possibly not received any recognition.:D

So ISTM the question is how to implement SLC14A.1 My answer to that would be to deal direct with your new supplier at least 5 weeks in advance and specify your transfer date, e.g. for a 30 September maturity specify 1 October.

I am not saying how easy it will be to achieve that, only what the regulations say. IMO any non-compliance with regulations would be something you could Complain about with the expectation of a compensatory award should you incur costs as a result of your requested date not being observed.

SnowMan

jalexa wrote: »

Y

However there is one supply regulation relevant to what you want to achieve...

14A.1 (a) The Customer requests that the Supplier be completed at a later date.

...which could overide the 21 day maximum requirement. Terrylw1 has mentioned that previously but possibly not received any recognition.:D

So ISTM the question is how to implement SLC14A.1 My answer to that would be to deal direct with your new supplier at least 5 weeks in advance and specify your transfer date, e.g. for a 30 September maturity specify 1 October.

I am not saying how easy it will be to achieve that, only what the regulations say. IMO any non-compliance with regulations would be something you could Complain about with the expectation of a compensatory award should you incur ETCs as a result of your requested date not being observed.

The trouble with condition SLC14A.1 (which terrylw1 has previously mentioned) is that it just gives the supplier the go ahead to work outside the 21 day timescale if the customer requests a later date transfer. It does not compell the supplier to act on the request to delay the switch.

I asked this question to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service of when to switch away from (say) a fixed term contract to avoid either being hit by termination fees (from an unexpectedly early switch) or a period on an expensive tarriff (from a later than expected switch). I have contacted them again a second time to clarify their answer.

They say that if a switch is arranged within 30 days of the end of a fixed term contract (that reverts to a standard tarriff thereafter) then the customer can contact the new supplier in writing immediately after instigating the switch and request that the switch does not proceed until after the end of the fixed term contract.

There is nothing in the standard license conditions, they say, that compells the new supplier to act on the instruction to delay the switch. However there is they say a 'gentleman's agreement' (their words) between the energy suppliers that they will act on the request (assuming it is made within that 30 day period).

I asked what if the utility company ignored the gentleman's agreement, refused to act on the request not to switch before a specific date, a too early switch occurred incurring termination fees and a case went to the Energy Ombudsman after a too early switch. Would that gentleman's agreement be taken into account by the Ombudsman? They understandably said they couldn't answer that.

My advice remains

a) arrange a switch promptly once you are within 30 days of the end of the fixed term contract ( so in synky's case go ahead now as we are within 30 days of 30th September).

b) without delay contact the NEW supplier in writing and request that the switch doesn't take place until after the end of the fixed term contract.

synky

Cheers to all, interesting and helpful.

Terrylw1

SLC14A.1(a) clearly states the supplier is exempt from the 21 day target where the customer requests the switch to take place at a later date.

So, this is formal, not an informal agreement.

There are 2 issues with this you have to consider:

- you waive your right to an industry agreed target, hence it becomes "reasonable endeavours" which could mean your switch takes place slower as they may choose yo prioritise the 21 target customers. So, you need to stay in control of it.

- you can ask, but what if it doesn't reach the change of supplier team in time? What if a note is added but the person actioning the switch doesn't read it? What if the supplier has automated their switching trigger and it requires a checked box of some kind to stop it and no one checks it? In this case, you have the backing of the SLC and your audit trail, which MUST be in writing, so you could complain demanding they pay your early termination charge.

If you want to benefit from the 21 day protection:

- check your cooling off period end date (some are 7, some are 9, some are 14...but at 14 days SLC14A overrides any further allowance to force a maximum)
- then add 5 working days for the objection period
- if your cooling off period ended on a weekend, you could add 2 days as they shouldn't be sending the request off. (This part is at your risk as some suppliers may automate this step hence it could be sent on non working days, but the distributor shouldn't process it until the next working day)
- add an extra working day onto the objection window as they should send it the day before the objection window begins. (This has to allow the distributors processing, so if they sent it over the weekend, it would be classed as sent on the following Monday)

That's the real world side of things.

You can add those days up. I won't give firm dates as its the consumers choice...and how do you know I'm not incorrect? I'm just a nameless party in a public forum but what you have here is enough info to challenge what a supplier may tell you. From the above and reading the SLC's if required, you can make your own decision.

Really, Ofgem should force them to change all forms of contracts to include this request which would protect the consumer.

synky

The cooling off period is 7 days, so adding that to the 5 plus a couple for the weekend - I'm thinking 2 weeks in advance. It will probably mean I will be on the standard tariff for a week or so but better that then get caught with early termination fees.

I'll post to let you know what actually happens!

Thanks all.

JJ_Egan

My EDF change from BG has just showed probable transfer dates dates .
Signed up 28 Aug Elec expected switch 24 Sept and Gas 2nd Oct


jje