Submitted switching application -what next?

bluedrop

Dear all,
We are with British gas and edf until now. Just submitted an application via quidco to switch to Scottish power. They took my direct debit details along with the application (Im wondering why? )

What will happen next? They said 4weeks. Will I have power interruption on the switching day? How does switching happen?

rogerblack

You get a letter in the post from your new supplier, and probably your old one too.
Your old supplier(s) often phone you up, and try to convince you to stay.
Check really carefully any numbers they supply at this stage.
Sometime (usually after 4 weeks), they contact you and say 'your account will be switching on the xth', and to take a reading on that day.
Do so, supply it to them, and you're switched.

Do remember to make sure that any credit balance on your existing account gets properly refunded.
There is no interruption of supply.
Your new supply comes down the same wires as the old, and nothing actually changes at all on the physical side.

And then often a few months later, your cashback comes through.
At which time, you may consider switching again, if there is a better deal out there, and early termination fees don't wipe it out.

penrhyn

New supply!! Its the same supply as you had before, you are just paying another company for it.

macman

The only thing that switches is the billing-no need to rewire the house.

bluedrop

Thanks ppl!

Wywth

bluedrop wrote: »

Dear all,
We are with British gas and edf until now. Just submitted an application via quidco to switch to Scottish power. They took my direct debit details along with the application (Im wondering why? )

What will happen next? They said 4weeks. Will I have power interruption on the switching day? How does switching happen?

Why didn't you ask them before divulging your banking details?

It sounds like the tariff you agreed to includes paying by DD. If you didn't want to pay this way, you should have informed the supplier.

Contact the supplier and discuss all your concerns with them. I'm sure they will be able to help you

macman

The OP didn't apply 'via Quidco'. They clicked through from Quidco to SP in order to get the cashback, so SP then requested their bank details in order to process the application, as is normal-many leading tariffs require monthly DD as the sole payment option.
Nowhere does the OP say that they didn't want a DD tariff.

Wywth

macman wrote: »

...Nowhere does the OP say that they didn't want a DD tariff.

And nowhere does it say they did, but they were left wondering why the supplier wanted them to agree to setting up a DD mandate.

macman

Presumably because they thought that the process would be completed by phone/letter later, and not entirely online in one process...

Pincher

Quidco is quoting 5 months before Scottish Power pays the CashBack.

There is no exit penalty, but I expect there will be nowhere cheaper to switch to. It's a good fix. I would start looking again from May 2013.

Dreaming of a £120 cashback plus a 26.3% total discount E.On FixOnline. And then I have to wake up. Sigh.

bluedrop

Oh, no probs with direct debit.... I always pay my bills that way. I was just wondering why they took it at this stage....