Electricity bill now in my name

A_T

My ex-partner has now gone and I am taking over the bill at my home - previously it was in her name with nPower.

What is the best way to do this? Can I just sign up to a supplier via Topcashback and get the cashback?

Wywth

A_T wrote: »

My ex-partner has now gone and I am taking over the bill at my home - previously it was in her name with nPower.

What is the best way to do this? Can I just sign up to a supplier via Topcashback and get the cashback?

You'll need to call nPower.
They'll probably ask for proof that your partner is now an ex and no longer living at the address.

A_T

Wywth wrote: »

You'll need to call nPower.
They'll probably ask for proof that your partner is now an ex and no longer living at the address.

She's already phoned them, told them she was going and given them a final meter reading.

Wywth

A_T wrote: »

She's already phoned them, told them she was going and given them a final meter reading.

As I said...

Wywth wrote: »

You'll need to call nPower.
They'll probably ask for proof that your partner is now an ex and no longer living at the address.

Wywth

espresso wrote: »

...You do not need to contact nPower as you are the account holder now ...

Only if the OP has followed my advice I gave as early as post#2

jalexa

espresso wrote: »

.. and in post #3 the OP states that the original account holder has already informed nPower and given the OP's details.

I agree with some things you say:D but not that. What the OP said in Post #3 was "she's already phoned them, told them she was going and given them a final meter reading".

I'd like this to be a serious point. I'm wonder if for one party (being a departing sole account holder) to provide another party's details might be a breach of data protection. Even if not I doubt there is any contractual basis. I would have expected the supplier to send a "to the occupier" letter. The "occupier" (i.e. the OP) would then need to contact the current supplier and provide account details and a starting read. Having done that the OP would then be free to stay or to switch.

jalexa

espresso wrote: »

Deemed electricity supply contracts:
"Where an electricity supplier supplies electricity to any premises otherwise than in pursuance of a contract, the supplier shall be deemed to have contracted with the occupier (or the owner if the premises are unoccupied) for the supply of electricity as from the time when he began so to supply electricity." Ofgem has clarified its view on the matter: it said that deemed contracts apply only once gas or electricity is consumed.

The OP is now responsible for for any energy consumed and will obviously get a final bill for any energy used until the switch of supplier takes place. Even if nPower address any final bill to the occupier, the OP is still liable to pay the final bill.

I understand all that, as I did before your post. What is your point exactly?

There is no doubt the OP was subject to a deemed contract. The issue is whether they needed to contact the supplier (or not). I say the departing account holder had no grounds for nominating the next account holder. The supplier should have sent a "to the occupier" letter, the "occupier" then needed to contact the supplier to contract a supply agreement, elect a tariff and set up account details.

In your OP you attributed something (in post #3 the OP states that the original account holder has already informed nPower and given the OP's details) which is not (at least not now) the content of post #3.

jalexa

espresso wrote: »

does it matter if the final bill is addressed to Mr. X or to the occupier?

Yes it does. Only Mr X can instruct a switch to Mr X. The "occupier" cannot.

Wywth

espresso wrote: »

According to you but I know of many cases where the new occupier has simply arranged for a supplier of their choice without contacting the original supplier with no problems. ...

... and I know of many people who try, but it invariably ends in tears.

Just look at all the posts here on MSE where posters didn't think they had any contract with a supplier, only to be hounded later by DCAs, and no doubt suffering ruined credit ratings, because they were in a deemed contract they didn't understand.

You can't switch a supplier until you have a supplier.

And the longer the OP delays in contacting nPower, the costlier it becomes because nPower will charge based on their standard (expensive) tariff rather than a cheaper alternative the OP could agree to.

jalexa

espresso wrote: »

Why do you keep ignoring that the OP states that the account is now in their name?

That is indeed a "matter of fact" but if you look (again) at my posts you may see that the argument (or debate) is whether (or not) that was as a result of information provided by the departing account holder (and the legal validity of that).

I won't stoop ... oh yes I will ... to querying why you continue to misquote post #3.

Wywth

jalexa wrote: »

...In your OP you attributed something (in post #3 the OP states that the original account holder has already informed nPower and given the OP's details) which is not (at least not now) the content of post #3.

I can confirm the content of post#3 has not been altered (or if it was, it would have been within a couple of minutes of posting)

I quoted post#3 in my post#4

Anyway, it appears the OP logged off MSE after my post#4, and prior to post#5, so hopefully he is following my repeated advice