Switching utility providers before completion

Kabzy

Hi All!

I'm new to the Forum and despite going through all the threads I can't seem to find my question answered so apologies if it has.

I am completing on my first property in two weeks and am currently in rented accommodation where all bills are included in the monthly rent. I have checked uSwitch and it seems I could benefit from changing the providers of Gas and Electricity that the vendor has in place already.

From all the weekly emails, I keep seeing that now is the time to switch because energy companies are increasing their prices. Essentially, I want to find out if it is possible for me to get the ball rolling now or would I have to wait until completion to do this?

Thanks in advance

AlexMac

It might be worth a phone call to check if other providers follow the same line, but when I was in a similar position earlier this year, British Gas preferred to wait til I was in occupation before accepting an order from me.
I think they also said that there is a convention that you have to stick with the inherited provider (who was EDF) for a set period; again, I recall 28 days but do recheck. Sorry to be so vague but I wasn't keeping file notes. The cost differential won't be all that significant if there's only a month with the old provider. One other point; I was inheriting pre-pay / key meters, and BG were cool about switching to account meters at no cost to me, so if that applies, ask too. I also had some confusion once about whether the inherited meter was on two-tier pricing because of an old former but now non-existent night storage electricity heater system.

rpc

Until you move in, they aren't your supplies to switch. The existing provider has a right to supply you immediately you move in, but you can start the process to switch as soon as it is your property.

Fire_Fox

No you cannot, it is not your house, not your account and you don't have meter readings.

Lovelyjoolz

LOL! I'm sure the vendors will LOVE you trying to switch their utility suppliers before you've even bought the house!

You're getting way ahead of yourself here. What's the rush? It doesn't matter which supplier you go to, they can still change their prices during the fixed term. AFAIK British Gas allow you to fix prices once in a blue moon, but every other supplier just ties you in to them for supply for 1/2/3 years - it doesn't fix your energy price for that term.

Have you exchanged contracts? If not, what it the sale falls through? Wait until the property belongs to you before poking your nose into the utility bills. You can't do anything without an accurate meter reading on moving day anyway.

Read the meter on the day you move in and then call your prefered supplier and tell them you want them to supply your utilities. They will do the rest.

Kabzy

Thanks for all the responses.

Yes we have exchanged contracts so the move will go through (of course I understand that it does sometimes fall through after this stage).

Maybe I'm trying to be do everything too quickly but I am just trying to get everything organised!

Meter reading on completion date plus call to preferred supplier straight away seems like the right (and only) way to go

rpc

Kabzy wrote: »

Meter reading on completion date plus call to preferred supplier straight away seems like the right (and only) way to go

And that meter reading should be submitted to the existing supplier. You have a deemed contract with them and it will take some time to switch over.

Fire_Fox

Personally I would be more concerned about closing accounts at your old address than opening new ones, you don't want to be paying someone else's bills and have to organise refunds. You will have 'deemed supply' on utilities anyway so it doesn't matter if you wait a few days to sort that out. But you might want telephone and internet quickly and should do TV and council tax quickly because there is legislation covering these.