Near end of fixed deal - when can I actually switch?

jem1980

Hello there
I am hoping someone can help as I am confused about when I can switch my dual fuel contract!? My current fixed deal with Npower ends at the start of Feb, at which point I will be transferred to an expensive rate with them. I want to switch to EDF's June 2014 fixed deal, but am unsure about when I can actually do this. Energy comparison websites seem to categorically state that it takes 4-6 weeks for a switch to take effect, which makes me think that I can switch since it is less than 4 weeks until the end of my contract, so there should be no chance of accidentally exiting early and incurring a fee with Npower.

Does anyone know if the 4-6 week thing is a definite, or is there a risk that I would be switched after, say 3 wks. I read somewhere that it is at least 28 days to switch bcause a standard energy contract is 28days. Is this true? When would you switch?
Thanks in advance to all knowledgeable peeps :-)

KTF

I take it you are on Sign Online 24 the same as me

I called them up about this yesterday and they said (after checking with a supervisor) that there would only be an early exit penalty to pay if the switch happened before Feb 3, not when they receive the intention to switch from the new supplier.

They suggested that I sign up to the new supplier about 2 weeks before the end date to be on the safe side as it normally takes 4-6 weeks but sometimes less.

For me this isn't an issue as running my last years figures against the Go Save S tariff that I will be moved wasnt that much more so a week or so on that isnt going to break the bank.

jem1980

Thanks, that's really helpful :-) We use quite a lot of energy as I am stay at home mum (and feel the cold!) so although I haven't worked it out I am keen to get on another good fix so I can relax about it all. (I like the idea of fixing til June 2014 and the offer says limited so I was a bit worried it might disappear over the next month.)

I had been hoping there would be a little box on the switching site that allowed me to enter the earliest date I wanted to switch, but I think that was a bit much to ask, lol!

Will definitely take your advice and wait til 2 weeks before, thanks KTF!

KTF

The switching process is a bit of a lottery.

Last time I switched it took around a month, before that it took a bit longer but for the sake of a £40 penalty for switching early I think its worth the 'risk' of dropping on to their standard tariff for a week or two.

If you know last years figures then there is nothing to lose by running them through the comparison site now so you know who you are going to switch to.

macman

Any date after 7/1/13 will be fine, as the switch will not take less than 21 days.

2010

As far as I know when you give them notice of a switch they have to keep you on your current tariff until the switch takes place.

Wywth

2010 wrote: »

As far as I know when you give them notice of a switch they have to keep you on your current tariff until the switch takes place.

No, that only applies if you are switching as a result of a notified, adverse change in the tariff. In that case, then they will not apply the notified changes.

Where a tariff comes to the contractual end, then it will end on that date.

KTF

macman wrote: »

Any date after 7/1/13 will be fine, as the switch will not take less than 21 days.

That would put it around the 28th (assuming 21 days) so wouldn't the 14th of Jan be better (Feb 3 being the end of the of the existing tariff)?

macman

KTF wrote: »

That would put it around the 28th (assuming 21 days) so wouldn't the 14th of Jan be better (Feb 3 being the end of the of the existing tariff)?

Well you said 'the start of Feb', so I'd assumed your existing tariff ended 31/1/13, in the absence of a crystal ball. So any time from 13/1 then.

KTF

For those that are interested, I applied with the Coop Energy on Jan 14 and my switching pack arrived today via email with a changeover date of (approx) 21/02/13 so well outside the penalty window.