Can you pick energy supplier BEFORE moving in?

hfdka

Hi all,

Am due to move out of in laws into a rented house in 3 weeks. Previous to becoming a wily money saver I'd always just stuck with whoever the previous people used, am wondering now if as a new customer I would have more bargaining power or do utilities not work like that?

undaunted

Suppliers may try & fob you off as it's probably easier for them if you are already in the property but there is nothing legally to stop you from setting up a supply contract with a chosen supplier from x date.

dogshome

"Can you pick a energy supplier BEFORE moving in" - NO

The system is that when you move into a property, you automatically become a customer of that dwellings current supplier, so on the day you move in contact them and give them the meter readings - Doing this ensures you are only paying for what you use, and not debt left by the previuos occupant This supplier will send you a Welcome Pack & an Account No., as soon as you have these you can move to any other supplier you choose

spiro

dogshome wrote: »

"Can you pick a energy supplier BEFORE moving in" - NO

The system is that when you move into a property, you automatically become a customer of that dwellings current supplier, so on the day you move in contact them and give them the meter readings - Doing this ensures you are only paying for what you use, and not debt left by the previuos occupant This supplier will send you a Welcome Pack & an Account No., as soon as you have these you can move to any other supplier you choose

Why do people keep repeating this inaccurate information. There is nothing in the SLCs, Energy Act or flow processing rules that bar this. In the same way as if you wave the right to a cooling off period the change of supply date can be the next working day. Just because suppliers dont tend to offer the facility does not mean it can't happen.

dogshome

Oh come on Spiro and questionable SLC's -
You know very well that this site is full of new OP's who's energy accounts have ended in a huge tangle, simply because they appointed an Energy supplier to supply their new home without first registering with the current supplier, and then ended up with two suppliers billing them for the same Energy/Gas

Wywth

hfdka wrote: »

Hi all,

Am due to move out of in laws into a rented house in 3 weeks. Previous to becoming a wily money saver I'd always just stuck with whoever the previous people used, am wondering now if as a new customer I would have more bargaining power or do utilities not work like that?

They don't work like that. All you can get is one of the currently available tariffs.

Whilst it may be theoretically possible to get a new supplier on board before you have registered with the existimng supplier, I would urge you against this. Such attempts often end in tears and confusion.

You won't save much anyway over 5 weeks ... and you won't get any cashback. You can't switch supplier unless you have a supplier.

SwanJon

Following on from all of the above - it will take 5 weeks form when you make the decision, so you'll have 2 weeks with the old supplier at least.
The old supplier will write/phone to the old tenant to say 'sorry you're leaving us' - this can be the start of a problem if old tenant says 'no I never agreed to that', or signs back up with the old supplier.

I've never tried it, but I think you could get cashback as the new supplier doesn't know when you moved in.

All said, I'd wait until you're in - take readings, phone old supplier to get account with them set up then mercilessly hit the comparison sites...

Cardew

spiro wrote: »

Why do people keep repeating this inaccurate information. There is nothing in the SLCs, Energy Act or flow processing rules that bar this. In the same way as if you wave the right to a cooling off period the change of supply date can be the next working day. Just because suppliers dont tend to offer the facility does not mean it can't happen.

So if I rang a utility company and told them I was moving into your(spiro) property, they would start the switching process??

I think I will try it, saying I am moving into 10 Downing Street SW1.;)

I think the only time it would work is if the property was unoccupied.

There is a chance that the OP might not move into the rented house and he has absolutely no right to change supplier until he is paying the rent.

Joyful

I have also come across tenants who have a date for moving to a property and then find nearer the time that it is not suitable for them. Imagine having your name on a bill when you don't live at the property. I would also agree to wait until you are in the property before changing supplier.