Notifying existing supplier that you're leaving

james_joyce

Hi all

Scottish Power have emailed me to say my current deal expires on 31/03/2013, and I'm confused by the following bit of small print:

"If you notify us that you wish to change supplier before 1st April 2013 and if we receive a request for your supply from another supplier within 15 working days, we will not move you to our standard prices or apply cancellation charges (if applicable). "

I've never previously had to notify my existing supplier that I'm leaving - I've just contacted the new supplier who have looked after that. Am I missing something here?

Do I just need to keep contactingg Scottish Power every few days so that my move the new supplier happens within 15 working days? Won't Scottish Power get fed up of hearing from me?!!!

Thanks
James

HappyMJ

It means if the switch goes through before 1st April they won't charge cancellation charges. That sounds fair. If the switch goes through after 1st April you can remain on your current tariff until the switch goes through. Even fairer if it's a cheap rate. You could wait until March 31st (although that's a Sunday-Friday might be better) then ring them up and tell them you are switching and you will stay on the lower fixed rate for another 2 weeks.

james_joyce

Okay - so if I just want to avoid cancellation charges, do I have to contact them?

Nada666

The saving is longer than just the two weeks - the request from the new supplier is just to initiate the changeover - there are still another two to six weeks to go before the supply will be actually switched. So it can be two months or more you receive at the old prices. (In fact, the longer the switch takes the better (assuming the new supplier has already raised their prices.))

I can't fathom where, OP, you get the idea you repeatedly contact your supplier. What makes you think that? You just inform them once of your intention and then just apply to switch as previously with the new supplier.

wizzards

james_joyce wrote: »

Hi all

"If you notify us that you wish to change supplier before 1st April 2013 and if we receive a request for your supply from another supplier within 15 working days, we will not move you to our standard prices or apply cancellation charges (if applicable). "

It means that you have to meet both conditions. i.e The new supplier notifies them WITHIN 15 DAYS and YOU RING THEM UP. So in order to avoid either a price hike or a cancellation fee (if your current deal has that). You need to do both. Just to be clear you don't have to move within the 15 days you just have to have started the switch process. So if you start the switch now or 20 days say before 1st April you should be fine as long as you ring them up once as well. I recommend to note down the name of the person you speak to and the date and time of the call just in case you get any issue later you have a record to refer to.

amiehall

Remember your new supplier will have a cooling off period before they contact your current supplier though. So you should probably start the switch no later than you give your notice.

t0rt0ise

The new supplier automatically contacts the old supplier after 14 days so as the pervious poster says apply to the new supplier and contact the current supplier on the same day. But you don't want to do it yet, do it just before the end of March and then you will get cheaper power for longer.

When the final bill comes in, check that they haven't raised the prices. I just did the same with Scottish Power and they did raise the price so I had to ask them to reissue corrected final bills which they did.