Switching supplier??

Treaclechops

Has anyone had a difficulty in a supplier putting a block on a gas account?

The account is not in my name at the moment and I'm not responsible for the bills. As far as I'm aware, the current bill payer put in final readings and he's got £67.00 to pay.

I am to become responsible for the bills and chose a better and cheaper supplier than nPower. nPower have blocked the transfer to me and me going with a new supplier and say I've got to take over their supply!!!! I've always thought that people could chose who they wanted to supply them. My new supplier has no problem with me.

I can't be forced to take on the nPower account - it's not my account or anything to do with me. It doesn't seem at all logical or right and is certainly against any freedom of contract that I'm aware of.

Any ideas?

TC

dogshome

Even if you are presently living under the same roof to which power/gas is presently supplied by n'power - If you take on responsibilty for the bills you you must register and open an account with n'power as they are that dwellings current supplier - It's not just n'power, the system is the same for all suppliers

Once you registered with n'power, you can Switch to whoever you like and would be wise to do so, as n'power will have put you on their Expensive Standard tariff as a "New" customer, just the same as all the other suppliers

Your 'New' supplier is doing you no favours - They know the system - If you were sign up before registering with n'power you would likely end up being billed by two comanies for the same Elec & Gas

Fire_Fox

You have totally misunderstood. You have a 'deemed contract' with NPower as the incumbent supplier the second you use any energy, you must open an account with them but can switch immediately (takes perhaps four to six weeks to go through, after which you settle your bill with NPower).

You ARE legally responsible for the utility bills from day one if you are the occupier and your name is on the tenancy agreement regardless if you have got around to supplying a reading and your given name to NPower. The fact that the previous tenant may have a debt on their account is irrelevant. They supplied the reading and the date they left, so they are no longer the named bill payer. If you fail to give your name and payment details to NPower you will still receive letters and bills addressed to 'the occupier'.

keith1950

Hi, you just need to ring npower , give the current meter readings and register with them on a standard tariff.

You are not 'taking on' the current npower account but temporarily registering with them so the current contract can be finalised.

You can then go straight online and start a switch with any supplier you want. This will usually take 3-5 weeks so you are not losing much by being on their standard tariff.

Make sure it's a standard tariff though and don't agreeing to a special tariff with npower or you could end up with exit fees.

macman

If you are now the occupier, then you most certainly are responsible for the bills, whether you are registered for an account with nPower or not. Who do you otherwise think is paying for current usage?
To switch, you need to have an account to switch from. Otherwise the outgoing supplier will always block it.