Just moved in... Need to pay 2 months as previous owner?

YoungBaker

Hi there
I got the keys to my first house on Friday - took meter readings straight away and called today their existing suppliers to notify that we are now the owners.

Both electricity and gas is with Scottish Power. They told me I will be charged the same as what the previous owners paid per month Neil they get an idea of ny actual usage - which is going to be £35 for elec and £70 for gas ...

Is this normal? Do we need to stick with the same supplier for a few months before we can change? Is this amount reasonable?

Thanks

SwanJon

I assume that by 'charged' you mean that they will set the direct debit at that amount.
You will only be charged based on the readings. Give them regular readings and they will adjust the DD to your consumption.
You are free to swtich to any supplier of your choice.

It's not a bad way of guessing how much you'll use - the house will proably take the same amount of energy to heat etc.

dogshome

As swanjohn has posted, useing the previous owners consumption as a yardstick for what yours will be, is no bad thing so far as it goes
But
What you really need to know is not the cost the cost per month, but the ANNUAL Gas/Electric Kwh consumptions on which those Direct Debits are based.
This is important because as a 'new' customer Scot Power will have put you on their 'Standard Tariff' ie most expensive, but if you have the annual Kwh consumption figures you can go to any Switchsite to find better deals

Wywth

al_1232 wrote: »

Hi there
I got the keys to my first house on Friday - took meter readings straight away and called today their existing suppliers to notify that we are now the owners.

Both electricity and gas is with Scottish Power. They told me I will be charged the same as what the previous owners paid per month Neil they get an idea of ny actual usage - which is going to be £35 for elec and £70 for gas ...

Is this normal? Do we need to stick with the same supplier for a few months before we can change? Is this amount reasonable?

Thanks

Which tariff are you on?

Now you have registered with the supplier, you are free to switch supplier but be aware of any early exit fees you may have agreed to unless on the suppliers standard tariff.

paulmapp8306

It takes 6-8 weeks to change supplier, so if you intend to do that you will be on a standard tariff with the existing suppler in the mean time.

Completely unfair if you ask me - as a new owner you should be able to choose your supplier the day you get the keys - even if it takes 6-8 weeks to actually switch, but thats how it is.

I had the same issue, but actually chose to stay with the existing supplier and moved onto their cheapest tariff for my usage (which I pretty much new anyway from my previous place). That was I moved to the cheaper tariff from day 1. OK Im stuck with NPower for a year, but even if they wernt the cheapest supplier, its still cheaper than being on a standard tariff for 2 months them switching supplier. I may or may not move after that year.

As for the previous persons usage - it may be nothing like yours. They may use electric to cook and an electric shower - you might use a bar shower and cook on gas. Their oven/fridge might have been old and yours might be newer and more efficient. Many reasons why things may change. Personally Id go from what you used to pay - altered to take into account the obvious such as being a larger house for instance. My bills for example are around £120/month combined for a 4 bed semi, with cavity wall and loft insulation and double glazing. The boiler is old and inefficient but the appliances are new and good. We are a high elec user though with kids using lots of electrical stuff, and I have surround sound for the main TV meaning a tuner an amp and the TV rather than just the TV.

macman

Now you are registered for an account you can commence a switch today if you wish, assuming that you've asked for a tariff without a lock-in period.