Ambiguous email from Scottish Power?

delia

I am coming to the end of my Online Fixed Price Energy November 2013 tariff with SP. Along with others, I have just received this in an email from them:

If you decide to switch to another supplier:
If we receive a request for a change of your supply from another supplier on or before 28th November 2013, and your supply transfers to your new supplier within a reasonable period of time (normally 20 working days) from the date we receive that request, you can leave us without moving to our standard prices. Otherwise you will move automatically to our standard prices on 1st November 2013.

Now, is it me or are these dates wrong? I have until 28th Nov to notify them, or I will pay the standard prices on 1st November???

Wolf3

Afaik with the new regulations from Ofgem coming off a fixed price tariff they must give you a reasonable time to arrange a transfer even after the end date of the actual tariff. In this instance as long as they receive the "request" from the other supplier before the 28th November (remember the gaining supplier must give you a cooling off period before they even send the request) and your supply transfers within 20 days the Final Bill from SP will be billed on your old Fixed Price tariff rates, not on their std prices from the 1st November.

Stops any confusion about when to agree to the new tariff with other supplier and you wont transfer early and have to pay the cancellation fee

delia

Ah, thanks for that. I didn't know about the new regs from OFGEM that you mention. It does make sense though.
TBH, I had thought the fix was until the END of November as suggested by its name!

Wolf3

as a further note, if your supply doesn't transfer in the 20 day period after the request is received, your account would be billed from the 1st November on the Standard rates up until the Supply end date. Basically if your new supplier mess up the transfer, you have to pay the extra cost

Dustykitten

Thanks, I'm on the same deal and the name is misleading. I've just looked at my original paperwork and fix finishes on 31st October for me. Considering moving to npower fix until Dec 2014.

Moby_Tide

Just done my switches tonight from the same deal, split to betterenergy for gas and First Utility for electric. Fixed till 2015 with First Utility but the current betterenergy prices are so far below the others for now decided to chance it as can leave for free at any point and switch to a fix. The Scottish Power alternatives just didn't stack up

delia

Just wondering... would I be able to start switching from this tarrif now? Will I get an early exit charge, considering the fix does not finish until the end of the month?

matelodave

The SP November 2013 deal doesn't have any exit charges so you can go ahead and get another deal under way - it will probably take 4-6 weeks anyway.

I instigated my next deal with First Utility last week - fixed till the end of April 2015

Dustykitten

If I want to keep my electricity with SP on their new fix for Dec 2014 am I best to do it now, will it be instant or still go through a switching process. I'd loose a bit on the dual fuel discount and probably lower current rate, need to check what the difference is. Other choice is to move it to NP, hardly any difference in price for me and I would potentially get the £15 switch cashback.