How to switch supplier, while in debt?

ethan123

Hi folks,

After speaking with an energy supplier on the phone, and enquiring as to whether or not I could switch to them if my account with my current energy supplier was in debt... they advised me that each supplier has their own policy regarding how much debt their customers carry before they allowed them to switch.

I am currently with NPower, and unless I missed something while searching their site, they don't seem to have any info about this...

I would like to know how much energy debt I am allowed to be in, in order to leave the company and use another supplier instead.
... Looking at a thread on a similar forum to this one, it seems to indicate that the figure for NPower might even be £0 Zero debt.

I would be grateful if anyone could state the min debt to leave NPower... and for the benefit of others, it might be good to list the debt threshold for other suppliers as well.

Thanks for reading

HappyMJ

Most of them don't mind you leaving if you are less than a month in arrears. I'm with Npower and a bill is issued every 6 months. If I initiate a switch almost immediately after the bill is issued they have let me leave.. I have then owed 7-8 months worth of usage by the time the switch is complete.

chanz4

No supplier will publish this, they normally object to over 100 if over28 days most suppliers do

macman

£200 seems to be an often-quoted figure.
Why not just tell us what your debt is?

SwanJon

There is a proccess to transfer prepayment customers with a debt (the new supplier effectively buys the debt from the previous supplier). The maximum threshold for this used to be £200, but has now increased to £500.

If you are not on prepayment, technically the threshold is £0.01 (not quite zero). I'm sure all the suppliers have a 'not worth the effort' limit, but they aren't going to publicise that are they?
A balance becomes a debt when it has been outstanding for more than 28 days, so in HappyMJ's example, the bill is not yet a debt and they don't object.

ethan123

Thanks guys.
My debt is over £450. I am not on pre-payment meters, tho I believe they are about to install them if I don't pay my debt off in the next few days.

According to the ofgem pdf https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/76125/supply-probe-qa.pdf it seems that there isn't much I can do, because I'm not on PPM and I doubt (but aren't certain) that NPower increased the charges without sending a letter first.

My debt (at over £200) would have been older than 28 days.

Tho does a consumer not have the power to demand a switch? - is it written in some type of law that energy suppliers can choose their own threshold, and prevent a customer from switching?

Any more guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks

PS: I see this page https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/76257/20120923ofgemmakesiteasierforprepaymetercustomers.pdf, which explains the increase in threshold from £200 to £500 debt for PPM.

Also, I have phoned Ofgem and they are (hopefully) going to get back to me to explain my options. I will post here if I hear from them.

chanz4

No right to avoid or we all would do it

Vonnie257

I had set it up to change from British Gas to Southern Electric for my gas supply [already have electricity with the company] The S.E. has been brilliant about how I can budget for my electric and I pay by a standing order every week. I am a pensioner and sick and disabled and need to budget my money but B.G wont listen to me, they say they want a direct debit or pay point card to be used for payment. Please note they are receiving £50 a month off me by standing order and are NOT disputing that, but if I don't change my payment method they will "break in with a warrant" and fit a prepayment meter. They send me threatening letters all the time stating I owe the full amount and don't take off any payments they have received, in fact on their website they have blocked me from seeing how much I have paid so I have to check with my online banking!This has been ongoing for a year now and despite writing to H.O. they do nothing. The stress of it all is making my depression much worse. Now they are objecting to me changing to S.E, despite the fact that only £48 [less than one months payment] is now owed, if you add on the amount since my last reading and its a total of £84. So I am stuck. I have asked them for a final bill as I want to leave them, but they want payment over the phone with a credit or debit card? Its all about what THEY want, not what is suitable for me. Please help, all this is making me ill. PS I dont possess a credit card and don't want one!

Joyful

Vonnie257

BG do not accept standing orders for the reason in your post. Customers may think they can pay what they want, not the amount of energy they are using. This then means letters going out so it is not cost effective. You must clear the balance and then they will let you leave as long as by then you do not have another bill which is over 28 days.

If you were on the payment plans suggested you would be paying an agreed amount of money plus paying it at the time expected.

chanz4

Bang on the reason about standingorder

Nada666

Vonnie257 wrote: »

Now they are objecting to me changing to S.E, despite the fact that only £48 [less than one months payment] is now owed, if you add on the amount since my last reading and its a total of £84. So I am stuck. I have asked them for a final bill as I want to leave them, but they want payment over the phone with a credit or debit card?

If £48 is 'only' £48 then what is stopping you altering the standing order to pay off the account? Or using an online payment?

Or why do you not want to use a debit card?