Help- change supplier if bill not in your name

ahll

Hi,
Can anyone help as many will be aware British Gas have put up prices yet again.

My Gran is on Standard Tariff with British Gas and Electric Standard with NPower. The bill is in Grandads name but he has just gone into a care home with Almizimers.

Gran is now gonna have to pay all the bills so we need to try and get her better tariffs to make it more affordable.

At present there is no POA or COP in place is there anything we can do ?

duchy

Yes ring the suppliers and explain the situation and ask what their process is to change the accounts into your Gran's name in these circumstances. There are data protection issues but most suppliers have processes in place and I've always found BG very helpful when I've called them

HappyMJ

ahll wrote: »

Hi,
Can anyone help as many will be aware British Gas have put up prices yet again.

My Gran is on Standard Tariff with British Gas and Electric Standard with NPower. The bill is in Grandads name but he has just gone into a care home with Almizimers.

Gran is now gonna have to pay all the bills so we need to try and get her better tariffs to make it more affordable.

At present there is no POA or COP in place is there anything we can do ?

She can call the suppliers close the accounts (in anyone's name) by providing a closing meter reading and then open an new account in her name and then switch suppliers.

Same procedure applies when you move into a new house and the previous occupants have not closed the accounts.

spacey2012

You can do all this on-line for her, the new company will deal with the Old ones.
If you look at the top of this MSE site front page you will see links to utility switching comparison sites.
As long as you have an old Bill of hers, you can assist her to find a better deal and a sorry you are leaving letter will arrive.

footyguy

ahll wrote: »

Hi,
Can anyone help as many will be aware British Gas have put up prices yet again.

My Gran is on Standard Tariff with British Gas and Electric Standard with NPower. The bill is in Grandads name but he has just gone into a care home with Almizimers.

Gran is now gonna have to pay all the bills so we need to try and get her better tariffs to make it more affordable.

At present there is no POA or COP in place is there anything we can do ?

Well presumably your grandad has not told the supplier of his new address, so his wife will still be receiving any letters, and presumably handling all correspondence.

She can just change supplier if she wants (using her name).
BG will send a 'sorry you are leaving' notification, and that will be sent to the address on record, so presumably your grandmum will read it on behalf of your grandad, and ignore it.

The change will go through.

Happy Days! :j

ahll

Thanks all it seems like changing things online might be the best way to go using a comparison site to get the best deal for her at the same time. :0)

Joyful

Make sure there are no bills outstanding more than 28 days old and that she is billed to a read rather than an estimate otherwise she could get a shock when the final bill arrives.