Moving to new flat. Existing electricity supplier say I MUST register with them.

chris-j

Dont think you do need to register with them at all. My parents recently moved, in new house Gas was BG and Electricity was Scottish Power. They initiated switch to dual fuel with Scottish power when moved in and just paid BG for gas used with bills to occupier. BG allocated account number, etc but they never actually registered as customers and paid final bill when it arrived addressed to occupier.

Cardew

chris-j wrote: »

Dont think you do need to register with them at all. My parents recently moved, in new house Gas was BG and Electricity was Scottish Power. They initiated switch to dual fuel with Scottish power when moved in and just paid BG for gas used with bills to occupier. BG allocated account number, etc but they never actually registered as customers and paid final bill when it arrived addressed to occupier.

So what would have happened if the previous occupant had not notified BG of the correct meter reading when they left(or even gave a reading at all). How could your parents dispute a bill where they were paying for the previous occupant's consumption?

We get scores of cases on MSE where the new occupant doesn't contact the existing firm with meter readings, and then find they are lumbered with huge bills that are difficult to dispute.

If a Debt Collection Agency gets involved, they are not interested in a fair solution - the current occupant will be chased.

How difficult is it to make a phone call or send an email?

keith1950

Dont think you do need to register with them at all. My parents recently moved, in new house Gas was BG and Electricity was Scottish Power. They initiated switch to dual fuel with Scottish power when moved in and just paid BG for gas used with bills to occupier. BG allocated account number, etc but they never actually registered as customers and paid final bill when it arrived addressed to occupier

Francis63...this is very bad advice, in this case things might not have gone wrong but if they had there would have been real problems.

You MUST register with the existing supplier and give your opening meter readings on the day you move in!!

Listen to Cardew ...not chris-j.

Nada666

With the reintroduction of standing charges even an accurate end read from the previous occupants means a ditto for Cardew and Keith1950 advice.

OP, this faffing about is a lot less of a faff than the alternative - living by torchlight and petrol generators for a week or two until supplies are reconnected!

ValHaller

KTF wrote: »

Yes but you can switch on the day you move in. There is no requirement to stay with them for 4-6 weeks.

Nope. You can initiate the change on day 1 but the deemed contract is for a minimum of the first 28 days.

KTF

ValHaller wrote: »

Nope. You can initiate the change on day 1 but the deemed contract is for a minimum of the first 28 days.

As the switch takes 4 weeks anyway, this covers the min contract period.

Biscuit_Tin

Frances63 wrote: »

Is this correct? I have just bought a flat. It has no Gas (the heating is from oil to radiators). So it is only the electricity that I need to take over.

The previous supplier was apparently E.on (judging from the post on the mat) so I called them for their rates, bearing in mind the current need to be on a fixed rate.

I am rarely home (I work abroad most of the time) and the flat will be empty for much of the time and so I am a very low user of energy. I therefore am best off on a rate with no daily standing charge (or a very low one). Unfortunately all of E.on's tariffs have a standing charge so I do not really want an account with them.

However, because they were the previous supplier they say I have to register with them and then can change supplier only after 4-6 weeks. Is this true?

It seems such a faff when I could just start with a different electricity supplier more suited to my needs from day one.

Is it always the case that you have to first register with the previous occupant's supplier?

Yes, that's right. You need to register with the existing supplier ... but can then start to switch if you prefer.

As well as the suggestions already given by others, I saw in another thread that the following suppliers offer no daily standing charge tariffs:

Green Energy UK http://www.greenenergy.uk.com/

nPower ... but only if you agree to pay by DD (they offer a discount that pays the cost of the daily standing charge)

But I suggest you consult a comparison site and find the best deal for you
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

but only after you have registered with the existing supplier.
It doesn't matter whether or not a standing charge is applied, only that you pay the lowest price.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi Frances

Sorry for the late reply. Most of the other posters have already given great advice and it looks as though you've registered with us now.

Just to confirm, none of our current tariffs has a No Standing Charge option. Also, on our two rate Economy 7 tariffs, the daytime rate is higher than on the single rate version.

Sorry again for the late reply.

Malc

DragonQ

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Just to confirm, none of our current tariffs have a No Standing Charge option.

None of our current tariffs has a No Standing Charge option.

Frances63

Thanks everyone, brilliant advice! I

have registered with Eon on their standard tariff (no exit fees) but also have organised the switch to Npower's Dec2017 fixed tariff (standing charge almost negated by D/D discount). All done through Quidco for £25 cashback.

Very happy with that. Now I can relax for 4 years.