Why all the fuss over the "up to 6 weeks"?

boovee

Don`t get it.....why all the fuss over this 6 weeks transfer from old supplier to new? I just signed up for a deal, locked into that from the date I press the button on the PC ....how long they take to transfer is not really a problem. I obviously want to log into my account to check usage etc but at the end of the day, I`ll get billed sooner than later. In the mean time,I`ll just put the money to one side, in MY account! BTW, I switch every year, with absolutely no hassle what so ever....seamless! Really don`t understand the fuss or why people don`t change...!!!

MillicentBystander

I think the main gripe is it's yet another barrier to competition as, unlike you, many people see the time it takes to switch as daunting. Plus it bears absolutely no relation to other commodities in the length of time it takes to switch providers (my son had to have a new phone line installed when he took up boadband with his current supplier and even then he was up and running with them in 3 weeks!). It's not like the energy companies have to install new equipment, is it? It's yet another problem in this industry that needs sorting out.

Nada666

Claptrap from politicians. Same as the rubbish about switching current accounts - people change savings accounts, there is little point switching current accounts.

DragonQ

It also means your new prices don't come into effect for 6 weeks also.

Nada666

DragonQ wrote: »

It also means your new prices don't come into effect for 6 weeks also.

Which can be either good or bad - although many new switchers will be moving to cheaper tariffs there is the benefit of switching on an increase of tariff notice where you are switching to a new tariff that is more expensive than the old one.

Nada666

What effect would it have on backhanders and cashback if tarts can switch six times a month rather than six times a year? (Particularly in light of restrictions on exit penalties.)

DragonQ

I'd have thought they could just add restrictions like only offering cashback once per customer per year.

apt

Nada666 wrote: »

What effect would it have on backhanders and cashback if tarts can switch six times a month rather than six times a year? (Particularly in light of restrictions on exit penalties.)

Most cashback on energy, insurance etc. is only paid after several months and with the proviso that the customer has not cancelled in the meantime.

lisa701

It took me 6 weeks to transfer from British Gas to Scottish Power. I suppose the downside of the 6 week period is if the new deal is significantly cheaper than the old one then you are stuck paying higher fees for 6 weeks when if they did the change overnight you would not be.

notbritishgas

boovee wrote: »

Don`t get it.....why all the fuss over this 6 weeks transfer from old supplier to new? I just signed up for a deal, locked into that from the date I press the button on the PC ....how long they take to transfer is not really a problem. I obviously want to log into my account to check usage etc but at the end of the day, I`ll get billed sooner than later. In the mean time,I`ll just put the money to one side, in MY account! BTW, I switch every year, with absolutely no hassle what so ever....seamless! Really don`t understand the fuss or why people don`t change...!!!

You may have locked in from when you press the button but from a financial point of view you are not.
You will start paying the new (presumably cheaper) prices from the meter reading you give the new supplier when they ask. This can take weeks and the actual date of the switch will be about that time.

Strebor

Lucky you. The day you switch and find the company you switch too c**ks it up, can't bill you, starts removing money from your account at much higher rate than use, that can't correct the problem for months, if at all, despite your hours on the phone to their "customer services" then you might appreciate why things like 6 weeks to change is just another part of a broken system. I don't wish it on anyone, but trust me you have been lucky.