Comparison websites saying my electricity supplier is different to Property Info rece

JustAnotherSaver

ived.

When we were going through the house buying process we received a .pdf Property Info which was filled out by the previous owner.

We've now got the keys & i've just ran through compare the market & uswitch. CTM seemed to be more understanding that people may not be paying any energy bills at the moment (i.e. FTBs), but they both said that my electricity supplier was Eon & gas being British Gas.

According to the Property Info .pdf we received, the previous owner says the supplier for both is British Gas.

I'd imagine previous owner should know who they're with, so is this just a standard (error) that these comparison websites throw up or is the website likely to be correct?

Only reason i'm doubting is my mum has different suppliers & when i helped her switch her gas, it identified them both correctly.

amiehall

Whenever I put my current details into a comparison site, it's default supplier is SSE (the "local" supplier for my area) whereas I have been with EDF for nearly 18 months.

It hadn't even occurred to me that the site was trying to actually look up your current supplier. I think it just gives some kind of default based on the area of the country you live in.

As an aside, you know that, even if you're switching right away, you need to set up your accounts with the current suppliers? The way to check if you're with BG is to ring them and set up your account. After that, feel free to switch immediately.

macman

No comp site can possibly know who your current supplier is, all they have input by you is a postcode, which is not property-specific anyway. That's why they ask you to input your own supplier(s).
For this purpose, it doesn't really matter who the existing supplier is anyway-the point is to get the comparative data. You can put in any supplier and tariff you like.

Nada666

They have provided a default guess rather than providing you with a completely blank form. They use the old regional electricity supplier for your postcode and British Gas. They do not pretend to state that that is who your supplies are registered with.

If your mum was with the defaults then, no doubt, she would have made a very beneficial first switch.

JustAnotherSaver

Ah that makes sense now you mention it. Thanks guys. It was just that they got my mums bob on which made me think twice.

Just tried calling British Gas now to set up payment details but i can't get through because 1) i don't know the customer reference number as i don't have one & 2) i don't know the landline number as the line seems to have been disconnected. I tried entering bogus numbers & just ignoring the request as sometimes that puts you through to a human but not today.

So i've sent an email (or at least filled out their contact form) off & hopefully they'll respond to that & tell me how to do it.

Nada666

Are you using the new customer number?
0800 980 6005

pooch

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

ived.

When we were going through the house buying process we received a .pdf Property Info which was filled out by the previous owner.

We've now got the keys & i've just ran through compare the market & uswitch. CTM seemed to be more understanding that people may not be paying any energy bills at the moment (i.e. FTBs), but they both said that my electricity supplier was Eon & gas being British Gas.

According to the Property Info .pdf we received, the previous owner says the supplier for both is British Gas.

I'd imagine previous owner should know who they're with, so is this just a standard (error) that these comparison websites throw up or is the website likely to be correct?

Only reason i'm doubting is my mum has different suppliers & when i helped her switch her gas, it identified them both correctly.

As others have informed you, no comparison site can possibly know which supplier you are with until you tell it (it often defaults to the legacy supplier for the region, albeit whoever has probably now taken over from them)

However, as you now have the keys for your home, the first thing you should be doiung is registering withg the existing supplier(s). I'd suggest starting with the info you have been provided by the seller. The supplier will soon confirm or otherwise if your address is currently supplied by them.

Also, if your mum is still with the legacy supplier for her region, I reckon she could probably save a shedload of money by switching. Get her to read the MSE article.

pooch

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

... i don't know the landline number as the line seems to have been disconnected...

It almost certainly has been. Doesn't the info pack say who supplied the landline services previously? Call the supplier and get yourself reconnected. (surprised the solicitor and/or estate agent didn't suggest you sorted this out in advance of you getting the keys) :cool: