Cancelling/switching advice

youandiaredominoes

Hi there

My current tariff deal with southern electric is due to expire on 1st Jan 2014 and I will be reverted to their standard tariff.

Will they charge me for switching to another provider? I found this information on the bill:

When does my tariff end? 1 January 2014.
Is there a cancellation fee? Before and including 1st Nov 2012 = £80.00
After 1st Nov 2012 = £60.00

Does that mean that there is a £60 cancellation fee of the tariff whilst it is active but I am free to move once it expires? Or does the cancellation fee remain even when I am reverted back to the standard tariff on 1st Jan?

Many thanks in advance!

cattie

Once your tariff ends on 1st Jan, you are free to switch penalty free. If you don't change suppliers at the end of the current tariff & are transferred to the standard tariff, then there is no penalty for switching from that after you have shopped around for the best deal.

macman

No, there is never an ETC on Standard tariff. If you had switched suppliers before midnight today then you would have paid £60.
But since a switch takes 4-5 weeks, you will now be on Standard for at least the whole of January even if you commence a switch today-the time to switch to avoid the higher price on Standard was at the end of November.

youandiaredominoes

Thanks Cattie and Macman

I'll wait until tomorrow or the 2nd to switch to not incur the cancellation fee and then hopefully the standard tariff won't be too horrendous - will just wear some extra layers!

Happy new year to you both!

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

youandiaredominoes wrote: »

Thanks Cattie and Macman

I'll wait until tomorrow or the 2nd to switch to not incur the cancellation fee and then hopefully the standard tariff won't be too horrendous - will just wear some extra layers!

Happy new year to you both!

You can switch today - you won't be charged a cancellation fee as the changing process takes weeks.

youandiaredominoes

Thanks Bluebirdman of Alcathays - I was unsure whether the switching decision comes into effect when I notify I want to switch or when the actual switch can happen.

matelodave

When you switch there is a cooling off period of 7-14 days during which you can change your mind. It's unlikely that the new supplier will contact your existing one during this period, it then takes 2-4 weeks to effect the changeover. Your contract with the old supplier remains in effect until the day the new supplier takes over. So if your fixed contract finished on 31/12/2013 you could have initiated the swap around the beginning of December.