New rental property and "deemed contract".

seasonalbiz

I moved into a new rental property last Friday. Amongst the mail were several letters from Npower.


One dated early December (addressed to 'the occupier') states...


"We wrote to you recently to let you know that Npower supplies your home, and you've automatically become an Npower customer under what's called a 'deemed contract'. As we haven't heard from you, we've now opened a new account at your address in the name of 'the occupier' with effect from October 2013."


The tennacy states I am able to change suppliers, so I took meter readings over the weekend, did the maths and put this into uswitch. Npowers rate on the comparison was terrible for the consumption, and the best rate was almost 40% less than the rate Npower quoted with their letter to 'the occupier'.


When I switched yesterday afternoon the new supplier told me the deemed contract was not binding and they could take over the supply, should I contact Npower or leave this to the new supplier?


Also, am I safe advising the new supplier of the meter reading from when I moved in (4days ago)... or should I contact Npower and pay them for the power consumed in the 4days prior to me switching yesterday afternoon?


Any advise greatly appreciated... I do have a cooling off period in case I've gone wrong somewhere.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

The new supplier lied.

You are indeed in a deemed contract as soon as you use any energy. However, this is only from the point where you moved in. You won't have to pay for any energy in October, November, or any date before you took over the property.

You need to contact npower and inform them of your move in date and give them the meter reading for the date you moved in (I assume you took one). The switch takes around 6 weeks, and you will have to pay npower for any energy in this period.

Cardew

To be charitable, it may be that the new supplier meant you are not tied to the 'deemed contract' i.e. you can leave without penalty.


However as stated above you are on a legally binding deemed contract from the day you moved in until the switch to the new supplier has taken place.

Bark01

npower will charged you the deemed standing charge from the day you moved in until the day the switch happens but they will only charge you for the consumption between what you give to them as the reading when you moved in and the reading you give to your new supplier as an opening read. So you have some control of the usage you are billed for.

seasonalbiz

Thanks for the info.


I'll call Npower and give them the meter reading from the day we moved in.

chanz4

Be about 4 weeks to transfer but agree with the above.