Deal ends 31/07, early exit fees apply, when can I switch?

martin2345uk

Hi,

I'm with Scottish Power, our tariff ends at the end of July, and we would have to pay £50 to leave before that date.

Given that switches take 4-5 weeks, how soon can we "switch" using something like Uswitch without incurring the fee?

Nada666

You can apply 42 days before so you can go ahead now. Your current supplier should remind you 42 to 49 days beforehand that your tariff is ending.

Note that this is a new system - so do check in a couple of months that the computers have not mistakenly applied a penalty. They also have to honour the prices of your ending fix to past the end date to the actual completion of the switch - check for that too.

martin2345uk

Nada666 wrote: »

You can apply 42 days before so you can go ahead now. Your current supplier should remind you 42 to 49 days beforehand that your tariff is ending.

Note that this is a new system - so do check in a couple of months that the computers have not mistakenly applied a penalty. They also have to honour the prices of your ending fix to past the end date to the actual completion of the switch - check for that too.

Okay thanks - still 47 days to go so guess I can't actually do it just yet but that's good to know.

When you say

They also have to honour the prices of your ending fix to past the end date to the actual completion of the switch

do you mean that if I start the switching process and it takes a while after 31st July to go through, SP are not allowed to charge me any extra for fuel even though the deal has officially ended?

Nada666

(DO NOT, however, cancel your direct debits until after the later starting date of the new supplier. Even if you are in credit. Start budgeting now to ensure you can pay a possible extra instalment. And do not budget to spend any due credit until it is actually in your pocket - it may take a few more weeks than it ought.)

Nada666

martin2345uk wrote: »

do you mean that if I start the switching process and it takes a while after 31st July to go through, SP are not allowed to charge me any extra for fuel even though the deal has officially ended?

Yes, those are new rules for switching imposed by Ofgem this year.

matelodave

Take note of what Nada says, it took 10 weeks and several stiff letters to get my overpayment back from SP so don't spend it before you get it.
Don't cancel your DD with them as that's how they'll refund your overpayment and if you close their access they'll make all sorts of excuses why they couldn't give it back.
Depending on who you are going with will influence when your next DD will come out so there's a possibility that you might pay twice during one month - some suppliers are very quick off the mark (I think Isupply and some of the new suppliers take their payment in advance whereas the big six generally take it in arrears)