Switching Energy Providers

GeoffERO

I have moved into a house and will be switching energy providers, the new provider is a lot cheaper than the old one.

I was wondering if I could give the old provider a final meter reading that is exactly the same as the opening one so I pay no money to the old provider and pay for the electricity usage to my new supplier so my energy is cheaper.

The provider I am switching away from is also charging me an extra 20% for being on a temporary contract - is this allowed?

matelodave

You give the new provider a meter reading when they ask for it, usually a couple of days before switchover and they should give that reading to your previous provider so you shouldn't end up paying twice. However you might find that you end up pay two dds in the same month (one to each supplier) but you should get any credit back from the leaving supplier when the bill gets finalised.
Regarding any leaving penalties, that would depend on the contract that you agreed at the time you moved in - usually you should be put onto a variable tariff without any exit penalties but if you ended up agreeing a fixed price contract then you might have to pay if you terminate the contract early - a lot will depend on what you agreed when you took over their supply. Unfortunately you've got to be on your toes when speaking to some of the reps as they will try to get you signed onto a fixed contract. If it was fairly recent (last week or two) you could argue with them that they miss sold you a contract without explaining the T&C's

Nada666

GeoffERO wrote: »

I have moved into a house and will be switching energy providers, the new provider is a lot cheaper than the old one.

I was wondering if I could give the old provider a final meter reading that is exactly the same as the opening one so I pay no money to the old provider and pay for the electricity usage to my new supplier so my energy is cheaper.

The provider I am switching away from is also charging me an extra 20% for being on a temporary contract - is this allowed?

You can give a false reading and attempt fraud if you like - it is very easy to do and rarely caught. Bit cowardly to only steal something just because it is easy, though. Only do that if you also shop-lift or burgle in person.

Of course if you have already given them an opening read they may challenge it - they will offer their own estimates of reads to the new provider when asked and both are allowed to use those instead - you could easily end up paying for even more units on the more expensive tariff than if you were honest.

As to being defaulted onto the most expensive tariff - yes, that is allowed. They may have a cheaper tariff with no leaving fee - if you change to that it would often be backdated so all your usage is on that tariff.

GeoffERO

Nada666 wrote: »

You can give a false reading and attempt fraud if you like - it is very easy to do and rarely caught. Bit cowardly to only steal something just because it is easy, though. Only do that if you also shop-lift or burgle in person.

Of course if you have already given them an opening read they may challenge it - they will offer their own estimates of reads to the new provider when asked and both are allowed to use those instead - you could easily end up paying for even more units on the more expensive tariff than if you were honest.

As to being defaulted onto the most expensive tariff - yes, that is allowed. They may have a cheaper tariff with no leaving fee - if you change to that it would often be backdated so all your usage is on that tariff.

Thanks, I never thought of it as fraud or theft. I suppose it is.

They aren't putting me on the most expensive tariff - they are just charging an extra 20% for being on a temporary contract.

Nada666

GeoffERO wrote: »

They aren't putting me on the most expensive tariff - they are just charging an extra 20% for being on a temporary contract.

What is the name of the supplier? Not heard of deemed tariffs being labelled 'temporary contracts' before. You did say you moved to a 'house' not new 'premises'.