When should I change supplier?

daverave7

I'm currently with British Gas Fix N Fall November 2014, which I think means I'm locked in a contract with them until end of November.

When should I start looking for a new deal? i've heard that it can take a couple of months to switch suppliers? Should I commit to a new deal with another supplier now? What if the switch takes place before end of November, will I be looking at an exit fee?

Cheers!

System

You should get a letter or e-mail from your present supplier 49 to 42 days from the end of your present tariff contract. You are then free to switch. If the switch takes you into December then you will remain on your present tariff. Do not cancel your DD until you have paid your final bill. You will not be looking at an exit fee if you switch after you receive your letter/e-mail.

hellbells

Anybody tell me if they are happy using economy 7 with storage heating,or just use regular elect. And what about fisher ,German storage heaters Any goods or bars?

teddysmum

Hengus wrote: »

You should get a letter or e-mail from your present supplier 49 to 42 days from the end of your present tariff contract. You are then free to switch. If the switch takes you into December then you will remain on your present tariff. Do not cancel your DD until you have paid your final bill. You will not be looking at an exit fee if you switch after you receive your letter/e-mail.

Are you not transferred to the standard tariff, the day after your 12 month fix ends?

daverave7

Hengus wrote: »

You should get a letter or e-mail from your present supplier 49 to 42 days from the end of your present tariff contract. You are then free to switch. If the switch takes you into December then you will remain on your present tariff. Do not cancel your DD until you have paid your final bill. You will not be looking at an exit fee if you switch after you receive your letter/e-mail.

Cheers! Should have the E-mail in the next few days then!

System

teddysmum wrote: »

Are you not transferred to the standard tariff, the day after your 12 month fix ends?

No - you are fine unless you cancel your existing DD.

1. Fixed term contracts

Suppliers will be banned from increasing prices, or making other changes to fixed term contracts which are to the disadvantage of a customer. The only exceptions to this are “tracker” tariffs that follow an independent index over which the supplier has no control, or structured price increases set out in advance which are fully in line with consumer protection law. This new rule applies to any contracts entered into on or after July 15 2013.

Suppliers will be required to notify customers that their current fixed-term is coming to an end between 42 and 49 days before the contract ends.

Between this notification period and the end of the fixed term contract, suppliers will be banned from charging a termination fee should the customer decide to switch.

Suppliers will be banned from automatically rolling a customer over onto a further fixed term contract.
Instead suppliers will be required to default customers to an evergreen contract if the customer takes no switching action before the end of their fixed-term contract (this default contract must be the cheapest evergreen tariff with the supplier from 31st March 2014).

2. All contracts

If customers are told about a price rise and choose to switch then existing rules mean that the supplier cannot apply the higher price. We have made it simpler for customers to benefit from this “price protection window” as they will no longer have to notify their old supplier to benefit and keep their current prices until their new contract begins.

Furryconker

Crikey I was going to ask exactly the same thing tonight.


So just to clarify we "should" get a letter or e-mail by the 20th October ?


What happens if we don't ?

System

Count back 41 days and switch, and then wait for them to argue - which I doubt would happen.