Question about changing provider

MrJester

Recently moved into a house, we got a bill in the post from British Gas about what is owed to them. It goes to before our move in date, obviously if we continue using them for electric and gas as it is currently set up then we'd only pay from when we moved in.

Anyway, they are owed money from someone, but we want to change provider to one that is cheaper. Do we have to pay our oustanding bill with British Gas before switching over to the new one? The energy was setup with british gas before we moved in, so it's not like it was our choice to use them, can we switch and then still back-date payments from when we moved in?

Confused as to how it works. Help appreciated.

lvf

You are only liable for the energy used from when you moved in. You will need to get onto BGAS asap to inform them. They will set you up an interim account from the date you moved in, and if you explain you are looking to switch suppliers they will probably just put you onto their standard tariff for now.

You will need your opening meter reads so you can be billed correctly, so if possible ensure you have these to hand.

Regarding the bill for before you moved in, that would not be your responsibility and BGAS should inform you of this.

MrJester

lvf wrote: »

You are only liable for the energy used from when you moved in. You will need to get onto BGAS asap to inform them. They will set you up an interim account from the date you moved in, and if you explain you are looking to switch suppliers they will probably just put you onto their standard tariff for now.

You will need your opening meter reads so you can be billed correctly, so if possible ensure you have these to hand.

Regarding the bill for before you moved in, that would not be your responsibility and BGAS should inform you of this.

OK so we will have to pay to BGAS what we owe them (move in date til now) before we switch to anyone else. Thanks.

Ms_Chocaholic

Did you read the meters when you moved in?

MrJester

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Did you read the meters when you moved in?

I didn't personally, but I believe the agent did it on the day. There's five of us so finding out who has/did what is a challenge ha. But he should have them.

lvf

JoeJester wrote: »

OK so we will have to pay to BGAS what we owe them (move in date til now) before we switch to anyone else. Thanks.

Get the account set up first with the correct reads, you can call them for that.

Then you are free to change supplier. You can begin the switch today which takes either 17 days, or 4-6 weeks depending on whether or not the new supplier has faster switching implemented.

You provide the new supplier with meter readings around about 1-2 days before the supply goes live, and they pass these onto BGAS to have a final bill produced.

Yes, you will still have to pay for the energy used during your time with BGAS. When you moved in to the property, you automatically enter a deemed contract with them, regardless of whether or not you wanted them as a supplier. But this is better than having no supply at all, right?

MrJester

lvf wrote: »

Get the account set up first with the correct reads, you can call them for that.

Then you are free to change supplier. You can begin the switch today which takes either 17 days, or 4-6 weeks depending on whether or not the new supplier has faster switching implemented.

You provide the new supplier with meter readings around about 1-2 days before the supply goes live, and they pass these onto BGAS to have a final bill produced.

Yes, you will still have to pay for the energy used during your time with BGAS. When you moved in to the property, you automatically enter a deemed contract with them, regardless of whether or not you wanted them as a supplier. But this is better than having no supply at all, right?

Clear and concise, thanks