Existing tariff ending soon and switching advice?

bery_451

Yeah its just that I don't want to be automatically moved on the expensive standard variable tariff and pay what I used in that tariff till the switch happens.


Scottish power told me their computers are telling them that a switch is happening soon and because of this they cant change my tariff so Im stuck with their expensive standard tariff till the switch happens. Lets hope the switch happens quick.

Consumerist

bery_451 wrote: »

Yeah its just that I don't want to be automatically moved on the expensive standard variable tariff and pay what I used in that tariff till the switch happens. Scottish power told me their computers are telling them that a switch is happening soon and because of this they cant change my tariff so Im stuck with their expensive standard tariff till the switch happens. Lets hope the switch happens quick.

Unfortunately, you have no choice.

For future reference, you should receive advance notice of the end of your contract six weeks before the contract actually ends. You will be free to switch without paying any exit charges once you have received this notice.

System

bery_451 wrote: »

My tariff ends today,,.........

If you switch by 23.59 hrs today then you will remain on your present tariff until the switch goes through.

Consumerist

Hengus wrote: »

If you switch by 23.59 hrs today then you will remain on your present tariff until the switch goes through.

Not quite sure what that means.

Unless the switch completes by 23:59 today, you will put on SP's standard variable tariff from tomorrow until the day before the date your switch does complete.

Nada666

When did you apply to your new supplier to switch? When does your fixed tariff end?

If you applied 49 days or closer to the end of the fix Scottish Power should only apply the original fix's prices until the changeover - you should not be switched to the Standard tariff.

However, DO NOT cancel any direct debits until after your second later switch date is under way. And do not worry if they default to changing you to Standard. Once you have final bills you can then ask for any corrections.

System

Consumerist wrote: »

Not quite sure what that means.

Unless the switch completes by 23:59 today, you will put on SP's standard variable tariff from tomorrow until the day before the date your switch does complete.

Exactly what it says in my post as confirmed above. If a customer applies to switch before a fixed term ends then the supplier cannot change the tariff unless - and this is the grey area - the customer cancels the DD. The fact that it might take 17days for the switch to go through is irrelevant.

Cancelling the DD could be seen as a customer default and some suppliers reserve the right to switch the customer to its standard variable tariff.

Consumerist

Hengus wrote: »

. . . If a customer applies to switch before a fixed term ends then the supplier cannot change the tariff unless - and this is the grey area - the customer cancels the DD. The fact that it might take 17days for the switch to go through is irrelevant. Cancelling the DD could be seen as a customer default and some suppliers reserve the right to switch the customer to its standard variable tariff.

It is my understanding that if the switch takes place after the end of the contract then the supplier can indeed change the tariff to their standard variable tariff until the date of the switch. The fact that the switch has been requested before the end of contract is irrelevant.

The only circumstances I am aware of where the supplier must freeze their prices is where a price increase has been announced and the customer chooses to switch as a result. There are, however, time limits in such cases.

Nada666

Consumerist wrote: »

It is my understanding that if the switch takes place after the end of the contract then the supplier can indeed change the tariff to their standard variable tariff until the date of the switch. The fact that the switch has been requested before the end of contract is irrelevant.

The only circumstances I am aware of where the supplier must freeze their prices is where a price increase has been announced and the customer chooses to switch as a result. There are, however, time limits in such cases.

No, since March 2014 (I think) the provisions for a price increase have been extended to ending fixes. Suppliers are no longer supposed to switch them to the evergreen tariff if the customer has started to switch - but they are obligated to switch them to only their evergreen (Standard) tariff rather than a new fix if the customer has taken no action.

See tougher-rules-fixed-term-energy-deals

Consumerist

Nada666 wrote: »

No, since March 2014 (I think) the provisions for a price increase have been extended to ending fixes. Suppliers are no longer supposed to switch them to the evergreen tariff if the customer has started to switch - but they are obligated to switch them to only their evergreen (Standard) tariff rather than a new fix if the customer has taken no action.

See tougher-rules-fixed-term-energy-deals

The Ofgem article you link to does not refer to the matter being discussed.

From today new Ofgem rules come into force meaning energy suppliers are banned from increasing prices on fixed term tariffs. They are also banned from automatically rolling householders on to another fixed term offer when their current one ends. . .

Neither of these matters are related to the suppliers obligation to change a customer's tariff to its cheapest "evergreen" tariff at the end of a fixed-term contract.

From the <Standard Licence Conditions>, however, :-

Continued supply after a fixed term period ends

22C.7 Where a Domestic Customer does not change supplier or does not expressly agree a new Evergreen Supply Contract, a new Fixed Term Supply Contract or a further fixed term period for a Fixed Term Supply Contract by the date the fixed term period of an existing Fixed Term Supply Contract is due to end, the licensee must ensure that the terms of the Fixed Term Supply Contract provide that the Domestic Customer will become subject to the Relevant Cheapest Evergreen Tariff.

My underlining. Note that only the date of the end of contract is referred to in the SLCs.

If I have misunderstood the SLCs then perhaps you would clarify.

System

The key point here is when the customer elects to switch - not when the switch goes through. I applied to move from EDF to OVO about 3 weeks before the end of my fixed deal. As I am with an IGT, gas took 13 weeks to go through. I continued on my fixed EDF tariff until the switch was complete. It is possible that if a customer switches close to the end of the fixed tariff period, then the existing supplier's system will move the customer on to a standard tariff. This should be resolved before the final bill is sent out.