MSE News: Energy switches now possible in 17 days, but not for all suppliers 14 January 2015 at 10:08AM in Energy 14 replies 2K views

Former_MSE_Paloma

"If you're looking to switch energy provider, from today it could take half as long as it did in the past, DECC announces ..."

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Energy switches now possible in 17 days, but not for all suppliers



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JimmyTheWig

Switching in 17 days?
Pah! Scottish Power aren't even responding to my emails within 17 days.

Pincher

"Big six energy supplier Scottish Power says it has bought in faster switching for customers leaving it,"


A bullet in the back for deserters is so quick.

matelodave

Even though the switch might only take 17 days, most of the complaints seem to be about getting the bills sorted out and any outstanding debts or credits paid.

In my view speedier switching will just confuse the energy companies even more and we'll have to wait even longer to get our bills & repayments as they'll be knee deep in them. Switching the meter reading is the easy bit.

If it was hard for them to do in 28-42 days then it's going to be nigh on impossible in 17 and I guess we'll end up paying dds to both companies for a month or two - sounds like a disaster to me.

wymondham

The more I look into moving provider the more I'm tempted to wait a few months - too much occurring at present!

MABLE

Its a pity there is not a timescale in returning credits from your former supplier.

LesU

I speak as someone who is celebrating the payment today (at last!) of the £300 that Scottish Power has owed me after my switch.
So what has been changed at SP?

My ordeal has lasted for 3 months. It was a race to see whether my switch reward or my credit would be paid first. This only after two prods to SP both of which seemed to stir them into more promises of remuneration, but with no cash forthcoming. This was a straightforward switch with final readings taken by a meter reader on day 1 and the readings not in dispute and a DD open for credit payment throughout the switchover.

It's going to be a bit of a upgrade in in-house systems to go from 12 weeks to 17 days. I'll believe it when I see it.

Consumerist

Ofgem has confirmed that it can't fine any firms if it takes them longer to bring in 17-day switching

Just what exactly does Ofgem do about anything? Why are we paying this disorganisation for its inherent support for the energy industry.

No wonder Labour want to be rid of them.

Caddyman

Today, I just did what I usually do and just phoned my current supplier and changed my dual fuel tariff to their cheapest online product saving myself about £100 a year (I review my tariffs at least twice a year). I could save about another 25 quid actually swapping supplier, but I just don't want the hassle of the possibility of being billed incorrectly for several weeks or months to come.

The thing that utterly miffs me, is that when my supplier introduced the tariff in December that I've just switched to today, they couldn't be bothered a couple of weeks ago to email me as a customer to tell me that I could switch to a cheaper tariff, they leave that up to the customer. I wonder why?........I'm not really rolling my eyes in a sarcastic manner lol!

JohnM5206

In the last two weeks of December, Extra Energy had not even heard of the new requirements. When they did reply it was to say that they could only work to the terms of their licence.

It took them 18 days to issue this response:

"I have investigated your query and can confirm that according to the terms of our Supplier's licence, at this moment in time we must comply with the following conditions which have been extracted from our licence agreement.


Obligation to improve switching systems
"14A.7 In order to achieve the objective of completing all Supplier Transfers within 21 days of the Relevant Date, the licensee must take all reasonable steps to improve the systems and processes governing the Supplier Transfer process."

At present, in line with the terms and conditions extraenergy ensure that the transfer process for the customer is complete within 21 days after the 14 day cooling period ends."

Not much hope in that for their "early implementation" of faster switching.

MABLE

Caddyman wrote: »

Today, I just did what I usually do and just phoned my current supplier and changed my dual fuel tariff to their cheapest online product saving myself about £100 a year (I review my tariffs at least twice a year). I could save about another 25 quid actually swapping supplier, but I just don't want the hassle of the possibility of being billed incorrectly for several weeks or months to come.

The thing that utterly miffs me, is that when my supplier introduced the tariff in December that I've just switched to today, they couldn't be bothered a couple of weeks ago to email me as a customer to tell me that I could switch to a cheaper tariff, they leave that up to the customer. I wonder why?........I'm not really rolling my eyes in a sarcastic manner lol!

I'm happy to keep changing suppliers via comparison websites provided I am on a qty variable dd arrangement so that way I pay on the bill.