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

mjpksp

Don't believe the hype!

I started switching gas and electric from Scottish Power to OVO Energy on 6th August 2014. Scottish Power did not close my electricity account and kept on charging me for electricity even though I was paying OVO Energy for the same power. They stillowe me £347 credit balance and will not refund it!

My advice would be:
Avoid Scottish Power at all costs!
Avoid uSwitch as they were the organisation I used to arrange the switch.
Don't pay by direct debit as SP (and probably other power companies) are not obliged to pay back any credit balance within a reasonable time of switching and of course they don't!

Nada666

mjpksp wrote: »

Don't pay by direct debit as SP (and probably other power companies) are not obliged to pay back any credit balance within a reasonable time of switching and of course they don't!

Crazy advice. Pay extra each and every year just because once in a while you cannot be bothered waiting an extra week or three on the very few occasions a balance is not received promptly.

Caddyman

mjpksp wrote: »

Don't pay by direct debit as SP (and probably other power companies) are not obliged to pay back any credit balance within a reasonable time of switching and of course they don't!

Alternatively, don't under any circumstances allow your energy company to bully you into overpaying your direct debit. I've been with the same energy company now for the last six years (I swap to their cheapest energy tariff as soon as I become aware of it). They've tried umpteen times in the past to up my monthly payment and I've always got them to back off. I never pay more than 50 quid a month for my gas and electric useage because I know pretty much how much my annual energy bill should be, only me and the wife living the same routine, year in, year out. I've got a better handle on my energy useage than my energy provider and they know it.

priorslee

The report in the OP says 'but not for all suppliers' and shows Co-op as 'TBC'.

I've just got my welcome letter from Co-op which states 'Switching over will take about 6 weeks to complete', so I think it's a big 'NO' for them.