Moving in a house for first time

tajotajo

Hello guys.

It going to be the first time that I move to a flat for me and my girslfriend, here in the UK, so I have a few doubts.

The main one right now is the electricity. After read a few hours and ask here and there, we decided go with Scottich power, with its tarif online of £59 per month by direct debit, becasue using this website the amount was 90£.
How the website of SP didnt work properly I started to change a few things and now I can get the offer od this website for the same amount per month, so 59£ but with the cashback (hopefully).

Just before submit a cuople of doubs came up:

- I am moving on Sunday 1st March, so I am not the current tenant of the house neither of the electricity, so the question for me is ¿¿Am I able to switch the electricy supplier by this method right now?? I mean, Can I go and submit with the new supplier and...that is gonna work well?? I dont know if there is any proccess, more after read this

---

> You will not be charged by ScottishPower until the switch has successfully completed (can be up to 6 weeks) and your first bill is issued in the following month.

- This is more ... i dont know how say it, i mean, Will we have electricity from the first day?!!? I really hope so, but you know... it´s important to confirm, hehe


I really await your responses,, they are really useful for me.

Thanks a lot!

keith1950

Hi, when you move in you are in a "deemed" contract with the existing supplier of the house.

The day you move in you have to ring the existing supplier and register as a customer with them and give them the current meter readings.

You are then free to start a switch the same day which will take up to four weeks.

When the switch goes through you will get a final bill off the existing supplier which will end your account with them.

tajotajo

Hi Keith,

If I understood well, I don´t need to do anything till the day that i move in, is that right?

The day i move in, the current tenant and me will make a reading and call to the company to give them the reading and make a new account with them, with my details. After that, I am free to do the proccess through here (or wherever i want).

Is that correct? (sorry, it may seems obvious )


Thanks!

keith1950

That's correct.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

I would also check if the property is on a water meter, take the readings, and register and give those readings to the water company for your area the same day. that way your meter reading and the previous usuage of the previous tenant is not crossed over to your bill.
If its not on a water meter, then simply register with the water company and they will set up a direct debit over the phone for you to start paying.


Make sure the landlord gives you a gas safe certificate or at least provide one shortly after moving in (this is for the boiler to ensure its been serviced and is safe).

Nada666

tajotajo wrote: »

The main one right now is the electricity. After read a few hours and ask here and there, we decided go with Scottich power, with its tarif online of £59 per month by direct debit, becasue using this website the amount was 90£.
How the website of SP didnt work properly I started to change a few things and now I can get the offer od this website for the same amount per month, so 59£ but with the cashback (hopefully).

A fifty percent difference in price between two tariffs is very unlikely. Make sure you check what usage in kWhs any quote is for. And a quote of £59 per month is only an initial instalment each month to your account - the payment will change up or down in a few months on a meter read to reflect your actual usage.

SwanJon

All the above, and...

Once you are in take regular readings (at least monthly to begin with).
Most suppliers allow you to enter your readings on their websites, so do this, but just in case, keep a copy somewhere.

This will mean that when/if they adjust your DD it will be based on your use, not that of the previous tenant or a national average.

Check if the tariff you choose has exit fees or not - then bare tehse in mind next time you compare (sometimes its worth paying the fee to get a cheaper tariff)

tajotajo

Hi guys, sorry for the big delay, but i only want to tell you all that I had all yours advices in mind, and so far (nearly 4 months later my moved) everything is working properly...finger crossed! hehe.

Finally I have not changed the electricity provider, i haven´t got gas, and the water is the same company. Council tax is running ok and we got a new supplier for the internet.

So well, we only wanted to say a big THANK you all for your help, you really helped us.

Have a nice day guys!