Eon say I can not switch supplier?

jag64154

Sorry if this is elsewhere on here but cant find it.

I live in a flat, and Eon are telling me I can not switch supplier as they 'own' the meter?

Is this correct?

On switching sites I get told by other suppliers they can not supply me so I assuming this is correct, however, doesnt this contravene any fair trading rules as Eon can basically charge what they like and I cant switch?

Robin9

This is one for Helena the Eon rep to pick up

Kitchen_Sink

jag64154 wrote: »

Sorry if this is elsewhere on here but cant find it.

I live in a flat, and Eon are telling me I can not switch supplier as they 'own' the meter?

Is this correct?

On switching sites I get told by other suppliers they can not supply me so I assuming this is correct, however, doesnt this contravene any fair trading rules as Eon can basically charge what they like and I cant switch?

What tariff are you currently on? How many different unit rates?

If you can find that tariff on a comparison site, then I can see no reason why you cannot switch supplier.
Just apply to a new supplier

It doesn't matter who owns the meter - they are often just rented anyway.

I'm not sure why other suppliers are putting you off moving to them (not like any supplier to do that), but perhaps if you could confirm you are the account holder and what tariff Eon are currentlly charging you on, then the picture may become clearer

sinizterguy

Are you in arrears with EOn ?

spiro

Who owns the meter does not matter, you can only be stopped from switching if you have a debt with your current supplier. Even then if the debt is under £500 and is being revovered by a ppm you can still switch suppliers and the debt comes with you under the Debt Assignment Protocol (DAP).

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hi jag64154,

I think I need a little bit more information please.

Do you have a complex meter, like Economy 10, Economy 18, RHT or similar?

Some suppliers can't support all meters, so it may be this and it could be the reason the others suppliers won't take over the account.

We do only offer the one tariff for some of these metering set ups, but we have to bill on the tariff we have available for the meter.

If you let me know your meter type we can go from there

Thank you

Helena

jag64154

Ive never been in arrears...no.

Whatever the bill I've paid it straight away, so no reason there I can see.

Im on their Electrical Heating Economy Plan 18.

There are 3 meter readings showing and all three have to be supplied.

matelodave

That explains it then - it's a non-standard tariff that most other suppliers won't support. Generally E10 and E18 tariffs were legacy tariffs and the house wiring could be non standard to accommodate them

You would have to get the meters & tariff changed with your existing supplier and possibly have some rewiring done as well, so you'd need to get an electrician in to assess what might be required.

Once you'd done that and got onto a standard E7 tariff then you would have no problems changing suppliers.

Kitchen_Sink

jag64154 wrote: »

Ive never been in arrears...no.

Whatever the bill I've paid it straight away, so no reason there I can see.

Im on their Electrical Heating Economy Plan 18.

There are 3 meter readings showing and all three have to be supplied.

It's not the ownership of the meter, but the tariff and associated set up that is preventing you from switching

No other supplier probably will accept you; the tariff is unique to the Eastern region
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=34424727&postcount=13
As Eon are the legacy supplier to that region, they are obligated to continue to support it.

I'm not sure why you feel you are being held to ransom - you are getting 18 hours cheap electricity. (most of us have to make do with 7 hours cheap rate maximum)
It does not contravene any fair trading rules - any other supplier could offer you a supply if they wanted to they just chose not to.

jag64154

Because my bills have just gone from an average £35 pm to over £60 for no reason, and Im being told by Eon that I must be using more electricity, but I have never changed my usage...therefore, hopefully, you will understand the feeling of being held to this supplier. Why should I have to move house just to get a better electricity deal?

I didn't think this sort of monopolising was allowed to happen anymore

Nada666

The chances of any other tariff giving you heat and cooking for £35 per month is pretty small.

You have to look at the increases in prices per kWh and your usage distribution to assess how out of whack your costs are.

Work out your typical usage in a winter when heating is on, over summer for only water and cooking and then compare your tariffs.

Plus, of course, it is far colder this winter - pretty much everyone has been using double what they used over the atypical season last year. (And most of the payment difference will just be a catch-up rather than a price increase anyway.)

Yes being stuck with one supplier on E18 can be frustrating - but chances of an alternative being significantly cheaper (unless you never use much heating) is low.