Query regarding switching process

Aquamania

Hengus wrote: »

With respect, have a look at some of the Company's ts and cs. Most say that it is a condition of the contract that payment is made by DD. If there is a default, then a number reserve the right to switch the supply from a fixed tariff to the Company's standard variable tariff I appreciate that you are only trying to make a general point about the DD Guarantee. FWiW, GB's site does say on signing up:

Your first payment will be on the 21st day after signing up. Then by Monthly Direct Debit thereafter.
A cheap, simple online tariff.
No fixed term.
No exit fees

The OP wasn't complaining he was just expressing surprise about receiving notification of a DD payment. I confess that I am not sure what point you are trying to make about this particular issue?

As I said, the advice I gave to the OP was based entirely on the information they provided.

I have not looked into the terms & conditions the OP may have agreed to abide by, nor what the suppliers website may or may not state, nor do I intend to do so.

Whatever is stated within the terms & conditions and/or on the supplier's website, this would not create a valid advance notice for the purposes of the DD scheme.

There is nothing in the OP's post to imply that they are in default of their agreement entered into with the supplier, and making a valid claim under the terms of the DD guarantee would not change that situation.

People should not be afraid or bullied against making valid indemnity claims if a service provider is not acting in accordance with the rules of the DD scheme, whatever may or may not be included in the terms and conditions of the underlying contract (such terms, if they exist, would be deemed unfair and so unenforcable)

It is not the OP that is or ever will be in default of their (fair) agreement with the supplier , but the supplier that is in default of the requirements to operate the DD scheme.

The Op has stated that their experience is "very irregular practice compared to previous experiences"
Not only is it irregular, but based on what the OP has said, it is fundamentally wrong of the supplier, and I have provided my advice to the OP solely on that basis.