First Utility - When to switch

Roland_Flagg

I have a contract with them until the end of this month.
They have a £60 cancellation fee.
So would I be OK to start the switching process now, or do I have to wait until the end of my contract?

Thanks.

Shrimply

If it finishes at the end of this month you should be fine. You are supposed to have, I think, 49 days before the end of the fix to leave.

To check the exact date if you log on to your First:Utility and click on the "My Tariff Guide" link under "Leaving First Utility" it will give you the date you can leave without cancellation charges.

My fix ends on October 31st and I can switch without charges from the 12th of September.

Roland_Flagg

Great, thanks.

youravinalarrrf

According to Ofgem suppliers are required to notify customers that their current fixed-term is coming to an end between 42 and 49 days before the contract ends. Check your email spam folder and make sure the notification is not sitting in there.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/press-releases/tougher-rules-fixed-term-energy-deals-come-force-ofgem%E2%80%99s-retail-market-reforms-begin-bite

dogshome

The 42/49 days rule does apply, BUT recently it was FU who applied exit fee's to a customer who switched away with less than 42 days to go before the end of the contract, because FU had failed to send out the letter !, and appears from your post that you haven't a letter either

Best to phone FU and see what they say.

barbedhook

Have you thought about staying with fu they have some of the cheapest tarrifs at the moment and it's easy to change online I'm on their fixed tarrif to August 2016 came up as cheapest on comparison site

bargain4U

I just received an email from First Utility saying they are raising my monthly payment by £20! That no longer makes them the cheapest around .. how on earth can they do this as I have not been with them for a year yet and they do not know how much energy I use over the winter. This is not great news as I am still locked in with a £60 cancellation fee!

BEWARE of First Utility is all I can say

alderpoint

bargain4U wrote: »

I just received an email from First Utility saying they are raising my monthly payment by £20! That no longer makes them the cheapest around

If your usage justifies the increase, then it makes no difference to whether they are cheapest - only their rates influence that. You have to pay for what you use with all suppliers.

If you object to the increase in monthly payment, you could always opt for variable monthly payments: you then pay for exactly what you have used that month, no more, no less.

barbedhook

If you don't agree with the increase phone them they will lower your monthly payment but in the end you will have to pay for what you have used