Switching Supplier

pollyanna24

I'm a bit clueless when it comes to switching suppliers as I live with my brother and he has always had the accounts in his name. But he is moving out next year and so I have added my name to the account.

I have found cheaper suppliers through uswitch and Martin's cheaper fuel site and and about to make the step of changing supplier.

Do I have to do anything about informing the old supplier of what I am doing or just follow the steps and enter my bank details in the form that I am filling in (think it is this bit that scares me as last time we changed supplier, we got charged by both companies for about 3 months until my brother finally sorted it).

JJ_Egan

First question is are you in contract with the existing supplier or is their a termination fee.

pollyanna24

JJ_Egan wrote: »

First question is are you in contract with the existing supplier or is their a termination fee.

I'm not sure. My brother said that our fixed rate is up in December this year. He has given me the log in details so I can access our account online. I have asked them to add me to the account which they say they have done, but I can still only see his name on the account.

Would I be better off just saying I am a new customer? But I'm guessing this wouldn't work as I have always lived in the property and it is just my brother moving out.

pollyanna24

Can't actually log into the account now as the website seems to be down. I was going to find my account number and ring them up to see when the fixed contract was up.

If I find I can switch, is it just a case of telling the new company (or using one of the switching sites) and they will sort out telling the old company?

chelseablue

When I switched I went through one of the switching sites and they informed my old supplier for me

Baby_Angel

I can only answer your question regarding switching. If you switch through the Energy club (The MSE switch service), then all you need is to select the tariff and the supplier you want to switch to. Fill in the form that follows, along with the bank details (for the DD) and submit the form. You don't have to contact them, the new supplier will contact you (mine was by email) for your meter readings. I did not inform the old supplier. I can already see my gas account has been disabled by EON, as my British Gas gas account is now active. I believe the Elec one will soon follow. This is my second time switching through the energy club and so far I have been lucky to have no problems at all.

footyguy

pollyanna24 wrote: »

I'm a bit clueless when it comes to switching suppliers as I live with my brother and he has always had the accounts in his name. But he is moving out next year and so I have added my name to the account.

I have found cheaper suppliers through uswitch and Martin's cheaper fuel site and and about to make the step of changing supplier.

Do I have to do anything about informing the old supplier of what I am doing or just follow the steps and enter my bank details in the form that I am filling in (think it is this bit that scares me as last time we changed supplier, we got charged by both companies for about 3 months until my brother finally sorted it).

When you switch supplier you do not need to tell the old supplier anything - the new supplier should take care of everything for you in that regards.

Yes the new supplier will need your bank details if you are wanting to pay by direct debit (usually the cheapest option)
The new supplier, like the old supplier, will tell you exactly what you will pay and when it will start (and how frequently, usually monthly)

All Direct Debit agreements are fully covered by the terms of the Direct Debit Guarantee.

The old supplier will, after the switch actually takes place, prepare a final bill for you and you should be prepared to pay that in full on receipt.

Also be prepared for the situation that you may have 2 separate monthly debits by the 2 suppliers in the month of switch, especially as some suppliers charge in arrears whereas others charge in advance. It can aslo somethimes occur if the switching date is close to a planned collection date of the old supplier, and may even depend on the status of your account with the old supplier. If it looks like you are going to owe quite a bit of money fore energy already consumed, then the old supplier may continue to collect monthly until they produce that final bill.

But again, you remain in control where Direct Debit is concerned. If you plan to cancel the old suppliers mandate then contact the supplier first to discuss the situation, even if you plan to cancel the mandate direct with the bank.

You will not be charged by two different suppliers for the same energy.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Baby_Angel wrote: »

I can only answer your question regarding switching. If you switch through the Energy club (The MSE switch service), then all you need is to select the tariff and the supplier you want to switch to. Fill in the form that follows, along with the bank details (for the DD) and submit the form. You don't have to contact them, the new supplier will contact you (mine was by email) for your meter readings. I did not inform the old supplier. I can already see my gas account has been disabled by EON, as my British Gas gas account is now active. I believe the Elec one will soon follow. This is my second time switching through the energy club and so far I have been lucky to have no problems at all.

Hi Baby Angel

Just thought I'd pop on to let you know, there's no need to contact us. Your new supplier will let us have the meter readings they'll use to start your account with them. We'll use the same readings to close our account and send a final bill. This is to stop the same energy from being charged twice.

Don't worry that your gas account has closed but not the electric. It's not unusual for one fuel to close before the other. With a change of supplier, start/final readings go through a separate third party who make sure they're in line with past usage. This can delay things a bit. Once we have the readings, we'll close to these and issue your final bill.

Hope this is of interest Baby Angel.

Malc

karenccs67

footyguy wrote: »

When you switch supplier you do not need to tell the old supplier anything - the new supplier should take care of everything for you in that regards.

Yes the new supplier will need your bank details if you are wanting to pay by direct debit (usually the cheapest option)
The new supplier, like the old supplier, will tell you exactly what you will pay and when it will start (and how frequently, usually monthly)

All Direct Debit agreements are fully covered by the terms of the Direct Debit Guarantee.

The old supplier will, after the switch actually takes place, prepare a final bill for you and you should be prepared to pay that in full on receipt.

Also be prepared for the situation that you may have 2 separate monthly debits by the 2 suppliers in the month of switch, especially as some suppliers charge in arrears whereas others charge in advance. It can aslo somethimes occur if the switching date is close to a planned collection date of the old supplier, and may even depend on the status of your account with the old supplier. If it looks like you are going to owe quite a bit of money fore energy already consumed, then the old supplier may continue to collect monthly until they produce that final bill.

But again, you remain in control where Direct Debit is concerned. If you plan to cancel the old suppliers mandate then contact the supplier first to discuss the situation, even if you plan to cancel the mandate direct with the bank.

You will not be charged by two different suppliers for the same energy.

e

My fixed rate with Sainsburys Energy ends on 29 February 2016, I'm going to start shopping around but how do I get my new supplier to start from 1 March 2016? Although am I right in thinking if I change within 30 days of my existing contract ending. I won't have an exiting fees? Currently £60 for gas & electric.

Baby_Angel

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Hi Baby Angel

Just thought I'd pop on to let you know, there's no need to contact us. Your new supplier will let us have the meter readings they'll use to start your account with them. We'll use the same readings to close our account and send a final bill. This is to stop the same energy from being charged twice.

Don't worry that your gas account has closed but not the electric. It's not unusual for one fuel to close before the other. With a change of supplier, start/final readings go through a separate third party who make sure they're in line with past usage. This can delay things a bit. Once we have the readings, we'll close to these and issue your final bill.

Hope this is of interest Baby Angel.

Malc

Thanks Malc. Everything is sorted now. I really didn't have to make one phone call to speak to anyone. I popped in the meter readings on a automated call to BGas and absolutely everything was taken care of, on both sides. To be honest the customer services at EON wasn't bad at all during the time I was with them. If I stayed on a newer fixed tariff, I would be about £120 worse off. It is only through CEC I could get the collective tariff and BGas was offering the best tariff for me. Thanks again. Maybe next year, back to you.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Glad all's gone through okay Baby Angel and sorry to lose you. As you say, might be renewing acquaintance at a later date, who knows?

Thanks also for letting me know and for the kind comments, they're appreciated.

Malc