We're moving home and want to get set up properly from the start...

geoff_crawford

Hi
Were moving to a new home April (all being well) We left London in September 2015 and have been living with the in-laws so we have not had our own bills for over six months. In effect we are starting again with energy/internet/water suppliers etc. We'd like to get off on a god footing with all our suppliers - Any advice gratefully received..

many thanks
Geoff

HappyMJ

Shop around....

I switched energy supplier a week before I moved in. Didn't know who the existing suppliers were just guessed. I knew the default tariff would be awful. I moved in May of last year and only just last week got the bill for the first two weeks of the tenancy. It was 50% more expensive than the supplier I switched to has been charging. They want £35 for those two weeks. I have been paying £45 per month.

Broadband can be ordered in advance for supply on the day you move in. You are taking a chance that all does go well but it beats having to wait a week before you get service. I used topcashback and picked TalkTalk.

Water will send you a bill in due course....just wait for that one then set up a Standing Order paying one third of the bill every month on a date of your choosing. Don't pay by direct debit...there's no advantage and no control. They'll change the amounts so you are in credit and you don't need to be. As long as you pay the entire quarterly bill before you get the next one they take no action.

Council will also send you a bill in due course and they'll ask for more each month in the first year as you didn't pay in the first month. If it's an unaffordable amount you can ask to spread the cost over 12 months and they'll "consider" your request.

[Deleted User]

First find out the energy supplier(s) for the new property. All properties have an existing supplier and when you move in, you are automatically in a legal (deemed) contract with the property's energy provider.

On the day you move in, take meter readings (take a photograph for evidence), call the supplier(s) and register with them giving them your opening readings. Ask to be put on their cheapest tariff with no exit fees.

Once you have successfully registered then you may want to look around via the energy switching sites for a better deal.

GingerBob_3

gsmlnx wrote: »

First find out the energy supplier(s) for the new property. All properties have an existing supplier and when you move in, you are automatically in a legal (deemed) contract with the property's energy provider.

On the day you move in, take meter readings (take a photograph for evidence), call the supplier(s) and register with them giving them your opening readings. Ask to be put on their cheapest tariff with no exit fees.

Once you have successfully registered then you may want to look around via the energy switching sites for a better deal.

As a precaution against CRA blacklisting by incompetent energy suppliers, only provide the current supplier with the bare minimum of information - meter readings, date of entry, your surname and initial, and address. Do not provide your previous address, phone number or date of birth, or any other such stuff that they could use against you. When established with the incumbent supplier look around for a better one. These are sensible precautions to guard against the very many cases of energy provider malpractice when changing address, often resulting in a blacklist at the CRA with consequent future difficulty in applying for credit.

[Deleted User]

You forgot to add GingerBob " and don t accept smart meters "
Good advice already but there may be a strong possibility of prepayment meters in place at your new place which opens up other problems getting rid of them.There are 8 million prepay meters in the UK so its a distinct possibility..

GingerBob_3

sacsquacco wrote: »

You forgot to add GingerBob " and don t accept smart meters "
Good advice already but there may be a strong possibility of prepayment meters in place at your new place which opens up other problems getting rid of them.There are 8 million prepay meters in the UK so its a distinct possibility..

Yes, don't consider smart meters, but if PP meters are in place, after registering with the incumbent hot foot it over to EDF. They seem to be the easiest to deal with when trying to rid yourself of PP meters.

System

geoff_crawford wrote: »

Hi
Were moving to a new home April (all being well) We left London in September 2015 and have been living with the in-laws so we have not had our own bills for over six months. In effect we are starting again with energy/internet/water suppliers etc. We'd like to get off on a god footing with all our suppliers - Any advice gratefully received..

many thanks
Geoff

Some good advice above re Deemed Contracts. If you don't call the existing supplier with a meter reading on the day that you move in then you run two risks:

1. That your attempt to switch will be blocked by the Deemed Supplier.

2. You will pick up the tab for energy used prior to you moving in.

Once you have informed the Deemed Supplier then you can switch; however, you will get a bill for up to 5 weeks consumption.

macman

As far as water goes, you simply need to register with the local supplier-you cannot change suppliers, unless you are a commercial customer in Scotland.

Pincher

For phone and internet, you should be able to get a 12/18 month package that's cheap while it lasts. Don't forget Line Rental Saver.