If tariff ends 31st July and you "switch" now would you get charged exit fee?

martin2345uk

Hi guys

sorry if this is a rather silly question, but my current tariff ends 30/07 and there is a £30 early exit fee per fuel.

I have been notifed that the tariff is coming to an end so am shopping around; but if I do start a switch now, would the new company see the end date and switch after that? It could take that long anyway though couldn't it?

If so, how long before the end of the fixed term should you wait before making the switch...?

Thank you

System

Your supplier is required to notify you in the period 49 to 42 days before the end of your contract that the contract is coming to an end. You are free to initiate a switch without penalty. If you applied today, your switch can take up to 5 weeks. The OFGEM target is 17 days (cooling off period + 3 days) but it is only a target.

PS. Look at separate suppliers for the cheapest overall energy cost.

spiro

Hengus wrote: »

Your supplier is required to notify you in the period 49 to 42 days before the end of your contract that the contract is coming to an end. You are free to initiate a switch without penalty. If you applied today, your switch can take up to 5 weeks. The OFGEM target is 17 days (cooling off period + 3 days) but it is only a target.

PS. Look at separate suppliers for the cheapest overall energy cost.

Most suppliers are operating to the 2 weeks plus 3 days when setting the supply start date and the clock starts ticking even when you apply to switch through a switching site.

System

spiro wrote: »

Most suppliers are operating to the 2 weeks plus 3 days when setting the supply start date and the clock starts ticking even when you apply to switch through a switching site.

Having switched 6 times in the past 12 months, only one supplier has achieved the 3 day switching target. This includes the Big 6. My fastest transfer to date was application on the 14th Dec and transfer on the 2nd January. This was a gas transfer involving an IGT. When I contacted my losing supplier a couple of weeks later, I was told that IGT transfers were just not possible in 19 days!!

Apathy

I guess the OP is with first utility? I'm with them as well but I don't know if initiating a switch now will incur fee's as apparently:


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=70800814&postcount=94


"I got my first 'sorry your leaving' email about 90 minutes after signing up with my new supplier. Then got another one a couple of hours later (separate emails for gas and elec)."


So today is 52 days before the 31st of july........






Thanks

Flt._Lt._Biggles

Apathy wrote: »

I guess the OP is with first utility? I'm with them as well but I don't know if initiating a switch now will incur fee's as apparently:


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=70800814&postcount=94


"I got my first 'sorry your leaving' email about 90 minutes after signing up with my new supplier. Then got another one a couple of hours later (separate emails for gas and elec)."


So today is 52 days before the 31st of july........






Thanks

Messages are normally left until 49 days before end of tariff.
But if you've got written evidence 52 days before, and it explicitly says you are now free to switch without incurring an early exit fee, then I'm sure that will be good enough to stand up in court if necessary

(although I'm also sure the ombudsman will explain that to the suppliers legal dept well before that, and so rule accordingly, should it even get as far as the ombudsman)


BTW, the link you post to refers to a 'sorry you are leaving' message, which is not the same as 'your current fixed contract is coming to an end' message.

System

Posters have long debated whether the period of 49 - 42 days applies to the date of application of the switch or the date of the transfer. I defer to the 'better be safe than sorry' camp. I wait for the notification or 42 days. The 42 days is significant as no notification is a Licence default.