Switching parents.....

astralweeks

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for advice on switching Gas (Bgas) & electricity (E.ON) for my elderly parents. Both utilities are on standard tariffs. They have no internet access and prefer to see a paper bill but I have got them onto Direct Debit. Is there anyway I can do this for them as they are not that good with call centres (both have hearing problems). Any advice and/or pointers gratefully accepted.

Thanks in advance.

molerat

You could sign them up on line and elect to receive paper billing with many supliers or could you manage their account, again many suppliers will produce PDF bills.

Robin9

Well done for taking the initiative.

Do you know their annual consumption?

Read your parents meters and do the swop yourself -all in their names - use a comparative site - the general advice is not for dual fuel. Print off the pdf bills and give them to your parents.

Blackdog

I was in a similar position. I would phone up to get my parents a better deal with one of the big six suppliers (which I had originally found by doing a comparison search for them) then suddenly the only deal worth having was an online deal. I explained to the supplier that my parents had no online access and they told me to set the account up myself online in their names. All the correspondence is emailed to me and I print them off a copy of the bill every quarter. It works well, good luck with sorting yours.

footyguy

astralweeks wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for advice on switching Gas (Bgas) & electricity (E.ON) for my elderly parents. Both utilities are on standard tariffs. They have no internet access and prefer to see a paper bill but I have got them onto Direct Debit. Is there anyway I can do this for them as they are not that good with call centres (both have hearing problems). Any advice and/or pointers gratefully accepted.

Thanks in advance.

Yes, if they are agreeable to you doing this for them.
You'll need their details (e.g. bank account, etc)
If you plan to use the Cheap Energy Club for this, you'll also need to register with a different email address to your own account.

SammenForLivet2

British Gas and cheaper subsidiary, Sainsbury's don't charge for paper bills on any of their tariffs.

Otherwise, I guess you could download and print bills manually.

dogshome

Whilst monitoring some one elses Online tariff is easy - All you need is the password - When it comes to making changes most suppliers will need a letter authorising you to act on the account holders behalf

victor2

dogshome wrote: »

Whilst monitoring some one elses Online tariff is easy - All you need is the password - When it comes to making changes most suppliers will need a letter authorising you to act on the account holders behalf

As above.
I look after a relative's energy account with E.On. All she had to do was send them a letter giving me authority to manage the account on her behalf. I do it all online anyway, but on the odd occasion I've had to call them, they've just confirmed my identity and no problem. Have switched tariff (within E.On) a couple of times without any difficulty. Email for the account comes to me.
Will look at switching away when the current fix ends, but she has E.On's smart meters, which means she never has to attempt to read them, so there would have to be a significant financial benefit to leaving E.On. Plus they have excellent customer service IME.

ASavvyBuyer

I helped an elderly relative, that did not have internet access, switch at the beginning of the year, saving them over £500 compared to the variable tariff they had been on for a few years. They are more than happy, as savings have helped them pay for a holiday this year.
Did a comparison, signed up on-line on their behalf, letters & cashback go to them, emails and online management of the account by me; which I then print out and give them copies. I make a point of reading their meters at least once a month and entering them on-line.
Have already warned them, that when their fixed rate ends, the cost is likely to go up and will probably change to another provider; as most companies give a better deal to new customers, rather than loyal ones.