Changing suppliers long

[Deleted User]

It's taking me 17 days to switch from npower to affect energy. 17 days why so long? It's not like they have to do a lot?

SpotlandRules

14 day cool off period, is the killer.

ctdctd

Gawd, kids these days.

I remember when it used to take months to switch and then more months to sort out the mistakes.........

:-)

System

craigr98 wrote: »

It's taking me 17 days to switch from npower to affect energy. 17 days why so long? It's not like they have to do a lot?

I hope that someone doesn't tell him that it can take up to 15 days for the old supplier to receive verified meter readings after the date of transfer. Thereafter, the old supplier has up to 6 weeks to produce a Final Bill with any refund to come as and when.

[Deleted User]

Hengus wrote: »

I hope that someone doesn't tell him that it can take up to 15 days for the old supplier to receive verified meter readings after the date of transfer. Thereafter, the old supplier has up to 6 weeks to produce a Final Bill with any refund to come as and when.

Thanks for the information. I can give them a meter reading via the app and they in theory get that straight away. Can you imagine if I told NPower ill give you the final payment in six weeks time. I know this isn't just down the the energy industry. Still waiting for the final bill from BT.

System

craigr98 wrote: »

Thanks for the information. I can give them a meter reading via the app and they in theory get that straight away. Can you imagine if I told NPower ill give you the final payment in six weeks time. I know this isn't just down the the energy industry. Still waiting for the final bill from BT.

Your old supplier will not accept a meter reading from you. It will have put a hold on your account the moment that it was informed that a transfer of supply is in progress.

The gaining supplier is responsible under the terms of its Supply Licence for managing all aspects of the switch. This includes asking you for meter readings on the day of the transfer of supply. These readings are then passed to an independent third-party for verification (people have been known to misread meters or just lie to save a few £s). The verified readings are then passed back to the two suppliers to open and close your accounts. The closing reading may show up on your final bill as Estimated. If the Estimated figure differs markedly from the meter readings that you have provided, then a Readings Dispute will be raised which can take up to 12 weeks to resolve. In most cases, any difference is small and both suppliers just accept the verified readings. Any cost to you will be in pence.

Why does it take so long? Sitting beneath the suppliers is an industry that controls such things as a metering databases; wholesale billing; energy transporters etc. The processes desperately need to be updated but the much-delayed new IT system (Project NEXUS) is now on life support.

footyguy

craigr98 wrote: »

It's taking me 17 days to switch from npower to affect energy. 17 days why so long? It's not like they have to do a lot?

This MSE news article (from 2 years ago) explains why, and mentions plans for shortening the time in the future:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/utilities/2015/01/energy-switches-now-possible-in-17-days-but-not-for-all-suppliers