What's the worst case scenario when switching energy provider (uSwitch)?

euromike

I'm with EDF and uSwitch tells me I can save £270/year by switching to npower (I'm in London). I checked the numbers and indeed, with npower I'll pay something like 11.7p/kWh, with EDF 14.88p, nearly 30% more expensive.

But then on the internet, as is usually the case with internet reviews, there's plenty of horror stories. I take those with a pinch of salt but still...

Using uSwitch looks like the simplest thing on earth - choose the cheapest option, confirm your address, confirm direct debit, done. Or is it?

Should I do it? Is there a possibility I'll be left with no energy because EDF are no longer supplying, but nPower haven't yet started my account? etc? Is there a catch?

AndyPK

your supply will not get cut off.

Personally I think Npower are better than EDF, so don't worry about bad reviews.

It does take a number of weeks to switch over and tariffs get withdrawn all the time, so get on with it while you can.


Alternatively have you looked at EDF to see if they will do you a significant saving? It won't be as much but worth looking.

macman

The power will come from the same source it always has done-your local district network operator (DNO), which in London is UK Power Networks. It's a billing change, not a physical supply change.
Any issues with a switch do not result in an interruption of supply. But most go smoothly anyway.

alleycat`

Realistically as others have said.

Switching itself doesn't affect supply it's just whether or not the "billing supplier" is capable of getting it right or not.

It's always been super smooth for me up until this time. Sadly EON appear completely incapable of sorting the gas part out (despite actually having the meter details and opening readings).

This has the knock on effect my outgoing supplier can't produce a final bill and refund me what they owe (several hundred pounds).

Currently the defence is they have 31 working days from taking over supply - Think i'm at working day 26. (So in reality that's 26 working days + w/e's + the couple of weeks they go through starting the transfer).

Previously nobody else has taken more than 10 days total from taking over supply.

It's not a great introduction to the company (and becoming significantly not worth the £80 i'm likely to save vs my outgoing supplier).

It's pathetic really when you consider a bank can transfer everything, including DD's, etc in about 1 week, and this, in comparison, is typing a few details into a database.

Managed to setup and take the first DD straight away mind you :rotfl:

StopIt

alleycat` wrote: »

Realistically as others have said.

Switching itself doesn't affect supply it's just whether or not the "billing supplier" is capable of getting it right or not.

It's always been super smooth for me up until this time. Sadly EON appear completely incapable of sorting the gas part out (despite actually having the meter details and opening readings).

This has the knock on effect my outgoing supplier can't produce a final bill and refund me what they owe (several hundred pounds).

Currently the defence is they have 31 working days from taking over supply - Think i'm at working day 26. (So in reality that's 26 working days + w/e's + the couple of weeks they go through starting the transfer).

Previously nobody else has taken more than 10 days total from taking over supply.

It's not a great introduction to the company (and becoming significantly not worth the £80 i'm likely to save vs my outgoing supplier).

It's pathetic really when you consider a bank can transfer everything, including DD's, etc in about 1 week, and this, in comparison, is typing a few details into a database.

Managed to setup and take the first DD straight away mind you :rotfl:

It'll be due to Project NEXUS as it knocked out the entire Gas switching systems for an upgrade. It should be all running now but there's a backlog of work and you wont be the only one with issues.


My Switch to Green Star had the same issue. My Electricity bill has been finalised but the Gas ended up being a (3 day, as I knew this may happen) estimate and still means that I can't submit readings yet to Green Star.


It'll work itself out. The OP has nothing to worry about though, just make sure you give your supplier readings before giving notice to switch (Which is what signing up through uSwitch does) and worst case is you'll have a week or two of an estimated bill until the to and fro of getting the new supplier to give the opening reads back to the old supplier goes through.

alleycat`

StopIt wrote: »

It'll be due to Project NEXUS as it knocked out the entire Gas switching systems for an upgrade. It should be all running now but there's a backlog of work and you wont be the only one with issues.


My Switch to Green Star had the same issue. My Electricity bill has been finalised but the Gas ended up being a (3 day, as I knew this may happen) estimate and still means that I can't submit readings yet to Green Star.


It'll work itself out. The OP has nothing to worry about though, just make sure you give your supplier readings before giving notice to switch (Which is what signing up through uSwitch does) and worst case is you'll have a week or two of an estimated bill until the to and fro of getting the new supplier to give the opening reads back to the old supplier goes through.

And if they'd just told me that i'd be totally fine with the entire thing.
Instead i've been passed from pillar to post.
That simple response is all it took