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Zither

Hello,

I've just moved home and my friend sent me a referral e-mail for First Utility which would mean that if I sign up to them we would both receive an Amazon voucher for £50 each.

However, when I went to sign up the FU website tells me that they're already my supplier (the former house owner used FU).

I haven't contracted them to be my supplier so don't see why I can't take advantage of the voucher offer? Is there any way around this?

Thanks!

Z

molerat

By law they are your energy supplier on a deemed contract. You need to contact them and set up an account, you will currently be on their most expensive tariff. Probably no way round it.

Zither

molerat wrote: »

By law they are your energy supplier on a deemed contract. You need to contact them and set up an account, you will currently be on their most expensive tariff. Probably no way round it.

Haha oh right... well I guess that puts an end to that!

Seems, on a purely practical level, that I'm obligated into a contract and therefore can't take advantage of 'new customer' offers?

JJ_Egan

Alternative is you have no services when you move and wait until you choose a supplier and they get around to switching you on .

Cardew

Zither wrote: »

Seems, on a purely practical level, that I'm obligated into a contract and therefore can't take advantage of 'new customer' offers?

As said above, you are on a legally binding 'deemed contract' with the existing supplier to the house.

This provision in the Gas and Electricity Acts was included for the benefit of customers. It means that new occupiers can move into a property with the gas/electricity still connected. Before competition for energy supply your gas/electricity could be cut off when the old occupier left; unless you arranged an account before you moved in.

'New customer' offers are not just for new occupiers. Anyone switching to the company offering any inducement gets the same deal.

Zither

Thanks All,

I called them up, explained my situation and they said they couldn't offer me anything so I just asked to cancel my contract with them and will sign up to someone else this afternoon.

Any recommendations for which suppliers offer best incentives/Quidco/Topcashback rates etc for a dualfuel account?

TY,

Z

keith1950

Hi , you don't cancel the deemed contract. You give them your opening meter readings and then start a switch to a new supplier.
The new supplier controls the switch and supply's the old supplier with your closing meter readings.
This will take around 3 weeks and until then you will probably be on the old suppliers standard tariff.
If you don't follow the recognised procedures things will probably go wrong with your switch/accounts.
From past experience I have found that the tariffs with the highest cashback rates are usually the most expensive tariffs.
Use some one like ukpower/uswitch to find the cheapest tariff in your area using average usage of 3300kwh electricity and 15000kwh gas.

footyguy

Zither wrote: »

Hello,

I've just moved home and my friend sent me a referral e-mail for First Utility which would mean that if I sign up to them we would both receive an Amazon voucher for £50 each.

However, when I went to sign up the FU website tells me that they're already my supplier (the former house owner used FU).

I haven't contracted them to be my supplier so don't see why I can't take advantage of the voucher offer? Is there any way around this?

Thanks!

Z

Ask your referrer to explain the full terms of the offer.
It probably requires a consumer to switch to them.

Don't use possible cashback as a decision maker, says MSE Martin.

Compare the whole of market to find the best deal(s) for you; you nay find there is possible cashback available as the icing on the cake anyway.

footyguy

Zither wrote: »

Thanks All,

I called them up, explained my situation and they said they couldn't offer me anything so I just asked to cancel my contract with them and will sign up to someone else this afternoon.

Any recommendations for which suppliers offer best incentives/Quidco/Topcashback rates etc for a dualfuel account?

TY,

Z

You cannot cancel a contract.
You appoint a new supplier who then takes care of informing the existing supplier they will be taking over the supply

Zither

Thanks all

Yes, apols - I was a bit loose with my language about the contract - even though I'm in a deemed contract apparently!

I just meant that I told them I would find another supplier. They asked me if I'd like to be the named account holder in the interim until I'd switched - I asked them what benefit there would be to this and they said none.

To be fair most people I've spoken to said First Utility are OK - do you think I should just sign up with them for a year and switch a year down the line?

Also - I'm surprised energy companies don't have retention teams like mobile phone companies who call you up when you cancel?

TY,

Z

Cardew

Zither wrote: »

Thanks all

Also - I'm surprised energy companies don't have retention teams like mobile phone companies who call you up when you cancel?

Z

Don't wory! you will get email/phone/letter from your current(deemed) supplier asking you to remain.

However as yet the switching process hasn't started, and won't until your chosen new supplier contacts your current supplier. That is the trigger for the retention teams.

In theory it is possible that your chosen new supplier will not accept you as a customer e.g. poor credit record, no bank account, owing them money from a previous property, Arsenal supporter etc. Until the two company computers 'speak' to each other - nothing happens.