Moved house - energy supplier already has my personal details from letting agent

doverdover

Bit of an odd one...

I moved house recently, renting.

When I signed the contract, there was an additional document saying i agreed for my details to be given to a 'managed services' company which would sign me up for electricity, council tax etc. I said I did not want this, as I didn't see the point.

I asked for the energy supplier, and they said they couldn't tell me unless i agreed to give my details.

Anyway, lo and behold, a random energy supplier has my details and was given them by the letting agent.

Is this usual? I feel like they have probably just sold on my data without my permission. Who else might have it?!

Thank you.

Pmwo21

Sometimes letting or managing agents take on the responsibility of the account when one Tennant moves out, and then when somebody moves in they will forward on your contract to show they're no longer responsible.
I wouldn't say it's totally unusual, its something that some letting agents do to help avoid any issues.

Cardew

The energy supplier wouldn't be Utility Warehouse by any chance??

Some letting agents get commission.

footyguy

doverdover wrote: »

Bit of an odd one...

I moved house recently, renting.

When I signed the contract, there was an additional document saying i agreed for my details to be given to a 'managed services' company which would sign me up for electricity, council tax etc. I said I did not want this, as I didn't see the point.

I asked for the energy supplier, and they said they couldn't tell me unless i agreed to give my details.

Anyway, lo and behold, a random energy supplier has my details and was given them by the letting agent.

Is this usual? I feel like they have probably just sold on my data without my permission. Who else might have it?!

Thank you.

Nothing unusual here.

It's quite common when an existing account is closed (e.g. because someone is moving out) the supplier enquires of that account holder who the new account holder is expected to be. Sometimes, in the event of rented property, it reverts to the landlord if another tenant is not lined up to move staright in.

No money is paid. This is not selling of data.

Raxiel

It doesn't make much difference, when you move into a new place you are in what is known as a 'Deemed Contract' with the current supplier and you have to register an account with them before you can switch to a supplier of your choice.

The alternative is having the utilities disconnected when one occupant moves out, and the new occupant having to get it reconnected.

dogshome

Managed Services Company ?
New one on me, except 'Glide' and some others who manage Energy supplies in student accomodation and make a profit on top the actual cost

You can find out who the suppliers are for yourself by googling 'Who supplies my Gas/Electricity" - This will gve you the phone numbers of the National & Regional data bases who will tell you who the supplier/s are - Be aware these are Premium Rate calls

As it will be you who is paying the bills, you have the right to Switch to any other you like, unless that is, the extra bit of paper you signed is a contract for this 'Managed Services Co' to control your energy suppliers for the period of your entire lease.

Please report back when you have further details - This could be a new Letting Agents wheeze to make money, in which case the regulars on this board would very much like to know about it

doverdover

The manged services basically give money to the agent for giving your details to them - they are very clear about that on their website!

The company is called Hallmark (it looks as though they have now renamed to Ittria).

Why on earth anyone would sign up for this, I have no idea.

House_Martin

Cardew wrote: »

The energy supplier wouldn't be Utility Warehouse by any chance??

Some letting agents get commission.

Spark Energy is the supplier who uses letting agents on a "bung ".. Utility Warehouse are probably also capable of "bungs "
Unless its in the tenancy agreement then a new occupier can switch anyway to who they choose

SwanJon

House_Martin wrote: »

Unless its in the tenancy agreement then a new occupier can switch anyway to who they choose

Even if it is in the TA, a tenant can switch to a supplier of their choosing if they are paying the bills.
It is polite to inform the LL at the end of the tenancy, but before then it is as relevant as which newspaper you buy.

dogshome

Thank you doverdover for the heads-up on this Managed Service Co. probably being Ittria

Had a look at their website and it's frightening
The lead page boasts that over the time the Co. has been in business Agent Commisions were worth £2,941,688 . 00, whilst the tenant savings were worth just £71,431 . 00 and even to get this figure the saving quoted was against BG's Variable Standard Tariff costs.

The website is shy as to upfront payments to Let Agents, but the income stream seems to be generated from commisions paid by the Energy suppliers that tenants are Switched to.
So no Switches equals No income - So are the tenants bounced frequently from one supplier to another for the cash-flow, with no thought for the quality of service or even the price?

Just hope the piece of paper the OP signed is not a contract for his entire lease period

doverdover

YOU WOULD BE SAVING YOUR TENANTS ROUGHLY £140.00 PER YEAR (vs Spark Energy and the Big Six)

Based on Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Values published 2015.
Medium usage for gas (12,500 kWh) and electricity (3,100 kWh Profile Class 1).
Comparison is based on Fixed tariffs paid monthly by Direct Debit as at 27th June 2017 as per the Spark website.

Yeah 'savings compared to other managed utilities services'

The bill I have been sent is also way way higher than the tariff I found - maybe 30% extra!