MSE News: Regulator draws up plans for next-day energy switching

[Deleted User]

In my many years of switching I've never been asked for any numbers other than address/bank accounts, although I do check the paper work sent out and make sure any MPAN/MPRN/whatever is the same as the opening letter from the previous supplier.
But although I may have used the wrong type of number in my post, the use of ET's occurs when the energy provider has the wrong data for a given address. This forum is littered with these issues when the correct deemed supplier turns up demanding their money going back years in some posts. Again it is the databases that are incorrect and I fail to see how smart meters overcome this.

Just like @brewerdave, I would love to see the current regulations enforced and the 17 day voluntary switching code made the maximum switch time. Some companies extract the michael with the time to perform these routine tasks.
It is a bigger joke that companies take 6 weeks to generate a final bill and then 2 more weeks to repay/debit accounts when these functions should be measured in hours especially for any credit repayment. And even then, the number who again fail with this simple task is too large.

spiro

gsmlnx wrote: »

It is a bigger joke that companies take 6 weeks to generate a final bill and then 2 more weeks to repay/debit accounts when these functions should be measured in hours especially for any credit repayment. And even then, the number who again fail with this simple task is too large.

You need to bear in mind that it is the new supplier and his agents that are responsible for determining the Change of Supplier reading and the timescale for the new suppliers agent to select one is not until 8 days after CoS.

[Deleted User]

MSE_Megan_F wrote: »

The energy regulator Ofgem is currently consulting on the plans, which would mean customers who request to switch energy suppliers before 5pm would be moved to a new company by the end of the following day.

Wonderful, the good news is: if this plan goes I'll be able to switch suppliers within 24 hours.
The bad news is: as I have a SMETs1 smart meter it could take up to 5 years for me to be upgraded to a smart meter that works with my new provider.

Why don't these muppets sort out the smart metering mess first?

[Deleted User]

@spiro
So UPTO 8 days to be issued with a verified reading so where do the other 34 days go? I know some suppliers can be efficient but most aren't.(e.on issued a closing bill within 10 days last time I changed gas and money in the bank another 5 days later)
And there is no comeback from the regulator who pay zero attention to consumer issues, if fact they even say "don't bother us" on their website such is their disdain for the paying customer.
An on the ball regulator would have seen GB Energy collapse coming and taken action earlier, so they cannot even be bothered to police the industry! Instead they sit in their ivory tower, making up schemes but never enforce them.
</rant over>

spiro

gsmlnx wrote: »

@spiro
So UPTO 8 days to be issued with a verified reading so where do the other 34 days go? I know some suppliers can be efficient but most aren't.(e.on issued a closing bill within 10 days last time I changed gas and money in the bank another 5 days later)
And there is no comeback from the regulator who pay zero attention to consumer issues, if fact they even say "don't bother us" on their website such is their disdain for the paying customer.
An on the ball regulator would have seen GB Energy collapse coming and taken action earlier, so they cannot even be bothered to police the industry! Instead they sit in their ivory tower, making up schemes but never enforce them.
</rant over>

The supplier has 6 weeks to issue the final bill under an EU directive. OFGEM will only deal with stuff that has been through the complaints process etc, some people try to go staight to them. Also then only enforce the licence conditions so if it's not in there it's outisde nything they can control.

Consumerist

spiro wrote: »

You need to bear in mind that it is the new supplier and his agents that are responsible for determining the Change of Supplier reading and the timescale for the new suppliers agent to select one is not until 8 days after CoS.

Isn't it surprising how quickly a final bill can be drawn up by suppliers to whom you owe money when they want to object to a switch?

badmemory

Surely this is only going to be available for those with second generation smart meters so that both suppliers can get the readings instantaneously. Look out for the (very) small print!

MothballsWallet

brewerdave wrote: »

Tried but couldn't find a smiley with copious tears running down its face -next day switching? Which planet are OFGEM on? Why don't they try enforcing the existing regulations first ??

Because that would require them to do work, and we can't have them do that now, can we?

I mean, it would tire their little brain cells out from just trying to wake up in the morning

SnowMan

gsmlnx wrote: »

It is a bigger joke that companies take 6 weeks to generate a final bill and then 2 more weeks to repay/debit accounts when these functions should be measured in hours especially for any credit repayment. And even then, the number who again fail with this simple task is too large.

I have been waiting 9 weeks so far for IRESA to refund my credit, even though I provided opening readings to my new supplier promptly on switching away.

I took a complaint to the Energy Ombudsman about IRESA's poor service, and asked as a resolution for IRESA to pay promptly my credit balance on switching (about £150) over to me. The Energy Ombudsman awarded me £30, but even though 8 weeks had passed have refused to tell IRESA to pay over my credit, and won't even contact IRESA to point out to them that my credit should have been paid to me

Not only are the existing timescales for paying credit balances on switching routinely ignored, but if a consumer tries to take action to get their credit back under these timescales, they are fobbed off by the totally ineffective Energy Ombudsman Service.

Do OFGEM keep records of how long it takes for energy suppliers to repay credits after switches banded by weeks? I doubt it, or else what is going on would be obvious.

So same day switching seems to me to be an absolute joke, when OFGEM and the Energy Ombudsman allow energy companies just to infringe the existing timescales with complete immunity.

System

SnowMan wrote: »

I have been waiting 9 weeks so far for IRESA to refund my credit, even though I provided opening readings to my new supplier promptly on switching away.

I took a complaint to the Energy Ombudsman about IRESA's poor service, and asked as a resolution for IRESA to pay promptly my credit balance on switching (about £150) over to me. The Energy Ombudsman awarded me £30, but even though 8 weeks had passed have refused to tell IRESA to pay over my credit, and won't even contact IRESA to point out to them that my credit should have been paid to me

Not only are the existing timescales for paying credit balances on switching routinely ignored, but if a consumer tries to take action to get their credit back under these timescales, they are fobbed off by the totally ineffective Energy Ombudsman Service.

Do OFGEM keep records of how long it takes for energy suppliers to repay credits after switches banded by weeks? I doubt it, or else what is going on would be obvious.

So same day switching seems to me to be an absolute joke, when OFGEM and the Energy Ombudsman allow energy companies just to infringe the existing timescales with complete immunity.

Report them for a Standard Licence Condition breach to consumeraffairs@ofgem.gov.uk. Have you thought about the Small Claims Court?