Should I switch now or in the new year?

NotMoneySaving

Hello everyone!

I moved in to my first place just a couple of weeks ago and now I know who my previous energy suppliers were I'm asking myself the question, should I switch now or will the new year have sales/ offers on that are worth the wait? Can I ask what peoples thoughts and opinions are on this?

footyguy

NotMoneySaving wrote: »

Hello everyone!

I moved in to my first place just a couple of weeks ago and now I know who my previous energy suppliers were I'm asking myself the question, should I switch now or will the new year have sales/ offers on that are worth the wait? Can I ask what peoples thoughts and opinions are on this?

Prices change all the time.

If I knew what the future held as regards prices, I would be very rich indeed!

Assuming you have registered with your existing supplier, you are free to switch any time. If you see an offer you like, grab it for it may not be available tomorrow.

One thing is for sure, there are better deals out there than your supplier's current Standard Variable Tariff (which is what you will be on unless you have agreed otherwsie)

NotMoneySaving

True true. Ah, I may not be registered to them then? I thought you are already with that supplier when you move in then you can switch straight away.

I was more wondering whether suppliers tend to do new years deals like free smart meters or cashback offers.

worried_jim

All smart meters are free, they can’t give them away as they don’t work, wait about five years before getting one when they’ve launched the ones that do work.

NotMoneySaving

That bad eh? OK I'll try to avoid them.

footyguy

NotMoneySaving wrote: »

True true. Ah, I may not be registered to them then? I thought you are already with that supplier when you move in then you can switch straight away.

I was more wondering whether suppliers tend to do new years deals like free smart meters or cashback offers.

You are being supplied by the existing supplier, but I'm not sure how you think you would be registered with them unless you have done that yourself??? :huh:

Perhaps the fairies do it? Or is the supplier expected to rely upon their crystal ball??? :huh:

All the major supplier (and some of the the smaller ones) will arrange a smart meter for you if you want one. There is no charge.
(All suppliers will have to offer this soon)

Cashback from suppliers is not dependant on time of year. It is infact very rare. You can get cashback for many suppliers from PCWs and sometimes via cashback sites such as Quidco, etc, again totally unrelated to time of year.

Good luck!

NotMoneySaving

I'm new to all of this so a bit of naivety should probably be expected. I received a letter from SSE and British gas stating that they wish to sign me up to their tariff but surely if I act upon this then I'll be stuck in a contract and cannot switch. My thought was that they'd put new homeowners/ tenants on a standard tariff and ask them to pay the first month(s) bill separately, i.e. through a manual payment saying something like 'since you moved in you used X amount of gas/ electric and we require a payment of Y to cover this'. Naturally I can now tell this isn't the case so do I just switch or do I have to sign up to SSE and British gas before switching or just select my new supplier as they have nothing to do with me.

System

You are already on contract with the existing suppliers to the property. This is known as a Deemed Contract. Contact the existing suppliers with meter readings and your details and then you are free to switch. The gaining supplier manages the transfer so there is no need to tell the deemed supplier that you are switching. The gaining supplier will ask you for meter readings just before the transfer goes through: this will take 17 to 35 days from the date that you apply to switch. The deemed supplier will bill you for all energy used until the transfers of gas and electricity go through.

NotMoneySaving

Hengus wrote: »

You are already on contract with the existing suppliers to the property. This is known as a Deemed Contract. Contact the existing suppliers with meter readings and your details and then you are free to switch. The gaining supplier manages the transfer so there is no need to tell the deemed supplier that you are switching. The gaining supplier will ask you for meter readings just before the transfer goes through: this will take 17 to 35 days from the date that you apply to switch. The deemed supplier will bill you for all energy used until the transfers of gas and electricity go through.

Ah that's good to know, thank you. I'll do this tomorrow.