Moving Home - Can't or Won't help?

Legacy_user

We are moving into a new build property in two weeks time. In an attempt to get on top of things before moving in, I contacted various organisations and I have managed to get the MPAN and MPRNs for my new home. Unfortunately, the MPAN is linked to an address and MPRN is linked to a Plot - and both have an incorrect postcode. This is where the fun started.

The Deemed Supplier's Home Move Team told me that there was nothing that could be done to update the Database until I moved in; that this process would take 4 to 6 weeks, and I could then expect to receive a Welcome Pack which would allow me to change from the Deemed Tariff (SVT) to a fixed tariff, or switch away. 'What if I want to fix whilst you sort things out': 'you can't was the response'!! The fact that my soon to be next door neighbour has been waiting 3 months for a Welcome Pack makes one wonder what is actually going on?

I have since spoken to one of my present suppliers - Octopus - who have advised that it is possible to get round this type of administrative blockage. They have now initiated a switch for gas and electricity using the incorrect address/postcode details which should go through 2 days after we move in. If the transfers are successful, then they will update the National Database with the correct details. If the transfers fail - usually within 5 days of application to switch - then I am no worse off.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out. In the meantime, I am off on a return trip to the Moon which historically takes a lot less time than updating a few details on a database.

D_M_E

Good luck with it all - the last time we moved to a new build a few years ago it took 9 months to get supplies registered to us.

Various problems - same as you, meter registered to plot number, plot number registered to wrong postcode, given wrong house number and incorrect postcode only to be told neither house nor postcode exist and numerous other problems.

When it was finally sorted to the supplier's satisfaction, we discover that the meter we were being billed for was actually installed in another property about half mile away.

When it was all FINALLY sorted out correctly, we ended up paying just £18 I think it was for the first year's power and were given free use-as-much-as-you-like power for the second year for our help in running around taking serial numbers and adresses for various meters - that was with deemed supplier British Gas.

Lots of people ended up with big bills because of it, never told them it waqs all down to me sorting it.

System

D_M_E wrote: »

Good luck with it all - the last time we moved to a new build a few years ago it took 9 months to get supplies registered to us.

Various problems - same as you, meter registered to plot number, plot number registered to wrong postcode, given wrong house number and incorrect postcode only to be told neither house nor postcode exist and numerous other problems.

When it was finally sorted to the supplier's satisfaction, we discover that the meter we were being billed for was actually installed in another property about half mile away.

When it was all FINALLY sorted out correctly, we ended up paying just £18 I think it was for the first year's power and were given free use-as-much-as-you-like power for the second year for our help in running around taking serial numbers and adresses for various meters - that was with deemed supplier British Gas.

Lots of people ended up with big bills because of it, never told them it waqs all down to me sorting it.

What you have described is a complete joke which supports my long held view that the procedures that now underpin our energy industry would shame a Third World country. This is our 6th new build acquisition and I not recall having similar issues taking over a supply. Having said that, our previous buy was 17 years ago and the number of suppliers and tariffs at that time could be counted on both hands. The Deemed Supplier is Scottish Power and the supplier that is confident that they have a work around is Octopus.