What happens if you move home before the 12 month tariff deal is up?

tawse57

Hi,


I am on a standard tariff paying when I get a quarterly bill. I am looking at uswtich for changing to a better deal as apparently I can save about £200 per year moving from Scottish Power.


If I sign up for a new deal for 12 months what happens if I move at some point before that 12 months is up? I currently am renting so am not sure what the situation would be if I move.


I have never signed up for one of these deals before so I assume it is similar to a mobile phone contract?



Thanks for any help,


T.

Robin9

Read the small print - there may be a £30 penalty per utility.

There's no penalty for switching from a standard tariff and you should do so as soon as possible

D_M_E

As Robin says, read the terms and conditions of the tariff you are considering.

Don't think there's many suppliers that charge exit fees for leaving mid contract - First Utility are one that do charge and there are probably at least a couple of others - First Utility have an exit fee of £30 per fuel, is it them?

We'll probably see more suppliers adding on exit fees for whatever reason the contract is cancelled before term, such as moving out, changing suppliers, death of account holder, etc etc.
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macman

A house move, rental or purchase, voids your contract without penalty, whether it has exit fees or not. You can't move a tariff between properties.
Assuming you opt for a fixed tariff, it's a fixed price contract, unlike most mobile contracts.
Whatever you do, start the process now, as you are just throwing money away, and it will take around five weeks, by which time the heating may be on again.
Some very bad advice given above: any tariff with an exit fee will charge you if you leave in minimum term-but not with a home move.

tawse57

macman wrote: »

A house move, rental or purchase, voids your contract without penalty, whether it has exit fees or not. You can't move a tariff between properties.
Assuming you opt for a fixed tariff, it's a fixed price contract, unlike most mobile contracts.
Whatever you do, start the process now, as you are just throwing money away, and it will take around five weeks, by which time the heating may be on again.
Some very bad advice given above: any tariff with an exit fee will charge you if you leave in minimum term-but not with a home move.

Thank you.


So - excuse me for being a numpty - if I am paying say £50 a month and I move house 9 months into the contract I am not required to pay the remaining 3 months which would be £150?


I didn't know that it took this long to move so thanks for the info re that also.


I had a letter from Scottish Power last week offering me a 'deal' but the saving is only a £100 - is it worth contacting them to get a better deal? I mean, do they compete like Sky or Virgin might compete on price to keep your custom?

D_M_E

No, you would not pay - in your example - £150 to terminate 9 months in.

Your contract is for supply of energy at a fixed price and you only, or should only, get billed for the energy used by you and most suppliers allow termination when you move house but if you are only changing suppliers they they charge.

If you move house this could be deemed as breaking the contract to supply you with energy at a fixed price to a fixed property so if you move out then it stands to reason that you have broken the contract.

I know from experience that First Utility do in fact charge you exit fees if you move home anytime before the 49 day swtching window at the end of contract, it's in their terms and conditions and is most likely to be upheld by the Ombudsman.

macman

I think FU are unique in this respect: and it seems that, as long as you re-register with them at your new home within a set time limit, the exit fees may be waived.
Whether this unusual term has ever been challenged via the Ombudsman, I do not know.
Since the OP is leaving SP, it's not an issue for them.