Ittria and Purplebricks

hairypitz

Hello
We are going through the displeasure of renting a property through Purplebricks.
The latest is a clause in our tenancy agreement that we will allow our details to be shared by an energy comparison site. So what has transpired is that our details have been given to Ittria and we are being forced into choosing a specially selected tariff with Octopus Energy to take the hassle out of moving in. How lovely.
The only problem is that the special deal is robbery and around 25% more expensive for the same amount of energy than the tarif and supplier I would have chosen if I had a free choice. It’s even more expensive than if I just phoned Octopus and arranged one of their tariffs, any one at all, they’re all cheaper than the specially selected deal that Ittria have offered me.
I contacted Purple ricks and explained my disinterest in their service. They’ve to,d me my letting agent will know the energy supplier and will be able to tell me so that I can change to a supplier of my choice. But that would be far too helpful. The letting agent has told me I need to sign up with Ittria, find out the name of the supplier and then I change, but it will take around 6 weeks.
I’ve made a formal complaint to Purplebricks about this and numerous other aspects of their service that leave me wanting and I should hear from them in three working days.
So my questions are:
1. Can Purplebricks and Ittria team up and take advantage of people in this way under the guise of taking the hassle out of moving in. It’s like mis-selling, in that they’re forcing me to take a toxic deal so they can earn out of me in commission. Is it legal to treat people in this way? I didn’t agree for my personal details to be shared by an energy shark, only a comparison site.
2. Can I change supplier without having to ever sign anything Ittria related? I’d even be happy to take an Octopus tariff (or whoever the current supplier may be) just as long as I’m not being used and abused by Purplebricks via Ittria. In my tenancy agreement it says I can change supplier once during my tenancy.
3. Do I need to wait until I move in until I can find out the details of the current supplier? My letting agent seems to think so. But I think he’s got his eyes on the Ittria commission to be honest.
Many thanks in advance for any advice or answers you can offer.
Aside from me making a formal

dogshome

It seems that P/Bricks are attempting to ape Spark's business model,
which is surprising as their main business depends on a 'Clean' reputation of straight dealing with no hidden catches.


But just who are ITTRIA - The name means nothing to me and a web search comes up with zero


The OP must use the properties present Energy supplier when moving in, and will be on that suppliers expensive SVT tariff - The twist is that the L/agent can change that supplier whilst the property is in limbo between tenants, and gets a bung for his trouble.
Every new occupier of a dwelling is put on the suppliers SVT tariff, which could explain the difference in the offered tariff and those the OP has found



My first thought was to just go through with request, then as soon as the Welcome Pack arrived from the supplier, Switch to someone else.
However, Ittria are a totally unknown quantity - Contracted to do whatever they do for whole term of lease ? - My second thought is to sign nothing until Ittria's role is fully understood

Skools_Out

hairypitz wrote: »

Hello
We are going through the displeasure of renting a property through Purplebricks.
The latest is a clause in our tenancy agreement that we will allow our details to be shared by an energy comparison site. So what has transpired is that our details have been given to Ittria and we are being forced into choosing a specially selected tariff with Octopus Energy to take the hassle out of moving in. How lovely.
The only problem is that the special deal is robbery and around 25% more expensive for the same amount of energy than the tarif and supplier I would have chosen if I had a free choice. It’s even more expensive than if I just phoned Octopus and arranged one of their tariffs, any one at all, they’re all cheaper than the specially selected deal that Ittria have offered me.
I contacted Purple ricks and explained my disinterest in their service. They’ve to,d me my letting agent will know the energy supplier and will be able to tell me so that I can change to a supplier of my choice. But that would be far too helpful. The letting agent has told me I need to sign up with Ittria, find out the name of the supplier and then I change, but it will take around 6 weeks.
I’ve made a formal complaint to Purplebricks about this and numerous other aspects of their service that leave me wanting and I should hear from them in three working days.
So my questions are:
1. Can Purplebricks and Ittria team up and take advantage of people in this way under the guise of taking the hassle out of moving in. It’s like mis-selling, in that they’re forcing me to take a toxic deal so they can earn out of me in commission. Is it legal to treat people in this way? I didn’t agree for my personal details to be shared by an energy shark, only a comparison site.
2. Can I change supplier without having to ever sign anything Ittria related? I’d even be happy to take an Octopus tariff (or whoever the current supplier may be) just as long as I’m not being used and abused by Purplebricks via Ittria. In my tenancy agreement it says I can change supplier once during my tenancy.
3. Do I need to wait until I move in until I can find out the details of the current supplier? My letting agent seems to think so. But I think he’s got his eyes on the Ittria commission to be honest.
Many thanks in advance for any advice or answers you can offer.
Aside from me making a formal

Assuming you will be respoinsible directly with the supplier for the energy you consume, you cannot be forced onto any specific tariff.

When you set up an account, you will be put on the suppliers default tariff, typically their standard variable tariff, and there will be no exit fees.

Or you can choose one of their other tariffs.

Or you can opt to switch supplier - this will take between 17 days and 5 weeks from application. In the meantime you will be liable to the existing supplier on the tariff you choose, or in the absence of you choosing, the supplier's default tariff.
You must register an account with the existing supplier first. Do not register until day 1 of your tenancy agreement.

You can change tariif and/or supplier as often as you like.

macman

Who is the existing supplier? You will be in a deemed contract with them from day one. Register for an account with them and then you can commence a switch, which will take up to 5 weeks.
You cannot be obliged to use the agent's choice of supplier, I'd simply strike that clause out of your tenancy agreement if not too late. But it would not be enforceable anyway.

[Deleted User]

You will be able to change to a different tariff within Octopus energy once you sign up. Octopus is a well respected supplier with a good reputation , unlike Spark Energy. Not the rock bottom cheapest ,but recently OFGEM picked them out to use when Iresa Energy went bust and they switched them all to Octopus . That is how well run Octopus is.
Hardly "robbery " IMO. A good deal if you ask me. Personally I would stay with Octopus. You could do a lot worse

Raxiel

dogshome wrote: »

It seems that P/Bricks are attempting to ape Spark's business model,
which is surprising as their main business depends on a 'Clean' reputation of straight dealing with no hidden catches.


But just who are ITTRIA - The name means nothing to me and a web search comes up with zero


The OP must use the properties present Energy supplier when moving in, and will be on that suppliers expensive SVT tariff - The twist is that the L/agent can change that supplier whilst the property is in limbo between tenants, and gets a bung for his trouble.
Every new occupier of a dwelling is put on the suppliers SVT tariff, which could explain the difference in the offered tariff and those the OP has found



My first thought was to just go through with request, then as soon as the Welcome Pack arrived from the supplier, Switch to someone else.
However, Ittria are a totally unknown quantity - Contracted to do whatever they do for whole term of lease ? - My second thought is to sign nothing until Ittria's role is fully understood

https://ittria.co.uk/compare/

brewerdave

Houbara wrote: »

Hardly "robbery " IMO. A good deal if you ask me. Personally I would stay with Octopus. You could do a lot worse

...Hardly MSE advice either! Staying with Octoplus would cost me ~ £160 pa for leccy only and IF I had gas with them the extra would be ~ £320pa:eek:

hairypitz

Houbara wrote: »

You will be able to change to a different tariff within Octopus energy once you sign up. Octopus is a well respected supplier with a good reputation , unlike Spark Energy. Not the rock bottom cheapest ,but recently OFGEM picked them out to use when Iresa Energy went bust and they switched them all to Octopus . That is how well run Octopus is.
Hardly "robbery " IMO. A good deal if you ask me. Personally I would stay with Octopus. You could do a lot worse

Thanks for your replies
I'm assuming the energy supply is currently with Octopus because the property is being managed by PurpleBricks and they seem to have this relationship with Ittria, who themselves have a relationship with Octopus.

Regarding Octopus. I'm not averse to staying with them. They seem like a good provider. They get excellent reviews and while they're not the cheapest, the cheapest is sometimes not the best option . I'm aware of all of their plus points.
HOWEVER. The Ittria special deal is a lot worse than any other Octopus deal on the market through a non-robbery comparison site, like Cheap Energy Club or USwitch.
If I could normally get a Octopus tarrif for 17p/KWh and 19p/day standing charge the Ittria 'deal' is less favourable eg 19p/Kwh and 21p/day standing charge. This is what I meant by robbery.

I think I'm going to try and ring the 0845 number that will tell me who the supplier definitely is and get myself on one of their tariffs. I can change to something cheaper at a later date. Hopefully it will be Octopus.. They seem decent and I can just tackle them direct

PurplebricksUK

Good Afternoon

My name is Debbie and I work for Purplebricks. I saw your post and was concerned because there has been some kind of misunderstanding here, you aren’t required to use Ittria’s recommended utility supplier.

Ittria assist Purplebricks in changing the utility accounts into your name, they also offer you the choice to switch to their recommended supplier. If you don’t want to use them we will check who the current supplier is and give you the full details. You can also opt out of receiving marketing promotions.

If you could please send me an email (customersupport@purplebricks.com) with your details I would be glad to ask one of our lettings team to give you a call and we will get all of this sorted straight away.

Thank you,

Debbie

D_M_E

Debbie at Purplebricks - if the tenant is not obliged to use Ittria's services, then I have to ask why is it in the tenancy agreement which the OP has quoted?

Are you saying that tenant can simply ignore that clause?

hairypitz

PurplebricksUK wrote: »

Good Afternoon

My name is Debbie and I work for Purplebricks. I saw your post and was concerned because there has been some kind of misunderstanding here, you aren’t required to use Ittria’s recommended utility supplier.

Ittria assist Purplebricks in changing the utility accounts into your name, they also offer you the choice to switch to their recommended supplier. If you don’t want to use them we will check who the current supplier is and give you the full details. You can also opt out of receiving marketing promotions.

If you could please send me an email (customersupport@purplebricks.com) with your details I would be glad to ask one of our lettings team to give you a call and we will get all of this sorted straight away.

Thank you,

Debbie

Hi Debbie

I'm going to be frank. I've spoken to your people on the phone yesterday. I've been told that I should just speak to the letting agent about finding the current supplier., no big deal I've phoned the letting agent and no it's not that simple. He'd have to get in touch with the landlord and try to find this out. So I can instead just phone the premium rate number to find out who my supplier is and do it myself. I'm paraphrasing but this was the gist of it. He told me I should just turn up tomorrow, get the bills changed into my name (and would that be with Ittria by any chance???) then change things once I know the supplier (Octopus???)

I will email you, but I won't hold my breath regarding the letting agent giving me a call. I'm currently waiting on him to tell me what time I actually get the keys tomorrow.

By the way. The Ittria deal is a disgrace if you don't make it absolutely transparent to your customers that they're paying a premium price for this convenience. You'll have people renting properties that are a lot more vulnerable than me and there's no mention of the landlord getting commission out of the tenant for the poor value tariffs on offer.