Eversmart blocking me from switching away

ElwoodBlues

I joined Eversmart 18 months ago, on a 12 month fixed tariff. All went fine, no problems other than their billing/website being a bit flakey. I've been paying by monthly dd all along. Now the 12 month fix is obviously well past, and about 6 weeks ago initiated a switch to another supplier (Utility Point). All seemed to be going well, according to the progress emails from Utility Point, and they gave me a switch date of 15th Jan. That came and went, and I heard nothing more from either supplier. Eversmart took another dd payment since then.

I've been chasing Utility point for a week or so to find out what was happening. Finally got a phone call back from them saying that the switch had been blocked by my current supplier. They claimed to have emailed me about it, but they definitely have not. I asked them yesterday to resend the email, and I've still not received it.

Obviously, I'm going to have to try and contact Eversmart to find out what the problem is, but as far as I know my account is all in good standing, and they've never contact me about any issue.

On what grounds can a supplier legitimately block a transfer away from them?

PennineAcute

Normally, it is because they are owed money.

Cardew

As said above, normally a debit balance on your account or estimated/suspect meter readings raising the possibility of a debit balance.

ElwoodBlues

There is a debit balance on my account, but less than £50. The monthly dd is £90 odd, so it's a trivial amount, and based on their estimated readings (which are higher than my actual ones). I've never missed a payment, so the current account balance is the result of the regular dd amount that they've set. Eversmart have made no attempt to contact me and ask for a payment, or explain the situation. And even if I manage to resolve it quickly now, I'm a bit annoyed that Ill have been stuck on one of their higher price tariffs for at least a month longer than necessary.

joe134

Don’t the company you are leaving prepare a final bill to be paid, before, or after ones left ?
I am halfway through a switch, and know
I am at least £140 in debit,and more to come before the switching date 13th, as SP did not set up any DD since before dec18?
Already paid £166 by credit card for Dec. So too much arrears doesn’t occur !
Taking a pic of my final readings, just in case !

Ps. Do you have to submit final readings to both companies, as SP have told me to phone them with them ?
If one submits to both, it should eliminate any doubt as to the validity of them ?

Robin9

joe134 wrote: »

..................

Ps. Do you have to submit final readings to both companies, as SP have told me to phone them with them ?
If one submits to both, it should eliminate any doubt as to the validity of them ?

No just to your new supplier - they are responsible for the process.

ChrisK....._3

Technically you ALWAYS owe utility companies money, therefore any company could block you leaving

PennineAcute wrote: »

Normally, it is because they are owed money.

Cardew

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/how-switch-energy-supplier-and-shop-better-deal/how-switch-energy-supplier-if-you-re-debt

Cardew

ChrisK..... wrote: »

Technically you ALWAYS owe utility companies money, therefore any company could block you leaving

Not so!


Many paying by direct debit have a credit balance on an up to date bill that uses actual meter readings.

captaincork

Take care with this debit issue, Peoples Energy are deliberately under charging on submitted readings now. This allows a debit to accrue which will no doubt be used to block any switch. There appears to be no way of clearing any debit either on the website or by email. They never answer emails no matter how urgent or important the subject. Complaints are ignored leaving no way to start the eight week wait before the Ombudsman can be contacted. We urgently need some early intervention with these small suppliers as things can only get worse.

JohnB47

captaincork wrote: »

Take care with this debit issue, Peoples Power are deliberately under charging on submitted readings now. This allows a debit to accrue which will no doubt be used to block any switch. There appears to be no way of clearing any debit either on the website or by email. They never answer emails no matter how urgent or important the subject. Complaints are ignored leaving no way to start the eight week wait before the Ombudsman can be contacted. We urgently need some early intervention with these small suppliers as things can only get worse.

If that is really the case, I would contact the Ombudsman anyway, on the basis that the companies service is so poor that an eight week wait cant be initiated.

The ombudsman did alright by me. I complained to them even though Eversmart ignored my request for a deadlock message. The ombudsman accepted that situation and progressed the complaint to my satisfaction.

Companies shouldn't be allowed to avoid a complaints process by simply ignoring their customers. That, in itself, is cause for a complaint to the Ombudsman surely.

As to the subject of this thread - I would never try to switch supplier if the account with my current one was in debit. That's just asking for trouble.