Tariff whilst switching

familyguy321

Hi,

Need some advice regarding switching.

I am with Octopus with my fixed tariff due to end in couple of weeks. I am looking to move supplier but it is likely I will be with Octopus for some time after my tariff ends whilst the switch takes place.

I have asked them what will happen during this time and they have said I will automatically be put on their flexible tariff for that interim period.

Is this correct? I always thought you remained on the existing tariff if notice of the switch was given before the tariff ends.

Thanks in advance.

FG

Quentin

See the ts & cs of your contract with Octopus.


If you have not yet switched then the contract will tell you what happens when the fix ends.


You don't need to "give notice" - this will be handled by the company you switch to

[Deleted User]

Hi,


yes that's right, your fixed term has ended so you switch to standard.


If you initiate your switch now you will only be on standard for a couple of weeks at the most, takes 3/4 weeks to switch.


You're allowed to start a switch 49 (?) days before your tariff ends, so if you had started earlier you would've avoided the standard tariff.

Thomas_Edison

If you start your switch before your fixed tariff ends then they have to extend it until you leave

Hasbeen

Thomas_Edison wrote: »

If you start your switch before your fixed tariff ends then they have to extend it until you leave

Really? my info is you are put on a standard tariff that you pay until you switch. That's why I always switch approx. 20 days before.

[Deleted User]

Thomas_Edison wrote: »

If you start your switch before your fixed tariff ends then they have to extend it until you leave

Could you qualify this please as I think you may be mistaken?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

Thomas_Edison wrote: »

If you start your switch before your fixed tariff ends then they have to extend it until you leave

from Ofgem.gov.uk

• Customers would receive a notice 42-49 days before the end date of a fixed-term tariff to tell them the tariff is coming to an end. If a customer chose to switch after this point, suppliers can’t charge a termination fee.
• If a customer chose not to switch at the end of a fixed-term tariff, they can’t be rolled onto another fixed-term tariff with a termination fee. They would instead be rolled automatically onto the cheapest standard tariff with the supplier.

Hasbeen

I think the statement was implying that your existing tariff would continue?

[Deleted User]

There is Tariff Protection when switching starts before the end date of the fixed contact but the actual switch goes past that date.
From an old post by Hengus

This one for you to judge. It is worth mentioning that there is no rush to initiate a transfer of supply. Provided your new supplier is notified via industry data flows that a transfer request has been made NO LATER than end of contract date plus 20 days, you have present tariff protection until the transfer goes through.

This is supported by the the OVO T&C's

5.6 If you decide to leave us and we hear from your new supplier within 20 working days after your fixed plan ends, or if you enter into a new plan with us in the same period, we’ll keep your charges the same until you switch or start the new plan (as applicable).

https://www.ovoenergy.com/terms

Now Octopus T&Cs don't have this clear statement. What they say is about being moved to a deemed contract is

- you come to the end of a fixed-term contract and do not take any action to move to a different tariff.

So the action of the switch AND Octopus being informed of that fact within time should hopefully mean that they continue with the existing tariff for those few days.

ASavvyBuyer

It is covered in Ofgem's SLC 24.9-12:

Continuation of Fixed Term Supply Contract terms for interim period

24.9 In relation to each Fixed Term Supply Contract, unless the Domestic Customer has entered into a new Fixed Term Supply Contract with the licensee or paragraph 22C.5 of standard condition 22C applies, the licensee must ensure that where paragraph 24.10 applies a Domestic Customer will continue to be subject to the same Charges for the Supply of Electricity and the same terms and conditions (but not any Termination Fee) that applied to that Fixed Term Supply Contract until they have changed their supplier.


See the rest here on page 175 &176

Thomas_Edison

Had a little bit of trouble digging up where I saw this, but you can see here that BG got fined for not extending fixed tariffs when people as switching away.

(They also got fined for charging exit fees when they shouldn't)

https://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/news/british-gas-fined-2-65m-by-regulator-after-misleading-and-overcharging-customers/