Problems switching to the new energy upstarts

Biggus_Dickus

CityLite wrote: »

Up to 6 weeks is the period allowed for a losing supplier to issue a final bill.

The supplier is permitted up to 10 working days from the final bill issue date to refund any credit.

Could I ask where you got that info from please?

[Deleted User]

As shown in the MSE article among other places https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2018/06/mse-victory-as-ofgem-looks-to-compensate-consumers-for-late-switching-bills/

Also documented in the OFGEM Supply Standard Licence which can be found at https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/licences-industry-codes-and-standards/licences/licence-conditions

Biggus_Dickus

gsmlnx wrote: »

As shown in the MSE article among other places https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2018/06/mse-victory-as-ofgem-looks-to-compensate-consumers-for-late-switching-bills/

Also documented in the OFGEM Supply Standard Licence which can be found at https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/licences-industry-codes-and-standards/licences/licence-conditions

Has that 6 week window actually been brought into OFGEM legislation?;...I remember reading about that list of proposals recently but I was unaware they'd been mandated.

When did it happen?...I can't see anything on the Ofgem website about that specific new 6-week rule. Perhaps I’m not looking hard enough.:D

[Deleted User]

The OFGEM legislation is the Standard Licence codes linked to above, The links point to the latest active version of the various codes.

The 6 week to produce a final bill has been in the Supply SLCs for a while. It has been stated within the Supply SLC as suppliers "must take all reasonable steps to send a final Bill or statement of account of the Domestic Customer’s account within 6 weeks of the supplier transfer or termination of the Domestic Supply Contract"

The new twist is automatic compensation at a preset level after the 1st May (allegedly as I haven't seen the actual published date)

Biggus_Dickus

gsmlnx wrote: »

The OFGEM legislation is the Standard Licence codes linked to above, The links point to the latest active version of the various codes.

The 6 week to produce a final bill has been in the Supply SLCs for a while. It has been stated within the Supply SLC as suppliers "must take all reasonable steps to send a final Bill or statement of account of the Domestic Customer’s account within 6 weeks of the supplier transfer or termination of the Domestic Supply Contract"

The new twist is automatic compensation at a preset level after the 1st May (allegedly as I haven't seen the actual published date)

Thanks for that,...good info.

“6 weeks to issue final bill then a further 10 working days to issue a credit refund” seems reasonable enough.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2018/12/way_forward_on_supplier_guaranteed_standards_or_switching_and_si_consultation_on_a_statutory_instrument_to_bring_them_into_force.pdf

This section is quite interesting,...Ofgem question & energy suppliers response:-
Question 10: Do you believe any explicit exemptions are necessary for scenarios whereby suppliers are unable to issue a final bill within six weeks?
Answer: 1.74. Almost all of the responses that we received cited the lack of a closing meter reading, provided by the gaining supplier, as the most common reason for the failure of a losing supplier to send a final bill.

The losing supplier cites a lack of closing meter reading being a common problem,...fair enough,..but the gaining supplier can’t supply said final meter readings until they’ve been validated by the 3rd party ‘meter reading verification’ companies.

The energy suppliers appear to be completely at the mercy of these ethereal gas and leccy ‘meter reading verification’ companies. I wonder if these 3rd parties will be penalized for dragging their feet.

During my last switch the leccy meter reading verification took about a week,...however, the gas verification (for reasons still unclear) took almost 8 weeks!

Once both gas and leccy readings were industry ‘verified’ the losing supplier issued my final bill within a matter of days and my credit refund very shortly afterwards.

In essence, from switch-over day to receiving my credit refund was a little over 9 weeks. Under the new rules (whenever they actually come into force) I guess I would be entitled to £30 compensation from both losing and gaining suppliers;...I think it’s a bit harsh on the suppliers because the delay was (apparently) introduced by the gas ‘meter reading verification company’.

[Deleted User]

My last switch, one of the final bills took 7 weeks to appear.
Nothing to do with not having the verified reading as I had chased them, just bad customer service. I put in an official compliant on the 43rd day after the switch and the bill appeared within 3 days. Surprise, surprise.