Energy supplier objection in new home

Davidp267

I've just moved to a new house and have asked my origional supplier to come along with me and begin the switch over process. However they have just contacted me to say the current supplier of the house (Avro) have objected.

I can't see any valid reason for their objection we should just recieve a final bill from them when informed of our switch and energy readings by our new supplier.

I've moved before and done the same process with no problems, is this just Avro dragging their feet to get more money from me on their standard tarrifs or are there any leagal reasons for them objecting?

Thanks
David

molerat

Have you registered with Avro ?

antrobus

You should contact Avro and find out why they’ve objected to your switch.

Best guess; you’ve just moved in, and they need to open your account before they can close it.

brewerdave

As has already been said, you need to be a customer of Avro before you can switch away AND you MAY find that the previous owner/tenant hasn't actually closed their account!!

brewerdave

As has already been said, you need to be a customer of Avro before you can switch away AND you MAY find that the previous owner/tenant hasn't actually closed their account!!

maxcy

Davidp267 wrote: »

I've just moved to a new house and have asked my origional supplier to come along with me and begin the switch over process. However they have just contacted me to say the current supplier of the house (Avro) have objected.

I can't see any valid reason for their objection we should just recieve a final bill from them when informed of our switch and energy readings by our new supplier.

I've moved before and done the same process with no problems, is this just Avro dragging their feet to get more money from me on their standard tarrifs or are there any leagal reasons for them objecting?

Thanks
David

There are indeed certain valid reasons for a supplier objecting to you switching away
e.g. a unsettled debt is often the reason, although I'm not suggesting that is the reason in this instance.

Did your new supplier of choice not explain that you would need to contact your existing supplier to obtain the reason? Have you done that?
If not, we would all be guessing as to the reasons for the objection.
Only they will know why they have objected.
... although the suggestion given above by others does have merit.

Robin9

Ring Avro - quote your account number - and ask

Davidp267

Thanks for the replys everyone.

When you move into a property your automatically placed on a deemed contract from that date with the current supplier and are therefore a customer. Therefore you can move away at any point from day 1 onwards.

Having called Avro they confirmed the objection was made due to not having a meater reading since I purcased the property and therefore they deem there to be an outstanding balance on the account. Hense when the switch request came through they have objected.

After finding this out I did a bit of digging and actually it turns out that for an outstanding balance to be the reason for an objection the customer must have been notified in writing and the debt must be over 28 days old. Neither of these conditions apply in this situation as I have only been in the property for 20 days and haven't been notified in writing. I have followed this up with Avro to see what they have to say!

As a side point I also found out that if the debt is <£500 and the new supplier is happy to have this transferred to them the old supplier is not allowed to object to a switch request.

Also if the debt had been left by the previous owner (not the case here) ofgem state that new customer cannot be blocked from switching.

Thanks again for your replies and I will let you know Avros response, could be up to 8 weeks aparently! The wonderful world of energy suppliers!

Streaky_Bacon

So have you now given Avro your move in readings and created an account?

You are correct that you would be a customer and on a deemed contract as soon as you move in, but that is not the same as having an account that Avro can deal with.

Assuming that you have now created an account and given them the meter readings, you should be able to ask you new supplier to initiate a switch, you shouldn't need to wait for anything further from Avro.

spiro

Davidp267 wrote: »

As a side point I also found out that if the debt is <£500 and the new supplier is happy to have this transferred to them the old supplier is not allowed to object to a switch request.

That is only partially correct. There is a process called the Debt Assignment Protocol/Procedure (DAP) but it only applies where the debt is less than £500 AND is being recovered via a Prepayment meter. It does NOT apply if you have a credit meter.