Utilities bills help! FTB

lilac_

Hi I’m a FTB so any help would be greatly appreciated!

We’ve just completed on a house today and we’re not quite sure how the utility side works. We both lived with parents before so have never had a bill. The vendor actually came over to show us how things work but when I asked him about which companies he was with, he said he’s closed the accounts so we can go with whom ever we want? To my understanding I thought usually you would have to call up the pervious owner’s companies and tell them the meter reading and get them to switch you to the cheapest plan while you research better deals.

Please help me understand this better!

MovingForwards

You have to initially register with the current supplier, then find one suited to your needs to swap over to.

I think you should have details of who the suppliers are in the papers the seller completed relating to the property.

If you haven't, then there are national databases to check, water is based on region and you can't swap supplier.

Carrot007

My thoughts are they are trying a quick one and have given their supplier fake final readings and are hopting delaying it will stop them paying it.


If they have closed down the accounts, which is still possible, do be aware this required a vist and the supply will be turned off and you will need to organise the same to use it. If you can use it they are either idiots or trying something.

matelodave

You need to read the meters as soon as you become responsible for the house which is when you complete the purchase and become the owner. You then have to send these reading to the existing supplier and open an account with them in your name.

It's useful to take photos of the meter and keep your own record of the readings and the date (do not lose them, just in case there's a query in the future or the previous owner has tried to pull a fast one)

Do not delay doing this as you could end up paying for some of the previous owners energy and you wont be able to swap suppliers until you've registered with the existing supplier.

Do the same for your water, especially if you are on a meter to avoid paying for previous consumption. (you cant swap water suppliers)

As soon as you've registered with the existing energy company you are free to initiate a swap to a supplier of your choice but you will have to pay the existing supplier for any energy that you use from the initial reading until your swap to a different supplier is completed.

lilac_

Thanks for all of your help!

Do we have to ask the suppliers to put us on a particular tariff to make sure we’re not locked in?

MovingForwards

Unless you say what tarrif you want it's normally their standard one.

Cardew

lilac_ wrote: »

Thanks for all of your help!

Do we have to ask the suppliers to put us on a particular tariff to make sure we’re not locked in?

Initially you will be on their standard tariff which means you are not locked in; but it is normally the most expensive tariff.


You can then instigate a switch to your preferred supplier which normally takes 2 of 3 weeks.


If you decide to stay with the current supplier, but go to a cheaper tariff, it is normally done instantly.

Benight

lilac_ wrote: »

Hi I’m a FTB so any help would be greatly appreciated!

We’ve just completed on a house today and we’re not quite sure how the utility side works. We both lived with parents before so have never had a bill. The vendor actually came over to show us how things work but when I asked him about which companies he was with, he said he’s closed the accounts so we can go with whom ever we want? To my understanding I thought usually you would have to call up the pervious owner’s companies and tell them the meter reading and get them to switch you to the cheapest plan while you research better deals.

Please help me understand this better!

As you elected to post on the water sub-board, that is what I will deal with here

You currently have no choice over your water supplier. You will have the supplier that supplies your region. If you don't know who this is, introduce yourself to one of your neighbours and ask them.

Most people's water supplier also deal with their sewerage.
If that is not the case for you, your water supplier will be able to inform you who handles your sewerage when you call them

lilac_

Another issue I have:

Completed on the 10th and also got the keys on that day, but we are unable to read the water meter as it has lots of condensation! We are with Thames water and have filled out an online form to let them know we are the new owners. The previous owners have told me that there were also unable to read the meter because of the condensation so they’ve contacted Thames water to let them know. Should I be worried? Is there anything else I need to do?

D_M_E

Get an extension lead which will reach the meter housing and use some sort of heat source, such as a hairdryer, to blast a bit of heat at the meter.

This should clear the condensation and allow you to read the meter - this is what I did with ours.

payee

HI all
I have just joined & not sure how to post new thread-
which is-
whilst exploring Martins Utility suggestions for cheaper fuel kit seems i have somehow being transferred to Green network Energy??? which i did not ask for???
I have tried contacting MSE but no acknowledgement by email??
Is there anyway to contact by phone?