Moved home - don't know what to do!

ryath

Hi,

I completed the purchase of a new build on 10th January. Before Christmas I asked the electricity supplier at my old flat (Bulb) to supply at my new flat. When I moved in I was notified in my Welcome Pack that there was already an electricity supplier in place (British Gas, I believe). Also that they (the freeholder) would contact the supplier to give them the meter readings.

I contacted Bulb to see if I could 'undo' the switch and was told no. I have already had a DD payment taken back on 7th January. According to the freeholder I should have waited until I had moved in before attempting to switch? I have received a request from British Gas to give them a call to set up my account, tariff etc.

I'm unsure what to do next as effectively I'm paying twice for the same electricity. As stupid as it may sound I'm inclinced to try Bulb again to see if I can get anyone else to help me cancel (not that I feel I have a leg to stand on as the 14-day cooling off period has elapsed). When is the 14-day cooling period meant to start as it was a good week or two ago that I contacted them about un-doing the switch and there was no mention of the cooling-off period.

The reason I am now thinking of staying with British Gas is I saw they have one of the cheapest dual fuel tariffs on the market (Energy Plus Protection Feb 2021 v4). It would also simplify my life a little more at present.

I'm a new PFP Energy customer having been moved to them on account of Better Gas no longer in the residential market. I told them via email I was moving but when I logged into my account they still had me at my old address! It would appear I can't copy over my excellent 2 year Better Gas tariff to my new address as you have to sign up again as a new customer. Another reason I think for going with British Gas for dual fuel at this moment in time.

I'm a first time buyer and I guess with everything to do, this is the one thing I have let slide. I know it can be sorted but I'm just annoyed with myself with the order I have done things in and now don't know how to untangle myself!

Neil_Jones

This is normal to be with a supplier when you move in under a deemed contract. The only caveat with this is that you are usually on the most expensive tariff going, the standard which costs a fortune and then some more.

Get an account set up with your current provider as you will now be with them for six weeks until you can move around to another provider of your choosing (or tariff if that's what you want), and tell Bulb and your old gas supplier you've moved and to close your old accounts. You should really have done this and given them some final meter readings on the day you left but realistically that may be too late now so your final bills will almost certainly be estimated.

ryath

The accounts at the old flat are closed. I'm just worried about Bulb and British Gas charging me for electricity at the new flat.

Streaky_Bacon

ryath wrote: »

The accounts at the old flat are closed. I'm just worried about Bulb and British Gas charging me for electricity at the new flat.

That won't happen. There can only be one active supplier at one time.

Bulb may still be taking DDs but that is not the same as them billing you for electricity at the new property.

The only question is whether Bulb will continue trying to carry out the switch and whether it will go through once you open an account with BG. When you open the account with BG you should tell them that you do not want the switch to go through, just in case.

ryath

Do I have any right to claim back the first DD from Bulb?

Streaky_Bacon

ryath wrote: »

Do I have any right to claim back the first DD from Bulb?

If you have closed the account and given final readings, they should produce a final bill within 6 weeks. If there is a credit balance, they should refund that within 14 days of the final bill. If they don't then you are entitled to compensation.

ryath

So in the period 10th January (when I moved in) until now, I can assume that Bulb have been the active supplier as I re-joined for my new flat and they have taken a DD? Whereas all I have had from British Gas is a postcard in the post asking me to set up an account, give them meter readings etc (which is odd as the freeholder stated that they would ask British Gas to set up the account with meter readings from the day I moved in).

As the previous poster mentioned I can just close the account with Bulb and give them an opening meter reading for 10th and a closing read for tomorrow's date, for instance. Then I am free to switch to British Gas but I don't think the previously stated British Gas tariff is available direct with British Gas so I'd have to switch to it via U-Switch (just to confuse myself further).

Sorry I'm still rather confused and the only way I can understand is to lay out a timeline of events.

Robin9

ryath wrote: »

..................So in the period 10th January (when I moved in) until now, I can assume that Bulb have been the active supplier as I re-joined for my new flat and they have taken a DD? Whereas all I have had from British Gas is a postcard in the post asking me to set up an account, give them meter readings etc (which is odd as the freeholder stated that they would ask British Gas to set up the account with meter readings from the day I moved in).

………………....

Another lesson for you -- NEVER, NEVER let anyone agent, landlord, caretaker set up an account or read your meter. Take responsibility for this yourself.

Swipe

You need to phone both Bulb and British Gas, give them your meter serial number and find out who is actually supplying you. Only one of them will be and then decide what to do from there.

Swipe

Or alternatively, call your Distribution Network Operator who should also be able to tell you who is supplying you and from which dates. The telephone wait might be a lot shorter with that option too.

MWT

ryath wrote: »

So in the period 10th January (when I moved in) until now, I can assume that Bulb have been the active supplier as I re-joined for my new flat and they have taken a DD? Whereas all I have had from British Gas is a postcard in the post asking me to set up an account, give them meter readings etc (which is odd as the freeholder stated that they would ask British Gas to set up the account with meter readings from the day I moved in).

I would assume the opposite, you shouldn't have been able to switch away from BG until you had taken over the account so unless the DNO confirms that your supply is with Bulb I would assume it is with BG and proceed accordingly.