Switching Energy Problem

Mr_Kenneth

Is it just me?  Well I've followed the advice and changed energy supplier only to find that both my existing supplier and new supplier have taken direct debits this month.  As I'm on Universal Credit I now have only £140 left for the rest of my bills and food for the month.  The new supplier says that I should get money back from the old supplier but this may take some time.  I'm thinking that perhaps I shouldn't have done a switch after all.

Robin9

This is common practise particularly amongst the smaller suppliers. It would have been spelt out to you when you applied.

dogshome

If the old supplier took a D/Debit AFTER the date that the new supplier took over the account, you can ask your bank to claw that payment back under the D/Debit rules - Usually done in a day.

However, only do this if you are sure that the old suppliers account was in credit when the change over took place 

Neil_Jones

Mr_Kenneth said:

Is it just me?  Well I've followed the advice and changed energy supplier only to find that both my existing supplier and new supplier have taken direct debits this month.  As I'm on Universal Credit I now have only £140 left for the rest of my bills and food for the month.  The new supplier says that I should get money back from the old supplier but this may take some time.  I'm thinking that perhaps I shouldn't have done a switch after all.

Yeah, that's normal.  Takes up to six weeks to change supplier, so it would automatically straddle two payments.

When your final bill is generated from the old supplier (after you give meter readings to the new provider somewhere down the line), you get credit refunded.  If you are in credit, that is.