Tenency querey

caleaton90

elsien said:

caleaton90 said:

elsien said:

How would she know he had changed, unless he tells her, if the account is in his name?

Because I have already tried to switch him and the current supplier has put a block on the switch and doing some digging I have since found out that its because it isn't with UW or wasn't when the previous tenant was there as he switch without her knowing, then decided not to pay so possibly the reason the current supplier have put a block on it. I rang his landlady today to try and discuss all this as a helpful son but that's when I was made aware its a clause in the agreement, which as I told her I did not think it was allowed. If he was to switch in the future once UW have taken everything back over now he is a new tenant (through her choice may i add) then she would know as she would then be down on commission overall.

Did he give a meter reading when he moved in, and is the account in arrears? Can your dad phone up the supplier with your support and get the exact reason that they are not allowing the switch. Guessing what the reason is is no use to anyone. 

From what I’ve since found out is, the tenant before my Dad changed from UW behind her back probably due to the same so called clause in the TA and left the property with the gas and electric bill being in arrears. Once my Dad moved in a meter reading was taken but she tricked him by saying that the gas and electric was with UW which I fact it wasn’t but it was in the process of being switched back over to UW her choice and she convinced him into becoming a UW member under the rental property and used the clause in your TA tactic to get him signed up. I have got contact details for the previous suppliers. The issue I now have is do I read her the riot act put her back in her box and knock her down a peg or two and make it known that I already and more importantly my Dad know he’s entitled to switch and run the risk of her becoming spiteful and not renewing his lease and as a 59 year old with bankruptcy on his record he would most likely have nowhere to live. Or swallow my pride and allow her to make whatever commission she makes and let it ride hoping that this leads to a happy and drama free tenancy for however long my Dad requires.

KcEliMa

If this comment is against any rules etc, then please remove. I just want to share my little experience. 

I moved into a property 7years ago where the supplier was UW. The property had a card meter, which I didn’t want and had landlords permission to change. I contact UW and they wanted to charge for the switch of meters, so I found an alternative supplier. Informed UW, who sent me a letter saying that as I was changing suppliers, they were going to stop the supply of both gas and electricity to my home and leave me without a supply. Naturally, I panicked! I rang the supplier I was switching to (EDF) who assured me and sent me the confirmation in writing that it is illegal to leave any household without supply of energy, especially when there’s no reason. 

Not what your query is about, I know, but that’s my lasting impression of UW; a company who wanted to scare me into staying with them. 

Coincidentally, my current next door neighbours are UW reps; when we moved in, they wanted to invite us round for a cuppa to ‘help’ us, as they class their line of work as ‘supporting and helping the community’. Needless to say, that encounter never happened..

If there is any such clause in your dads TA, it false and unenforceable. 

greatcrested

Q. Do I have the right to change my gas and electricity provider?

If you are directly responsible for paying the gas or electricity bill, you have the right to choose the supplier. Landlords or agents are not allowed to prevent you from doing this. Ofgem has published guidance on its website to explain your right to choose your energy supplier

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/819635/TFA_Tenant_Guidance_190722.pdf

elsien

You're missing my point.
Have the arrears now been cleared, because if not that could be a stumbling block.

[Deleted User]

caleaton90 said:

GHolmesAdmin said:

The person who pays the bills choses the supplier. No one else.

Regardless of any TA that has been drawn up and signed. Is there a regulation that states this that I can quote or produce to prove this.

Link you need that I used with my LL who tried to insist I couldn't change supplier https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/how-switch-energy-supplier-and-shop-better-deal/how-switch-energy-supplier-if-you-re-tenant.  No further questions raised by the LL.

theartfullodger

I would never do business with UW ...

caleaton90

elsien said:

You're missing my point.
Have the arrears now been cleared, because if not that could be a stumbling block.

I’m not 100% sure but I do know that the arrears are in the old tenants name and I believe it has been switched from whoever he used back to UW for the period it was empty before my Dad moved in.

elsien

So what specific reason have UW given your dad for blocking the transfer, when he asks them the direct question?
As an aside talking about reading the landlady the riot act and putting her back in her box is not particularly helpful because a)you don't have a contract with her,  and b) rubbing her up completely the wrong was may well have repercussions for your dad.
It is possible to be both assertive and polite. 

princeofpounds

Arrears from a previous occupant should not prevent switching. It is nothing to do with your father (although energy companies will often send a bill to generic occupiers in the hope they'll just pay it - had it happen myself once).

another_casualty

Couldn't read and run , as I had similar problem with my landlady although I was only there in a six month agreement. 

I moved into her flat , all electric . Supplier was utility warehouse . 

When I was set up with them it seemed straight forward enough . However , after giving multiple readings and taking multiple pictures of readings because I was told they were wrong they sent a couple of people around to investigate . One guy came around twice , and was basically scratching his head . Another guy came around to assess once again ,and he informed me he would be returning . He did with another person . 

Finally on the meter side of things , the problem was apparently sorted when the last chap told me that the wiring has been tampered with and that it looks like the landlady was stealing electricity . Ontop of all of this , I was to-ing and fro-ing with multiple phone calls and emails . The customer service people were ok to be fair , and I got a couple of discounted bills in my favour for the inconvenience I was put through. 

The bills were not as expensive as I imagined . 

The landlady insisted I give regular monthly readings . Makes sense I guess .

One of my friends just said that , I should have given a reading at the end of my tenancy .

Landlady was treating the house too personal imho, bringing rugs and flowers into the flat when she felt like it . As I wasn't working at the time , she was lucky that I was in and laid back causing no trouble whatsoever. I was there to receive replacement washing machine etc , and my friends said that she took advantage. 

Rambling , so I'll leave it there ...