49 day switch window.

[Deleted User]

Does this mean i can start a switch outside the 49 day window, as long as the actual switch date (commencment of energy supply with new provider) is within the 49 day window. Or, does it mean i can't even start looking before the 49 dy window?

Ta.

Robin9

You can switch at any time but if it completes outside that window you may be paying exit fees.

[Deleted User]

So considering most switches take around 21 days to complete, i could start a switch 65 days before end of current tariff, it would (likely) complete 21 days later, 44 days before end of tariff, and therefore no fees?

Robin9

It's your choice - personally I wouldn't

stewie_griffin

A switch should only take 14 plus 3 working days so it could be as little as 17 days.

brewerdave

Supposed to be 17 day switching now inc. the 14 day cooling off period, so I personally would wait until ~ 55 days before tariff end to start. HOWEVER, some suppliers inform the losing supplier almost immediately .
 For example ,when I switched to Avro I got "sorry you are leaving" email from Yorkshire Energy, the day after I'd applied to Avro !
This might lead to the losing supplier raising an early termination fee altho' it shouldn't by the rules!!

[Deleted User]

Where did you get the 17 days from brewerdave? I've just looked at the meerkat site and out of the 46 or so companies listed only 5 or 6 were 17 days.

Either way, is the actual switch defined as when your new supplier contacts your old supplier, or by the actual switch date? This doesn't seem to be clear (to me at least!)

Hammer_Time

I would look to see want suits you before the 49 days, but start the switch on the 49 day. I believe they see you are switching sometimes after 1 day and may charge you an exit fee.

dogshome

It's Ofgem who set the rules, and whilst I have no love for the Energy industry, Ofgem have have given customers far more protection than any other industry they will ever deal with.

The rule is 49 days so why try to bounce it, and remember that if for some reason the Switch is not completed when the old Fixed tariff contract ends, the supplier must continue to charge the Fixed Tariff rates

brewerdave

Wobbly_Bob said:

Where did you get the 17 days from brewerdave? I've just looked at the meerkat site and out of the 46 or so companies listed only 5 or 6 were 17 days.

Either way, is the actual switch defined as when your new supplier contacts your old supplier, or by the actual switch date? This doesn't seem to be clear (to me at least!)

I took the 17 days from OFGEM site which is listed as the "target" time (altho' it still says may take up to 21 days).
Switch is defined as the date it happens NOT the date of application BUT because some Utility Cos. informing the losing Company immediately on application, not after the 14 day cooling off time, there have been cases of consumers being wrongly charged ETCs, and having problems getting such charges removed. Because of this it doesn't seem sensible to "push the window" too far!

[Deleted User]

I really don't see what you're point is dogshome. I am simply looking for clarity. I am simply trying to understand the rules. You don't seem to want me to. That seems strange. On this site it seems perfectly acceptable to 'bounce' all kinds of 'rules', pertaining to switching banks, and other services. It's a shame that you go to the length of pointing out just how good OFGEM are at protecting customers, but you haven't got any real info pertaining to my actual questions.

Thanks brewerdave. What you have said there just illustrates my point, that its not clear.

Does OFGEM not specify at what point the gaining company is to advise the losing company of the switch? And regardless of that, surely the losing company should be forbidden from listing exit charges unless the switch completes outside the 49 day window. Is that not in OFGEM's charter?