Blocked by company that isn't my supplier

ruralhalo

I'm a first time buyer that exchanged and completed on buying a property last week. I went online after completing last week and looked for a competitively priced supplier and to set up an account with them for gas and electricity. I have just received an email telling me that my "current supplier" has blocked this. Given I've never rented, owned or ever had any energy bills in my name previously, as I've lived with family, I'm not sure who this "current supplier" is. I'm guessing the previous owner hasn't informed their supplier of their move and has outstanding debts. I'm hoping that the supplier I'm hoping to use can tell me which company is blocking this as it has nothing to do with me. Has anyone experienced anything similar before and is this common and easy to resolve please?

MWT

When you moved in you were under a deemed contract with the existing supplier to your property from the moment you used the gas/electric.

You have to register with them first, then you can switch to someone else.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/connections-and-moving-home/who-my-gas-or-electricity-supplier

ruralhalo

Thank you so much. I had no idea how this worked and it all seems very peculiar. I'm really grateful for your help and have managed to track down this supplier and shall be contacting them tomorrow.

macman

The deemed contract system has been in place since energy was nationalised in the 1980's. It may seem peculiar, but it's better than the old system under which properties were disconnected at each change of occupier and you then had to sign up (by going to the local showroom or by phone) and then wait for reconnection.
You also need to take meter readings as soon as you occupy the property, otherwise you may end up paying for the previous owner's usage.
NB: the current utility suppliers should all be listed in the Seller's Property Information Form that your vendor will have supplied to your conveyancer.

Hasbeen

ruralhalo said:

I'm a first time buyer that exchanged and completed on buying a property last week. I went online after completing last week and looked for a competitively priced supplier and to set up an account with them for gas and electricity. I have just received an email telling me that my "current supplier" has blocked this. Given I've never rented, owned or ever had any energy bills in my name previously, as I've lived with family, I'm not sure who this "current supplier" is. I'm guessing the previous owner hasn't informed their supplier of their move and has outstanding debts. I'm hoping that the supplier I'm hoping to use can tell me which company is blocking this as it has nothing to do with me. Has anyone experienced anything similar before and is this common and easy to resolve please?

As informed by others you are on a deemed contract with existing supplier.

Register with them first. Give meter readings from day you moved in. Take photos as a record.

Once registered you are free to switch away to another company. You will have to pay an amount to existing company to cover usage until then.

Suggest you use comparison sites. Switch with Which: Link  Or the CAB site: Link

You will not know yearly usage, so suggest you put in the UK medium average usage Gas:12000 kWh.  Electric: 2900 kWh

It is advisable to get separate prices for gas / elect. So put in electric only, then gas only. Then compare costs per kWh plus standing charges against the dual fuel, "gas and electric combined", deals.

After a year compare again using actual usage from photos and the current readings at that time.

Do not rely on estimated usage on your bills always check monthly and provide readings as required.