Erroneous Switch

Otherside22

So I moved into a flat 2 months ago, opened an electric account with e.on, switch went through fine, been billed and paying by direct debit since then fine. Today however, recieved a "We're sorry to see you go" email from them. I've contacted them as I did not make a switch request. They informed me that I was switched over to SSE on the 7th of May, but they will try and transfer the supply back, and bill me as if the switch never happened. 

SSE however, are being very unhelpful about it. They have confirmed that there is an account at my address with them, but that I am not the named account holder. However, they will only deal with the account holder - they will not consider it an erroneous switch until they are contacted by the named account holder, but despite that, they consider that there is a contract between me and them, and that I will be liable for any charges.

Where do I stand with this? I have not opened an account with SSE or requested the switch. I just want them to switch me back to e.on, and I really don't want to be charged by both companies. 

Gerry1

Welcome to the forum.

Sounds like the previous occupier may not have said they were leaving, and that you may have failed to register with the existing supplier when you gained possession.  If so, you are on an expensive deemed contract with them.

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Otherside22

Thanks. 

Yes, that was with Ovo. I contacted them and settled the account for the two days worth of electric. It's a new build, I am the first person to live there. 

It is likely an expensive tariff I have been put on - that I did not agree to switch to. But they by refusing to switch me back and insist I am liable. 

QrizB

Is this another of the new-build "all the meters are on the wrong properties" cases?

Gerry1

Unfortunately you can't pay for just two days' worth and scarper: it just doesn't work like that, it takes more like 17 days before a switch goes through.  During that time you'll have to pay for all the electricity that you use together with the daily charge.  If the developer didn't give Ovo a final reading and say that they were no longer responsible for the property then that will have complicated things further.

You were in an expensive deemed contract the moment you switched on a light.  You can't buck the system, you'll need to register property with Ovo if you haven't already done so.  Choose their cheapest tariff with no exit fees, then switch to your preferred supplier.

If you think about it, it's the only way the system can work.  Imagine moving in to a property in a freezing winter and finding it dark and cold, and staying that way until you had registered with an energy company and been accepted !

As QrizB points out, check that the meter serial number matches that on your Ovo account and do a 'meter sanity test' if the meter is external.  Switch everything off, check that the '1000 Imp/kWh' light never flashes, then switch absolutely everything on and make sure it's flashing crazily.

Otherside22

I am aware of this, I paid up until the switch happened (which was 2 days for move in to switch.) I'm not trying to "buck the system" - I have paid what I am liable for. This was confirmed at the time I initially paid. 

The issue here (if you bothered to read the post) is not me paying the supplier until the first switch happened. It is that SSE switched me after the initial switch to Eon happened and now insist I am liable for an account that I did not open with them and did not request to switch to. 

Gerry1

Otherside22 said:

I am aware of this
The issue here (if you bothered to read the post) is...

Oh well, if you are going to be rude then don't expect any help, at least not from me.

Otherside22

Gerry1 said:

Otherside22 said:

I am aware of this
The issue here (if you bothered to read the post) is...

Oh well, if you are going to be rude then don't expect any help, at least not from me.

Apologies if you considered that to be rude, but to be quite frank with you, I consider not reading a post and then insisting I am simply attempting to not pay a bill to be rude.

Thanks for you help so far, and have a nice evening. 

bsms1147

From what you say, you registered with the supplier of your address, Ovo (correct thing to do) and switched to your preferred supplier (Eon). Given this only took 2 days after move in, it sounds like you started the switch a couple of weeks before move in (not wise, but I don’t think that’s the source of your problem).

Sounds like SSE have a problem at their end. If they have an account with your address but someone else’s details, then someone else has either registered with them at your address, or SSE have taken transfer of the wrong address or wrong meter. As per Citizen’s Advice below, contact eon and let them sort it. SSE are right in that as you are not the named account holder they can’t technically speak to you.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-supply/youve-been-switched-to-a-new-energy-supplier-without-your-agreement/

dogshome

Maybe a thicker plot than at first glance.

Have word with the developers if they are still around, if not with your neighbors, to find out who the original supplier was to the block.

Builders appoint just one company to fit the power supply and all the meters to a new-build - Usually it is one of the BIG 5 and neither SSE or OVO are in this category

SSE now own Spark, who's method of gaining customers is to pay a bung to Letting Agents to have the Energy accounts Switched to them whilst the property is awaiting a tenant, however mix-ups as to which meter supplies which flat are very common in blocks of flats, so it's likely that SSE do own the right to supply some flats in the block, but yours may not one of them.

Forget the address - What identifies your flat in the Energy world are the MPAN number for the Electric and MPRN for Gas - These numbers are printed on the bills.

If your meter/s are located.in a common Service Room along with all the others there could be another problem.

Miss-labeling as to which meter serves a particular flat are not uncommon, so check.

With a friend in flat with a mobile phone, TURN OFF EVERYTHING IN THE FLAT,, then go to the meter room and look at the meter which should show zero activity - Have the friend turn the kettle On and OFF to your orders - if the meter does not react in exact synch to your orders, It's the wrong meter 

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[Deleted User]

I had missed the follow on comment in this thread which was ‘new build’. This as others have suggested sounds like a classic case of mis-registration by Developer and DNO. 

During a build, each property/plot is all allocated a MPAN by the DNO. The electricity meter that is installed is linked to the MPAN. The weakness in the system is that the Local Authority has to issue a postcode and postal numbers. All too often, the Developer registers No 14 as Plot 6 with the DNO and the plot number disappears in the process. Similarly, Plot 15/No6 becomes number 15 on the database. 

The situation is complicated by the fact that once people move in, they switch suppliers. Resolving issues like this take time. Even on a small estate of 14 properties, it took SPEN nearly 6 months to resolve the problem. The key thing here is DO NOT attempt to delink your actual meter serial from the MPAN. Contact your DNO and ask them to confirm the property address for the MPAN listed on your statement. You may well find that it is not your postal address. Ask them if they can identify the property address for the meter installed at your property using the actual meter serial number?  If this identifies an issue, then you will need to contact your supplier and ask them to update the address on the National Database. You may well see your MPAN change but you need to check that the correct meter serial number is allocated to it. 

I wish you the very best of luck. We were paying No15’s  bills for over 6 months; fortunately, I knew to a penny how much my electricity was costing me.