Gone wrong switch!

MaDMaX**

Just after some advice on were to start, 
my 83 year old pops was on EDF for gas and electricity, he went on billbuddy and did a switch to Octopus, but the switch has gone wrong, and now he is paying EDF and octopus for gas and octopus for electricity, also in the middle of the switch there was an address mixup and that appears to have been what’s caused the problem, 


he is mostly deaf so for him trying to communicate with these companies has been hard, hence why im steeping in to sort it, 

question is who do i need to speak to to get this sorted! In my mind bill buddies should be responsible for sorting this as they did the switch! But i know the obvious is not always the case ?

Gerry1

Never let any organisation switch your dad's energy for him.  They will do what's best for them, not what's best for him.  Help him to cancel BillBuddy (but check the Ts & Cs first for any exit fees or penalties).

However, it shouldn't matter having two suppliers as long as they are both on the Standard Variable Tariff (or an existing fixed one that's cheaper and hasn't yet expired).  Obviously make sure that no supplies or payments are duplicated.

Then you should be the one helping him to get the best (or least worst) deals, not some profit making third party.

Robin9

Get your Dad to write a letter authorising you to speak on his behalf -  copes to Billbiddy, EDF and Octopus.

Billbuddy do nothing that you can't do yourself but I do appreciate that being deaf he thought it would help.

MaDMaX**

Thanks guys, yeah he is paying for duplicate services, hence the post, but will get him to write letters and post them to all three companies recorded delivery, then i can start making calls, can get this sorted 

QrizB

MaDMaX** said:

Thanks guys, yeah he is paying for duplicate services, hence the post, but will get him to write letters and post them to all three companies recorded delivery, then i can start making calls, can get this sorted 

You or he could check with https://www.findmysupplier.energy/ to confirm which of the two companies - EDF or Octopus - is actually supplying his gas, then complain to the other one.

I find Octopus easy to deal with via email, which gets around any issues with hearing acuity.

MaDMaX**

QrizB said:

MaDMaX** said:

Thanks guys, yeah he is paying for duplicate services, hence the post, but will get him to write letters and post them to all three companies recorded delivery, then i can start making calls, can get this sorted 

You or he could check with https://www.findmysupplier.energy/ to confirm which of the two companies - EDF or Octopus - is actually supplying his gas, then complain to the other one.

I find Octopus easy to deal with via email, which gets around any issues with hearing acuity.

Thanks thats great 👍
Interesting it states EDF is still supplying his Gas! So surely on those grounds he could refuse to pay Octopus for his gas until we get it sorted ?

p.s is there a site to check the electricity as well do you know, 

QrizB

MaDMaX** said:

QrizB said:

MaDMaX** said:

Thanks guys, yeah he is paying for duplicate services, hence the post, but will get him to write letters and post them to all three companies recorded delivery, then i can start making calls, can get this sorted 

You or he could check with https://www.findmysupplier.energy/ to confirm which of the two companies - EDF or Octopus - is actually supplying his gas, then complain to the other one.

I find Octopus easy to deal with via email, which gets around any issues with hearing acuity.

Thanks thats great 👍
Interesting it states EDF is still supplying his Gas! So surely on those grounds he could refuse to pay Octopus for his gas until we get it sorted ?

p.s is there a site to check the electricity as well do you know, 

OK, that's consistent with what you posted originally; if the gas switch failed the supply will still be with EDF.

Have him email Octopus (or you email in his name) and explain that the gas is still being supplied by EDF so they should stop billing him for it.

It's more complicated for electricity. Use this link first to find your network operator
https://www.energynetworks.org/operating-the-networks/whos-my-network-operator

... then go to the network operator's website and check your supplier.

MaDMaX**

QrizB said:

MaDMaX** said:

QrizB said:

MaDMaX** said:

Thanks guys, yeah he is paying for duplicate services, hence the post, but will get him to write letters and post them to all three companies recorded delivery, then i can start making calls, can get this sorted 

You or he could check with https://www.findmysupplier.energy/ to confirm which of the two companies - EDF or Octopus - is actually supplying his gas, then complain to the other one.

I find Octopus easy to deal with via email, which gets around any issues with hearing acuity.

Thanks thats great 👍
Interesting it states EDF is still supplying his Gas! So surely on those grounds he could refuse to pay Octopus for his gas until we get it sorted ?

p.s is there a site to check the electricity as well do you know, 

OK, that's consistent with what you posted originally; if the gas switch failed the supply will still be with EDF.

Have him email Octopus (or you email in his name) and explain that the gas is still being supplied by EDF so they should stop billing him for it.

It's more complicated for electricity. Use this link first to find your network operator
https://www.energynetworks.org/operating-the-networks/whos-my-network-operator

... then go to the network operator's website and check your supplier.

You cannot make this up can you, so i went onto the western power distribution website and put his details in and also EDF is supplying his electricity, so it sounds like the whole switch is a mess!

EssexHebridean

Just a thought - it's not that Octopus re one of the suppliers who ask for a month's DD upfront so they have charged him that prior to the switch actually completing, is it? It may not be - it's not clear from your post what the timescale here is, or whether he has had a physical bill for energy used from both, but I thought it was worth mentioning as a possibility. 

On a separate note kudos to your Dad for - at his age and with his hearing disability - taking the initiative and trying to ensure he was getting the best deal! I'm fortunate to be in the position of having parents of a not dissimilar age who are still fiercely independant too (long may it last!) - while I might make suggestions and offer advice, I absolutely wouldn't even consider just charging in a taking over - not though they'd let me anyway!  

MaDMaX**

EssexHebridean said:

Just a thought - it's not that Octopus re one of the suppliers who ask for a month's DD upfront so they have charged him that prior to the switch actually completing, is it? It may not be - it's not clear from your post what the timescale here is, or whether he has had a physical bill for energy used from both, but I thought it was worth mentioning as a possibility. 

On a separate note kudos to your Dad for - at his age and with his hearing disability - taking the initiative and trying to ensure he was getting the best deal! I'm fortunate to be in the position of having parents of a not dissimilar age who are still fiercely independant too (long may it last!) - while I might make suggestions and offer advice, I absolutely wouldn't even consider just charging in a taking over - not though they'd let me anyway!  

No its been like it for months now, so def not early bills, 
re his age, yeah i try to let him make his own decisions good or bad, it gives him some independence but also once i step in then i usually have to carry that gauntlet ha ha, but this time he’s dug quite a hole for himself, but its not really his fault, and he has given it a good try, but giving the intending doom that is the energy prises rising and rising i cant let him go on, so need to get this sorted, 

im going to try and act on his behalf as him, as he is 45 miles away, so will need to go see him if we need to get his verbal authorisation for me to act for him, so usually pretend, its not ideal, but i know enough to be him bar 30 years younger! And obviously im acting in his best interest, 

ive already spoken to the boss!! And going forward we are going to get power of attorney for his finances to make it easier to intervene