When to switch away from SoLR

YBR

Like millions of others, my supplier (TE) went bust and BG is now my SoLR.

I have checked that BG are listed as my supplier and the account has been opened. They tell me they only provide 2 bills a year which will not be enough to keep a lid on the credit they intend to build up. I got bitten on that one when YE went bust so I do like to check each month. 
Reading this: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/03/bust-energy-suppliers-credit-delays-survey/
has made me consider that I really am with the worst power company and I should consider switching.
I'd be switching for customer service (including billing my way) and not for a meaningfully cheaper deal, assuming I can get a SVR from a supplier of choice.

But if I switch away from the SoLR before I've got the Final Statement of my TE account, will I get the credit back, or will it be harder to raise complaints because I'm no longer a BG customer?
Should I switch, or wait - which it seems is likely to be at least 4 months - what do you think are the advantages/disadvantages?

QrizB

YBR said:

I have checked that BG are listed as my supplier and the account has been opened. They tell me they only provide 2 bills a year which will not be enough to keep a lid on the credit they intend to build up. I got bitten on that one when YE went bust so I do like to check each month.

Take your own meter readings, keep your own running total of bills vs. payments. If you think you're too much in credit, ask BG for a refund.

But if I switch away from the SoLR before I've got the Final Statement of my TE account, will I get the credit back, or will it be harder to raise complaints because I'm no longer a BG customer?

Will you still get your credit? Yes.

Will it take longer? Possibly.

Will it be harder to complain? Possibly.

Verdigris

Is it any wonder people switch away from the Big-Dinosaur companies when they don't issue monthly bills, like the challenger suppliers. It's not the 1960s any more! (although with the risk of nuclear annihilation just around the corner, perhaps they are on-trend, after all?)

bagand96

Is the biannual billing because you've been set up as "pay on receipt of bill" rather than monthly DD?  I was SoLR'd to BG and set up a DD fairly quickly and they started billing monthly.

You will still get your credit back but it may well take longer if you're no longer a BG customer.  As an example I was with PFP and got transferred to BG in September.  I left BG in November.  In the last few weeks ex-PFP customers on this forum have reported seeing credits applied to their BG accounts.  I haven't - my account shows Closed with a £0.00 balance.  So I'm expecting to be back of the queue for credit refund.

jbuchanangb

You may struggle to find another supplier to take you on at the SVR. They will welcome you with open arms at their lovely new fixed rate tariffs.

jrio

bagand96 said:

Is the biannual billing because you've been set up as "pay on receipt of bill" rather than monthly DD?  I was SoLR'd to BG and set up a DD fairly quickly and they started billing monthly.

No, as I also set up a monthly DD and haven't been billed since the start of supply on 3/12/21.  Billing bi-annually seems a surreptitious way to build up excessive customer credit and hold on to it, without the customer being aware.  At least their website does generate a realistic estimate of likely credit/debit over a year based on readings, and allows the customer to amend their payments.

EssexHebridean

EDF are a pain with their length billing periods, too. 

Robin9

Verdigris said:

Is it any wonder people switch away from the Big-Dinosaur companies when they don't issue monthly bills, like the challenger suppliers. It's not the 1960s any more! (although with the risk of nuclear annihilation just around the corner, perhaps they are on-trend, after all?)

They were in the better in the 1960's  - then a meter had to be physically read 3 times a year and bills were produced 4 times a year   -  I remember the days of the comptometer. Meters were also read on Change of Tenancy

jimjames

jrio said:

bagand96 said:

Is the biannual billing because you've been set up as "pay on receipt of bill" rather than monthly DD?  I was SoLR'd to BG and set up a DD fairly quickly and they started billing monthly.

No, as I also set up a monthly DD and haven't been billed since the start of supply on 3/12/21.  Billing bi-annually seems a surreptitious way to build up excessive customer credit and hold on to it, without the customer being aware.  At least their website does generate a realistic estimate of likely credit/debit over a year based on readings, and allows the customer to amend their payments.

Same here. Been moved to EDF and Eon as SOLR suppliers, neither have produced a bill since I was moved in Oct & Dec last year respectively.

wild666

With Octopus if you submit a meter reading a bill is produced within a couple of days. I was moved to them after Avro went under, I had everything sorted out within 2 months including the credit I had with Avro. I like the way Octopus do billing, it will mean that on the 31/3/22 I will submit a meter reading and they will not overcharge me for the 1/4/22 increase. I intend to give them readings as close to midnight as I possibly can.

EssexHebridean

jimjames said:

jrio said:

bagand96 said:

Is the biannual billing because you've been set up as "pay on receipt of bill" rather than monthly DD?  I was SoLR'd to BG and set up a DD fairly quickly and they started billing monthly.

No, as I also set up a monthly DD and haven't been billed since the start of supply on 3/12/21.  Billing bi-annually seems a surreptitious way to build up excessive customer credit and hold on to it, without the customer being aware.  At least their website does generate a realistic estimate of likely credit/debit over a year based on readings, and allows the customer to amend their payments.

Same here. Been moved to EDF and Eon as SOLR suppliers, neither have produced a bill since I was moved in Oct & Dec last year respectively.

I think we're due an EDF bill at some stage this month - definitely not before time!