Changing energy supplier - how long should it take?

StudentMum95

Student daughter moved into new student house 2 weeks ago, have been trying to change energy supplier since. Previous student tenants had notified Billing Better on 5 September who notified Tomato Energy but Octopus Energy say they can't take it over as last supplier hasn't completed billing. How can we speed this up to ensure daughter gets current rate before 1st October increase?

molerat

A normal change can be actioned in a couple of days.  Has your daughter registered with Tomato which should be her first port of call - I don't think she is required to use the third party intermediary before switching.

StudentMum95

She doesn't want to use Tomato as the energy supplier. She's registered with Octopus who have been helpful in that they have told her daily that they can't take them on as new customer as previous tenants haven't notified previous supplier that they have left - when they did on 5th Sept. Seems process of using an intermediary - Billing Better - delays changeovers.

mac.d

As molerat has already said, she needs to register with Tomato first. You have to register with the supplier that currently supplies the gas and electric when you first move in, then you can start a switch to your supplier of choice. So she will perhaps have up to a week of energy to pay to Tomato before the switch is completed. 

If she hasn't already done so, tell her to take a meter reading immediately (so she doesn't have to pay for the energy before she moved in). Take a photo of the meters for proof in case its needed, then phone Tomato and tell them she's moved in, give her move in date, and give them the meter readings.

Soon as she has confirmation from Tomato that she's registered, she can then initiate the switch to Octopus, she doesn't need to tell Tomato she plans to leave. It only takes a matter of days to switch, and Octopus will ask her to provide an opening reading (not closing reading to Tomato as I mistakenly said!). Octopus will pass that reading on to Tomato and if there's no disagreement between them over readings, the last she will hear from Tomato is a final bill using those meter readings.

Especially with student/transient accommodation its very important that you take opening readings when you first move in, and closing readings when asked when you switch suppliers or leave the flat.

Scot_39

As above you need tge student(s) to register with the incumbent current, so called deemed, supplier.

Until that account exists in new occupants name it cannot be moved to Octopus in their name.

Then if both agree readings gives to new supplier etc the change takes just days.  And billing uses readings etc as given to new supplier (it's a pull from new  not push from old process)

Scot_39

No idea how "billing better" fits in to new students deal.

Some of these firms get a really bad reputation.

My niece and 2 nephews were "encouraged" by student let agents to use their ilk - but they didn't.

Just make sure all bills are current - readings not estimated etc - and everyone if a share pays in real time.

My nephew and 1 other of 3 were left to pay for a third sharer who went back home running out on final bills.

mac.d

Scot_39 said:

Then if both agree readings gives to new supplier etc the change takes just days.  And billing uses readings etc as given to new supplier (it's a pull from new  not push from old process)

Oops my mistake, it's only been a few years since I did it myself and already forgotten, will edit that.