Switching Energy Supplier dates

TreeofLife

Typically, when you switch energy suppliers, you take meter readings and provide them to your new supplier on a given date.  Regarless of how long the new supplier takes to process the switch (up to 15 days), the date of the switch is 'back dated' to the date that you notified the new supplier (and corresponding meter readings) - the new supplier takes on the responsibility of notifying the existing (now old) supplier.  The old supplier then provides you with a final account for you to settle.

There is a potential inherent backdating of when the new account/contract/supply starts from.

Can anyone provide definitive information as to what date the new account starts?  Is it:
a) the date that you request and can be from the date that you contact the new supplier
b) any date that you request
c) any date that the new supplier chooses, within 15 days of your requested date

Polite and respectful response requested, I am not going to explain why I am asking, I am interested in knowing what the requirement is in respect of Switching date

born_again

Usually you get a email from new supplier asking for a reading.

So when we moved to Octopus it took 2 days & we got a emails asking for a reading on the day we moved to them.

badmemory

If switching to Octopus they certainly seem to keep you informed of progress.  My previous switch I felt was a lot less informed but that was a few years earlier when my provider collapsed so I'm not sure you can compare.

theartfullodger

TreeofLife said:

Typically, when you switch energy suppliers, ..........................

Polite and respectful response requested, ...............

Dunno what you were expecting......

Amazingly, different energy suppliers at different times (staffing, workload, stuffed IT systems..) have different processes and different timescales (real timescales, not targets,,)

I've had some reasonable, prompt, courteous.. others saying they will break in, read meter and maybe replace (really..)

I find sometimes communicating calmly & politely with CEOs helps.... - pointing out how they can save their time and money... always file correspondence.  see e.g. 
https://emailist.co.uk/british-gas-ceo-email-address/#google_vignette

Plus of course sometimes the "other party" claiming different meter readings (take photos, file them..)

Best regards to all.

Brewerspride

We've just switched.  As far as I can remember, I wasn't asked for a start date.

I requested switch on 15/1/25; new supplier advised that switch to them estimated as 17/1/25 and this was confirmed a couple of days later.

MikeJXE

Switching is much quicker than it used to be 

Just ask the new supplier to switch you and then wait (couple of days) for them to ask for a meter reading 

poppy12345

When I moved into my current house BG were the supplier but I was with Octopus. I reporting a house move to Octopus, told them my moving in date and was told my energy supply from them would start on the same date I moved in, which it was. 

Albermarle

My polite and respectful response is that you have posted in the wrong forum.

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