Utilities when moving home - transfer or set up as a new customer?

DemiDee

Hello all. We will be moving imminently and I am wondering if it is considered better to transfer utilities like phone/broadband, gas/electric etc. to the new home with the same supplier as is currently providing the services, or whether to close accounts with current suppliers and thereby (hopefully) get new customer deals at the other end? Same question regarding online shopping. New customers discounts always seem to be very generous. Your thoughts and experiences appreciated.

ChirpyChicken

Depends on broadband what networks. If open reach based or non openreach based

Ayr_Rage

With gas and electric you MUST open an account with the incumbent supplier before doing anything else, make sure you go onto the default/standard variable tariff so you can switch without penalty.

As for broadband, there are usually good deals with the likes of uswitch.

incus432

Just going through this. Looked into it and have transferred current suppliers to new house. For broadband this was essential so as not to pay ETC, and were able to move with same end contract date - can upgrade to full fibre when we are in. Gas and elec - our current supplier (octopus) simply transferred supply to new address.

Bigphil1474

Gas and Electric - you usually inherit whatever the person living there before was on. Once you have an account with them, arrange a switch of your choice. Your current supplier might arrange a switch for you.

BB/TV - you can contact your current supplier to arrange the move for you, or you can end your current contract (check for penalties) and start afresh. 

House Insurance - we stayed with our existing insurer until renewal, price went down a bit.

Car Insurance - I just changed address online.

Jumblebumble

Ayr_Rage said:

With gas and electric you MUST open an account with the incumbent supplier before doing anything else, make sure you go onto the default/standard variable tariff so you can switch without penalty.

As for broadband, there are usually good deals with the likes of uswitch.

How odd that you believe the OP MUST set up an account with the incumbent
I have just taken over a supply that was Octopus and signed up with  EON and did not involve Octopus at all
It all worked without any issue whatever.

HHarry

Jumblebumble said:

Ayr_Rage said:

With gas and electric you MUST open an account with the incumbent supplier before doing anything else, make sure you go onto the default/standard variable tariff so you can switch without penalty.

As for broadband, there are usually good deals with the likes of uswitch.

How odd that you believe the OP MUST set up an account with the incumbent
I have just taken over a supply that was Octopus and signed up with  EON and did not involve Octopus at all
It all worked without any issue whatever.

How did you pay Octopus for any energy used between taking over the supply and the transfer?  Or were you lucky enough to arrange the transfer to EON on the exact date you took the supply?

janoid19

Jumblebumble said:

How odd that you believe the OP MUST set up an account with the incumbent
I have just taken over a supply that was Octopus and signed up with  EON and did not involve Octopus at all
It all worked without any issue whatever.

We did this when we moved.

We contacted our current supplier, told them the date we were moving and it was sorted for the day we were in the new house. No need to involve the previous supplier of the new house.

Ayr_Rage

@janoid19 I hope the house wasn't empty from the date you completed and the date you actually moved in.

The previous owner would have sent final readings and closed their account at that time so you will be liable with the incumbent supplier for the intervening dates and they'll come after you for that period.

incus432

Ayr_Rage said:

With gas and electric you MUST open an account with the incumbent supplier before doing anything else, make sure you go onto the default/standard variable tariff so you can switch without penalty.

As for broadband, there are usually good deals with the likes of uswitch.

I have just discovered this is true.  I tried to switch my current supplier (octopus)to the new address and then got an email a week later saying the present supplier at the new address (so energy) had objected so it couldn't happen. So yes you do have to open an account with whoever the present supplier is. 

Take readings when you move in. You can then switch 

janoid19

Ayr_Rage said:

@janoid19 I hope the house wasn't empty from the date you completed and the date you actually moved in.

The previous owner would have sent final readings and closed their account at that time so you will be liable with the incumbent supplier for the intervening dates and they'll come after you for that period.

We actually moved into the house on the day we completed as we were selling and buying simutaneously so there was no period it was empty. As soon as we exchanged and knew which date we were completing, we contacted Octopus and let them know and they arranged it all.

Been here a month now and the previous provider has not come after us.