Energy contract renewal cooling off period

Beachcomber59

I have a small business which I opened 12 months ago with a new energy contact for the same period with a zero standing charge. As per the contract, I had a smart meter installed. The engineer looked at the second meter on the wall which he said was not wired to a supply and removed it from the wall and left a label on it with the date. I renewed my contract in June after being told although the standing charge was 78p per day, with the lower unit cost, the advisor told me me bills would be the same or less. When the welcome pack was emailed across, I saw they were also charging me a standing charge for the meter on the floor! I sent an email telling them because of this, I would be accepting the contract. I shopped around for an alternative provider and chose one to start on 1st October. However, my current provider refused to allow the transfer and said I agreed the contract and there was no cooling off period. I told them I was given false information and cancelled within 4 days but they are refusing to accept this. I've requested a 'Deadlock Letter' so I can go to the energy ombudsman but they are stalling on this. Any advice is appreciated.

MyRealNameToo

As a business you dont get a cooling off period. 

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

Beachcomber59 said:

I have a small business which I opened 12 months ago with a new energy contact for the same period with a zero standing charge. As per the contract, I had a smart meter installed. The engineer looked at the second meter on the wall which he said was not wired to a supply and removed it from the wall and left a label on it with the date.

Under your original contract, did your bills mention the second meter at all?

Had you reported to your supplier that you had a second meter, that their engineer had disconnected it and request that they deactivate it on the national database and remove it from your account?

Beachcomber59 said:

I renewed my contract in June ...

You renewed the contract so you're bound by the terms. What does the contract say regarding early termination, if anything?

Beachcomber59 said:

I sent an email telling them because of this, I would be accepting the contract.

THe time to do your due diligence was before renewing, not after.

Beachcomber59 said:

I shopped around for an alternative provider and chose one to start on 1st October.

Have you entered into a contract with this supplier as well? What does your second contract say about early termination?

Beachcomber59 said:

Any advice is appreciated.

Businesses don't get consumer protections, and are deemed competent to enter freely into contracts.

Are you a sole trader or a limited company?

Beachcomber59

I am a sole trader. After some research, small businesses can now go through the Energy Ombudsman (since December 2024). Also, because the second meter is not in any way connected to a supply which can be reconnected, they are not allowed to impose a standing charge. MyRealNameToo said:

As a business you dont get a cooling off period. 

MWT

Beachcomber59 said:

I am a sole trader. After some research, small businesses can now go through the Energy Ombudsman (since December 2024). Also, because the second meter is not in any way connected to a supply which can be reconnected, they are not allowed to impose a standing charge. MyRealNameToo said:

As a business you dont get a cooling off period. 

The Ombudsman may be able to help with the charges for the disconnected meter, but they are unlikely to be able to do much about your decision to enter in to two contracts for the same period, you should have gone through the complaints process with the first supplier and confirmed they would release you from the contract before entering into a new contract with the 2nd supplier.