Help - New Gas & Electricity customer

mothership_2

Hi,

I'm about to move into a new house I'm buying from rented accommodation where bills are included. Consequently I have no idea what a typical bill will/should be and have no account to switch from.

Also can I still qualify for the Uswitch etc. £40/wine gift am I classed as a switcher do you think?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

BigMan

When we moved in, we had to wait 28 days before we could switch our supplier.

What usually happens is you have to continue to use the supplier who currently supplies you house.

The building company should be able to tell you who has supplied the property, if not, visit http://energylinx.co.uk/mpan_request.htm

mickeyboy76

You can sign up for the switch the second you take possession of the keys, the transfer period will count as your 28 days. If it's a new build the builders will tell you who the providers are. Make sure you read all the meters the day you move in, (builders are good at letting other people pay for what they have used). Also beware if the gas is not on the open network and serviced by what is known as an Independent Gas Transporter, (IPGT), if it is, make sure you tell any other provider when they are quoting you that that is the case as a lot of providers charge a surcharge to customers on an IPGT. Oh and tell the builders you want the MPAN, (meter point administration service), aka Supply number for the electricity meter, and the MPR (meter point reference number) for the gas meter. MPRs are often now left on a yellow tag inside the gas meter box by the meter installer, so do check. These are unique identifiers for your meters and can make the transfer process a lot lot smoother!!! Hope this helps.

mickeyboy76

Forgot to say, you are still classed as a switcher, because strictly speaking it's the property thats switching provider.

mothership_2

Thanks all very much indeed. Bit concerned Big Man says he had to wait 28 days and Mickeyboy76 says straight away, but I guess I'll just wait and see.

M

mud7dan

mothership wrote: »

Thanks all very much indeed. Bit concerned Big Man says he had to wait 28 days and Mickeyboy76 says straight away, but I guess I'll just wait and see.

M

trades do use power,to finish jobs and keep warm!!!! take keys and the readings great advice

mickeyboy76

mothership wrote: »

Thanks all very much indeed. Bit concerned Big Man says he had to wait 28 days and Mickeyboy76 says straight away, but I guess I'll just wait and see.

M

Just to clarify a little. Most UK domestic energy contracts are what is known as, "28 day rolling". (although that could change very soon!!!) What this means is that every day the contract renews itself for another 28 days. In real terms what this means is that you just carry on doing what your doing until you want to leave, then you give 28 days notice of intention to leave. Now then, normally, you don't personally have to give this notice as when you sign an agreement, (or do a telephony contract, net switch etc etc), you give the company that you are signing to permission to give notice on your behalf.

So when you move into a new place you do have to use the current provider for 28 days, but not BEFORE you can sign up to someone else.

Hope this makes sense!!!! Any questions feel free to ask. I sold gas and electricity from '99 to november of last year so can answer a fair amount of questions on the industry!!