When a partner moves out, what happens about switchover?

agme28

Hiya

Finally my ex has got a moving out day - its either tomorrow or Friday. I can't put in a claim for benefits or new tax credits until he has gone so I am now looking at the bills situation.

My ex is taking the British Gas account with him as he owes money on it. I want to swap to a new provider. How do we do this and will it be instant? If not, does that mean he would keep paying the bills here or would I have to? I just want to swap everything over as soon as he goes so I'm not paying out for things I don't want or which were in his name only.

With broadband, again he is taking the account with him and I am changing provider, how will all that happen?

Its a nightmare because I can't ring any of our providers up as everything is in his name! So I am relying on him to ring BT and United Utilities etc, to swap them into my name.

What a mess! Any advice before I descend into poverty?

xx

JohalaReewi

agme28 wrote: »

Hiya

Finally my ex has got a moving out day - its either tomorrow or Friday. I can't put in a claim for benefits or new tax credits until he has gone so I am now looking at the bills situation.

My ex is taking the British Gas account with him as he owes money on it. I want to swap to a new provider. How do we do this and will it be instant? If not, does that mean he would keep paying the bills here or would I have to? I just want to swap everything over as soon as he goes so I'm not paying out for things I don't want or which were in his name only.

Get your ex to tell the Gas, Electricity etc. that he has moved (is moving). They will close the accounts and send the final bills to him at his new address. You phone and tell the Gas / Electric that you have moved in and want to open an account. Having got an account in your name at the address, you can look at switching if required. Warning: As a new account you will be put on the standard tarif which isn't cheap so make sure you ask for their best deal!

With broadband, again he is taking the account with him and I am changing provider, how will all that happen?

Get the ex to notify BT that the account is to be ceased. They need a bit of notice (14 days I think). Your ex will get the final bill. Once your ex has notified BT of the cease. You can phone BT and arrange to take over the line (and number if you want) in your own name (a reprovide). BT should link the cease and reprovide so it all happens at the same time. Once you have your BT line in your name, you can arrange for broadband to be provided (note the BT cease will cease everything like broadband, CPS, 1571, etc.). If your ex wants to keep the broadband account, he will have to arrange with his ISP to migrate the broadband service to his new phone line (before BT do the cease!).

Its a nightmare because I can't ring any of our providers up as everything is in his name! So I am relying on him to ring BT and United Utilities etc, to swap them into my name.

You don't swap them into your name, your ex has to close the accounts the same as he would do when you move house. You can contact the Gas Elec etc to have a service provided in your own name. There is nothing to stop you phoning the companies to get new stuff set up. Treat it like you are moving in to a new place and your ex is the previous occupant moving out. Gas and Elec should be OK but BT could be funny if your ex hasn't rung and put a cease on the service.

Don't forget to notify the council and water authorities or the TV licence!

Hope this helps.

agme28

Thankyou, that is a BIG help. So a new gas/elec supplier can take over straight away can they? Its just that when we moved in here, we had to wait a few weeks for our British Gas account to carry over from our previous property. Can I get it set up to start straight away?

I will notify the council about council tax although I will be putting in a claim for council tax benefit so not sure if they take over all that.

I won't have to pay anything to BT will I?

UtilityMan_3

Regarding treating yourself as a "new" occupier, this will be difficult without legal documentation: lease, solicitors letter etc. So it's best to be totally open. Obviously, this can only be done after the old account gets closed (data protection), but it's very straightforward. The supplier benefits as they now have two customers.

JohalaReewi

Just saying how my ex and I did it when I left. Gas and Elec were no problem. I told them I was moving and closing the accounts. Ex told them she was taking over from the date I was moving out and wanted new accounts. Just take the meter readings and do the paperwork. BT and broadband were a little bit of a problem because of the notice required (and because BT messed up) but it kind of went to plan. The water board messed up too but evetually we sorted them out and the council tax people got it spot on.

As long as you are both doing it amicably, it should be fairly easy. Just explain what is happening to various suppliers.

JohalaReewi

agme28 wrote: »

Thankyou, that is a BIG help. So a new gas/elec supplier can take over straight away can they? Its just that when we moved in here, we had to wait a few weeks for our British Gas account to carry over from our previous property. Can I get it set up to start straight away?

I think they like 48 hours notice of a move. Just get the ex to phone them to say he is moving and wants to close the accounts. You can phone and say you want gas & elec accounts in your name from that date. If you ring before your ex does, it could get interesting but see what they say.

I will notify the council about council tax although I will be putting in a claim for council tax benefit so not sure if they take over all that.

See what happens. Our council were pretty much on the ball.

I won't have to pay anything to BT will I?

If the current BT bill is in your ex's name, you won't have to pay anything to BT on that but he will have to contact BT to get the account closed. BT will bill the ex for any outstanding amounts. If your ex doesn't contact BT, he will be still liable for the phone bill!

When you take over the BT line in your own name, BT will do the usual new account checks and may decide they want a deposit. I think there is also charge for taking over an existing line. BT should be able to advise you.

If the BT bill is already in your name, you are liable but on the plus side, you don't need to do anything more because the phone line is already in your name. BT don't have phone bills in joint names (AFAIK) so there is no joint liability.

agme28

Thanks for that

I rang BT today and the guy said they can do a straight takeover as the line is still active here. So on 6th May it will change into my name and I may even get to keep the number. There is no charge for this type of takeover. I will have to pay a deposit but I don't mind as I think £20 was the amount mentioned.

Once I have this, then I can order my broadband, so I am looking at using dial up for around 3-4 weeks at this rate as once my ex notifies Tiscali he is moving house, I could lose the connection here between one day and one week. So I've ordered a 56k modem off Ebay and will go with BT's £1 dial up for a month offer!