Erroneous Transfer

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Be_Happy
Be_Happy Posts: 1,391 Forumite
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Can't understand how this has happened in my case.

I have moved home and my new flat has an old Scottish Power system, Weathercall, with 2 meters. At the moment SP are trying to set me up, but are having problems - 'back office' are dealing with this and I'm not concerned.

However a couple of days ago I got a phone call from SP to say that Spark Energy had requested the transfer to them of ONE of my two meters. I've had no contact with any energy company,

I would have suspected that someone had given my address by mistake, but surely Spark would have the name as well as the address and how did they decide on transferring one of the meters - both are electric?

SP have recorded this as an Erroneous Transfer and are dealing with it.
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  • footyguy
    footyguy Posts: 4,157 Forumite
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    Be_Happy wrote: »
    Can't understand how this has happened in my case.

    I have moved home and my new flat has an old Scottish Power system, Weathercall, with 2 meters. At the moment SP are trying to set me up, but are having problems - 'back office' are dealing with this and I'm not concerned.

    However a couple of days ago I got a phone call from SP to say that Spark Energy had requested the transfer to them of ONE of my two meters. I've had no contact with any energy company,

    I would have suspected that someone had given my address by mistake, but surely Spark would have the name as well as the address and how did they decide on transferring one of the meters - both are electric?

    SP have recorded this as an Erroneous Transfer and are dealing with it.

    Good to hear that SP are on the case for you :)

    Remember my golden rule applies....

    You can find it here;
    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=73706625&postcount=3
  • spiro
    spiro Posts: 6,403 Forumite
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    Customer names form no part of the change of supply process in terms of data being passed around. They work solely on your MPAN (elec) or MPRN (gas).
    IT Consultant in the utilities industry specialising in the retail electricity market.

    4 Credit Card and 1 Loan PPI claims settled for £26k, 1 rejected (Opus).
  • Anthorn
    Anthorn Posts: 4,362 Forumite
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    spiro wrote: »
    Customer names form no part of the change of supply process in terms of data being passed around. They work solely on your MPAN (elec) or MPRN (gas).

    I have switched suppliers several times and I have never been asked for the MPAN nor MPRN. In my case at least suppliers go by the address and that is proved by my recent difficulty in switching, having the switch disallowed and then switching again - very similar address as someone else but with a different postcode. So they didn't even go by the postcode either!
  • brewerdave
    brewerdave Posts: 8,509 Forumite
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    Be_Happy wrote: »
    Can't understand how this has happened in my case.

    I have moved home and my new flat has an old Scottish Power system, Weathercall, with 2 meters. At the moment SP are trying to set me up, but are having problems - 'back office' are dealing with this and I'm not concerned.

    However a couple of days ago I got a phone call from SP to say that Spark Energy had requested the transfer to them of ONE of my two meters. I've had no contact with any energy company,

    I would have suspected that someone had given my address by mistake, but surely Spark would have the name as well as the address and how did they decide on transferring one of the meters - both are electric?

    SP have recorded this as an Erroneous Transfer and are dealing with it.

    If the flat is rented, I would suspect that the letting agents have started the transfer to Spark in order to get commission. Apparently quite common with Spark!!:mad:
  • System
    System Posts: 178,094 Community Admin
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    Anthorn wrote: »
    I have switched suppliers several times and I have never been asked for the MPAN nor MPRN. In my case at least suppliers go by the address and that is proved by my recent difficulty in switching, having the switch disallowed and then switching again - very similar address as someone else but with a different postcode. So they didn't even go by the postcode either!

    It was often the case before the rollout of Project NEXUS, last year, that customers with an independent gas transporter had to provide MPRNs with an application to switch. Iresa, for example, still asks for the MPAN and MPRN on its website.
  • Be_Happy
    Be_Happy Posts: 1,391 Forumite
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    Thanks for the replies. No the flat is owned not rented and I've never had contact with any supplier because I know the danger of complications when changing a legacy tarrif.

    When I moved home and left EDF they said they could offer me a version of the SP tarrif, but I turned this down.

    As regards MPANs are they shown on meter? I thought in my last house they were, but the letters I have had from SP show completely different numbers to the only numbers I can see on the meters here.
  • House_Martin
    House_Martin Posts: 1,462 Forumite
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    Be_Happy wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies. No the flat is owned not rented and I've never had contact with any supplier because I know the danger of complications when changing a legacy tarrif.

    When I moved home and left EDF they said they could offer me a version of the SP tarrif, but I turned this down.

    As regards MPANs are they shown on meter? I thought in my last house they were, but the letters I have had from SP show completely different numbers to the only numbers I can see on the meters here.
    Meters only carry a unique serial numbers only, under the index reading usually, .MPAN and MPRN are not shown
  • spiro
    spiro Posts: 6,403 Forumite
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    Anthorn wrote: »
    I have switched suppliers several times and I have never been asked for the MPAN nor MPRN. In my case at least suppliers go by the address and that is proved by my recent difficulty in switching, having the switch disallowed and then switching again - very similar address as someone else but with a different postcode. So they didn't even go by the postcode either!
    They can loook it up using your address. Giving your MPxN which is shown on your bills/statements will ensure they can't make a mistake.
    IT Consultant in the utilities industry specialising in the retail electricity market.

    4 Credit Card and 1 Loan PPI claims settled for £26k, 1 rejected (Opus).
  • Be_Happy
    Be_Happy Posts: 1,391 Forumite
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    I'm getting really confused with this 'Erroneous Transfer' now.

    According to Scottish Power they had the transfer request for one of my two electric meters on 6 January (sent me a sorry you're leaving' letter.) They are dealing with this as an erroneous transfer and have told me that during this time they cannot handle the other ongoing problems with my account as they are no longer my supplier. My supply came back to them on 15 February and I am now their customer again.

    I've never had any contact with Spark Energy - before the transfer, during it, or since, so who has been my supplier. Surely if it was Spark Energy I would have had some correspondence from them! Who is going to bill me for this missing month?

    SP have not been able to set up my account since I moved in 11 weeks ago (problem with Comfort Plus 3 meters wrongly changed to 2 meters), so no billing information from them yet.
  • FullForce
    FullForce Posts: 177 Forumite
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    edited 17 February 2018 at 12:25PM
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    Be_Happy wrote: »
    I'm getting really confused with this 'Erroneous Transfer' now.

    According to Scottish Power they had the transfer request for one of my two electric meters on 6 January (sent me a sorry you're leaving' letter.) They are dealing with this as an erroneous transfer and have told me that during this time they cannot handle the other ongoing problems with my account as they are no longer my supplier. My supply came back to them on 15 February and I am now their customer again.

    I've never had any contact with Spark Energy - before the transfer, during it, or since, so who has been my supplier. Surely if it was Spark Energy I would have had some correspondence from them! Who is going to bill me for this missing month?

    SP have not been able to set up my account since I moved in 11 weeks ago (problem with Comfort Plus 3 meters wrongly changed to 2 meters), so no billing information from them yet.

    What "other ongoing problems" are you having with your supply?

    Where an erroneous transfer is accepted, you will be reverted to the original supplier as though no switch ever occurred.

    To clarify, in the background, your supplier has actually changed, and will be changed again back to the original supplier. You will also be placed back on the same tariff as you were on, even if that tariff is no longer available to new customers.
    Because you will be put back into the same position you would have been in had no switch occurred.

    You will not need to pay the other supplier; you will pay the original supplier for all consumption based on the original tariff.
    Because you will be put back into the same position you would have been in had no switch occurred.

    As the original supplier is not actually supplying you until the erroneous transfer request is fully completed, there may be some issues the original supplier cannot resolve at this time. e.g. sometimes the original supplier may not collect payments from you via monthly DD until everything is reverted, as they are not actually supplying you.
    But this should all be resolved once the erroneous transfer request is completed
    Because you will be put back into the same position you would have been in had no switch occurred.

    I hope this helps your confusion.

    Having hopefully explained this, I am somewhat confused by your posts.
    If I understand you correctly, SP were first made aware of the application by Spark to take over one of your meters on 06 Jan. and sent you a 'sorry you are leaving' card shortly thereafter

    Then on, or around, 10 Jan SP contacted you by telephone in connection with the application by Spark to take over one of your metered supplies.
    Presumably you told SP in that call that you had not asked Spark to do this, and were objecting to the application.
    That being the case, I would not see any reason for an erroneous transfer in the first place. SP should have simply blocked the application by Spark as per your instructions.
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