Elec supplier has signed me up without permission

[SimonD]

Hi all,

Is this a legit business practice?

Long story short, we bought a new house a short while ago, but didn't move in as the place needed a lot of work. Shortly after taking the place on, I get post from an electricity supplier addressed to me personally (I never gave them my name) saying, "welcome to you, new customer". I phoned them and said I hadn't signed up to them, and was going to sign up with a cheaper rival, and they said that the house was with them, ergo as the new owner I would automatically have an account with them when I bought it.

This doesn't sound right to me. I haven't signed any agreement with them, I haven't seen their tarriffs, their T&Cs, and agreed no charges, and as far as I know they won't have an opening meter read. They claimed it would take 6 weeks to move to a new supplier. I'm not happy.

Is this acceptable, as the 'incumbant' house electricity supplier?

Thanks,

Simon

[Simpo Two]

I'd say the contract is with the person, not the house. Maybe the old owners signed you up trying to be helpful? In fact I wouldn't it past a privatised utility, when they get 'please send a final bill, we're leaving' letter, to offer them £10 if they supply the name of the new owner...

[Irish]

SimonD said:

Hi all,

Is this a legit business practice?

Long story short, we bought a new house a short while ago, but didn't move in as the place needed a lot of work. Shortly after taking the place on, I get post from an electricity supplier addressed to me personally (I never gave them my name) saying, "welcome to you, new customer". I phoned them and said I hadn't signed up to them, and was going to sign up with a cheaper rival, and they said that the house was with them, ergo as the new owner I would automatically have an account with them when I bought it.

This doesn't sound right to me. I haven't signed any agreement with them, I haven't seen their tarriffs, their T&Cs, and agreed no charges, and as far as I know they won't have an opening meter read. They claimed it would take 6 weeks to move to a new supplier. I'm not happy.

Is this acceptable, as the 'incumbant' house electricity supplier?

Thanks,

Simon

Did you expect when you entered the house to have NO electricity? Did you expect they would have cut off the property when the last person left leaving you to fend for yourself.

It takes time to change supplier.

So as to ensure people are not cut off the system operates of deemed contracts:

‘Deemed contract’ – When you move into your new home, your energy supply will be under a ‘deemed contract’. This means that the gas and electricity supplier for the previous owner will automatically become yours. This may not necessarily be the best supplier for your usage, or the area. If you don’t know how much energy you’re likely to be using in your new home, because it is either bigger or smaller, our tool can estimate it for you - just select the number of bedrooms in your home. This will provide you with an indication of which suppliers may be cheapest.

Edited by Irish on Thursday 20th May 09:55

[Road2Ruin]

SimonD said:

Hi all,

Is this a legit business practice?

Long story short, we bought a new house a short while ago, but didn't move in as the place needed a lot of work. Shortly after taking the place on, I get post from an electricity supplier addressed to me personally (I never gave them my name) saying, "welcome to you, new customer". I phoned them and said I hadn't signed up to them, and was going to sign up with a cheaper rival, and they said that the house was with them, ergo as the new owner I would automatically have an account with them when I bought it.

This doesn't sound right to me. I haven't signed any agreement with them, I haven't seen their tarriffs, their T&Cs, and agreed no charges, and as far as I know they won't have an opening meter read. They claimed it would take 6 weeks to move to a new supplier. I'm not happy.

Is this acceptable, as the 'incumbant' house electricity supplier?

Thanks,

Simon

This is correct. As previously posted, you wanted electricity when you moved in, right? You are now free to change if you wish. As for the 6 week thing thats sounds a little long, I think mine too about 4 weeks when I did it last, but I could be wrong.

[dave_s13]

That's just the way it works. Better than no 'leccy.

You're under no obligation to stay with that provider for any set period or anything.

They're all money grabbing bstds anyway.

[SimonD]

Thanks for the info guys. Guess I'm just going to have to suck it up for the moment and get myself into gear to change leccy supplier. I probably wouldn't have asked on here had the 'customer services' man at the new supplier been such an arse when I phoned them about this. Polite he wasn't.