Following recent news of energy price hikes I am trying to decide if it is now worth switching or fixing my energy bills but then suddenly started to wonder if a new energy supplier would take me on now I am in an IVA! Has anyone had any experience of switching suppliers during an IVA or is it likely I'll have to stay either my current provider? I am currently with EDF who are offering a fix for 4 winters deal (which would cost me more than I am currently paying but protect me from price hikes) but have seen that Npower are offering a similar fix deal but at a lower price so was considering switching to them,,,, however I don't want to try to be told "no sorry, due to your IVA" and mess with my current supplier!
Opinions/advice/experience welcomed... Currently looking at anything to save money or avoid price hikes!
A new supplier will credit check you -- and possibly offer you a pre-payment meter -- which isn't covered by fixed price deals.
There is also the problem that switching doesn't guarantee you will be accepted for a new fixed deal at the moment ( as they know they will be hiking too in a few days / weeks ).
My opinions are merely that .. opinions based on experience. Always seek professional advice.
IVA Completed 23rd July 2013 .... C.C. 10th January 2014
Thanks foggy, I thought that might be the case! Think I'll maybe just stick with my current provider and fix with them! Don't want to be told no then be stuck on higher price! Feel I'm coping quite well in IVA until the little things like these crop up! Oh well, can't be too negative as my own fault!
Hi Lisa, I managed to switch to Scottish Power during my IVA and they didn't do a credit check surprisingly!. Might be worth looking at them. I've just fixed for another year until Oct 2014.
I had gas account with edf and my wife had elec account with british gas.they were crap so I moved elec to edf on there blue fixed tarrif account till feb 2015 and that went through ok no thanks to bg who even had the cheek to send me an estimated bill for a time after I had switched.gave them what for and got a compensation payment of £44 for the mistake.
cc received 6th January 2014 now upwards and onwards
We changed from BG to Scottish power within a few months of our IVA starting with no problems, got a fixed price for 5 years deal, so my prices are still 2010 prices until 2015. I am really going to feel it once we finish this deal.
If life is what you make it, I must have been in a strange mood when I made mine
...I too switched to Co-Operative energy via money saving expert referring me to u-switch. Monthly DD - no problem, and got a case of free wine as well!!!
These companies want your business, and let's face it, your IVA makes allowances for paying bills.
If they offer you a PP meter, say 'no thanks, I'll stay where I am'. I give it half a day before they are back on the phone with you with a change of heart.
Good luck.
My opinions are just that: Based on my experience and being a self-employed IVA customer.
Hi, applied to switch to M&S Energy months ago and just got an email to say there was delay in moving and when I called them I was told I had failed credit check!! Happy to stay where I am anyway (Co-operative Energy) as all suppliers are pretty much of a muchness and I'm fed up of switching. I don't pay by direct debit as don't like the control the providers have over my payments and pay bill quarterly but put money into my savings each month to cover the bill. Have been doing this for several years now and I much prefer having the money in my savings rather than run the risk of having the utility provider tell me they need me to increase my direct debit or have a large credit balance that you can't access.
Thanks all! Thinking more on what uptomyneckinit said, re IVAs making allowance for the bills, if I stay where I am and not risk failing credit check to move would any significant increases in my energy bills mean my IVA payment could be adjusted anyway? Do I need to worry too much? Sounds like I could be trapped with EDF (potentially) if can't switch elsewhere so in effect my bills will go up regardless!?
I think it must vary company to company then (a bit like posts on here regarding paying car insurance monthly).
Once you have your list of cheapest suppliers on u-switch or wherever, go for the cheapest. If they refuse monthly dd, work your way down the list - you will quickly find a supplier that will.
My opinions are just that: Based on my experience and being a self-employed IVA customer.
Not only company to company -- but phone operator to phone operator within the same company. I was told by Scottish Power that they would credit check me when I moved house ... in the end, because I objected on the grounds that I had been a customer at the address I was moving from for years and never missed a payment, they relented.
My opinions are merely that .. opinions based on experience. Always seek professional advice.
IVA Completed 23rd July 2013 .... C.C. 10th January 2014
We recently swapped energy suppliers and although monthly payments have reduced by £25 a month, they did credit check and it has now left a footprint on my credit file .... Our IVA was still showing on our records at that time, but i believe they are looking for a current account record and electoral role details when doing there checks ....it is a risk and one you need to work out if financially it is worth it.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
There is a solution for everyone .... Just need to stay positive !
Last year I tried to change from N Power to SWE. They were asking for £150 deposit but I expect that was because I failed the credit check. I decided to stay put.
