Switching Electricity Providers

Persia said:
Sloppy lazy Ireland
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JimmyCorkhill said:
Thanks folks, that’s mad.
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I don't understand the overreaction to this policy. It's simple to request the switch the day after one's current contract's minimum period expires. And if you switch before that then under the terms and conditions that you previously agreed to, you are liable for the relevant early breakage fee (€50 in most or all cases).
 
As I mentioned in another thread, Eir gave me that assurance too but when they wouldn't put it in writing I declined their offer.
 
ClubMan said:
I don't understand the overreaction to this policy. It's simple to request the switch the day after one's current contract's minimum period expires.
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It limits your ability to avail of offers as your contract winds down.
Its 2025, it should be possible to switch over on a designated date.
Failing that, regulator should step in and the break fee should be pro-rated within last month of contract.
 
odyssey06 said:
it should be possible to switch over on a designated date.
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Electricity providers generally won't guarantee today's rates for some date in the future as tariffs change so frequently. It's nothing to do with the regulator.
 
ClubMan said:
Electricity providers generally won't guarantee today's rates for some date in the future as tariffs change so frequently
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Firstly - some do.

And they also offer fixed percentage discounts which you have a limited window to avail of.

Insurance companies process such switches all the time. Do you wait until the last day to renew your insurance? Why not? Or do you do it days or weeks in advance? If you answer that question for yourself that will point you towards why people want to be able to switch in advance.

It should be a matter for the regulator who should be making it easier for customers to switch and avail of best rates.
 
odyssey06 said:
Do you wait until the last day to renew your insurance? Why not?
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No, because I'll not be covered if I don't renew my insurance.

My electricity won't be cut off if I switch after the fixed contract ends.
 
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Corola said:
because I'll not be covered if I don't renew my insurance.
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But apparently it'd be simple to ring up on the last day of your current policy and take out new cover.

Except of course, it isnt.

Which is another reason why people want to do things in advance - in case they are busy, in case they forget... instead of having to wait.
 
ClubMan said:
As I mentioned in another thread, Eir gave me that assurance too but when they wouldn't put it in writing I declined their offer.
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Aren't they just something else, so they are probably doing it on a regular basis and don't care about the stress that they are causing people, they just want their new customer figures to go up and reach their targets.

The people that I mentioned are elderly and were extremely upset and worried about the debt collection aspect. During the year that they were with them staff regularly just hung up on them mid-call because they could not be bothered to sort out the problems especially with the telly service disappearing
 
odyssey06 said:
But apparently it'd be simple to ring up on the last day of your current policy and take out new cover.
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According to who? An insurance policy is a lot more complicated than an electricity contract.

It is very simple to switch electricity provider on the last day of your contract.
 
Corola said:
According to who? An insurance policy is a lot more complicated than an electricity contract.

It is very simple to switch electricity provider on the last day of your contract.
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Thats the point - it isnt.
Its not that simple - if you are busy, if you havent time that day to phone or go through the website.

And when will the switch actually kick in - so during that period you are paying highest rates.

An insurance policy is more complicated, and their rates vary and yet insurance companies can process these future dated requests.

Its needlessly unfair on consumers.
 
But there's no jeopardy if you miss the end of your electricity contract. You'll pay a few euro more for a few days.

If you miss your insurance renewal you'll have no insurance.
 
I expect most people here have at some point when renewing insurance availed of a cheaper quote well in advance of renewal - far in advance of when would be needed to sort out any paperwork complications.

That option is not available when switching energy providers.

It should be.
And it would avoid the situations noted here where people were unfairly charged break fees.
 
FWIW I changed this year a day earlier than the final day. I mistakenly thought I could pick the start date the new provider should switch me (in fact I could have sworn I did this a few years ago). When I realised in the aftermath that the switch would be that day I rang them and asked could they leave it a day. This was obviously not on the training sheet for them so they suggested I could just cancel during the cooling off period and switch later. Anyhow I didn't and let it play out and up to now my previous supplier did not charge me the penalty for the cancellation which was last January. Maybe I just got lucky or maybe it will happen when they do an audit.
 
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