Energy supplier hasn’t given us a tariff or charged us?

[Ginbutholdthetonic]

We’ve recently moved into a new build, so we had to ring and let the energy supplier know we had moved in; we were looking at switching but wanted to know prices of the current supplier that they were using while being built - it took us two/three weeks of constant ringing every day to get through to someone on the phone and ask for price information and we were told they would send us out a pack. We haven’t received this in a couple weeks now and we’ve been trying to ring to chase it but can’t get through.

What in earth happens from here? We don’t know how much we’re being charged, what tariff were on, if we’re being to be charged for what we’ve used so far at todays extortionate rates I’m worried we won’t be able to afford it.

My partner said he gave them meter readings when he rang so I’m hoping that helps in some way. But we’re just confused and worried now? Can they even charge us if we haven’t agreed to a tariff/contract? It seems a bit eyebrow raising that they can charge us whatever they like without us having a clue what that is?

Who are you with? I'm having problems with British Gas at the moment. Despite being a dual fuel customer for 20 years and money still being taken from my account, my gas account has been transferred to a new system/handed over to BG Evolve (which doesn't exist)/disappeared into the ether. Trying to get someone to sort it over the phone or via webchat was like banging my head against a brick wall.

I sent a letter of complaint through Resolver as literally no one in their customer services is willing to help me so I'm waiting to see what comes of that. The energy companies have us over a barrel at the moment.

Pretty sure you just go on their variable tariff when you join, which will be as cheap as you can get currently anyway as it's limited by price cap. I have hazy memories of going on variable when we moved and then choosing a tariff once we got through all the welcome stuff.

Yeah as @Hugasauras said, you'll be on their standard variable. Many of the companies, including British Gas, aren't offering any fixed tarrifs at the moment & said last week they're not likely to until Sep/Oct when they are more certain if the price increases (they said this to a friend who is an existing customer & his fixed term just ended).

Standard variable with British Gas is cheaper than what they were offering on fixed deals, it's likely to be the same for every supplier, but you should be able to find your suppliers standard variable online and then compare it to BG SV.

it's expensive no matter who you're with so just try to use as little as possible, they can only charge you for what you use!!(plus daily standing charge of course)

HTH

Thanks all! I finally managed to get through after an hour of waiting (one bottle for the baby and a packet of crisps and a cereal bar for the toddler to keep them quiet later..) - we’re still on a business account so I assume the building people have been paying our bills and I’m guessing we may well be hit with a letter to pay it back 🥲 not quite what we wanted but at least I know now that in the meantime we’ll be charged a variable rate which is as good as it’s going to get these days!

Someone else posted a similar thing a couple of weeks ago (unless that was you as well?)

It's likely that the business tariff will be higher, but if you don't have a contract to pay for that use, I don't see how you could be made to pay it, but check for anything relating to this in your contract to buy the house, was there anything about signing up to utility services in that?

I would make sure I had the meter readings from the day I moved in, including preferably a photo of the meters, agree to pay no more than the current price cap tariff when they finally get their finger out and produce a bill and be prepared to complain/go to Ofgem if they won't send you a proper bill.

Then put £100 or so a month in a savings account so you can pay the bill when you finally receive one.