Energy provider help

[Vron]

Hi
I signed up for a business energy contract on Friday. Today, they have phoned and said as I don’t have an Experian account they cannot supply. I’ve requested to cancel. They’ve said I’ve signed an ‘LOA’ to agree supply and if I do not stay with them with another chosen supplier, they will lose £432 in commission which I am liable for, or £1000 if I leave altogether. This was done over the phone. I know businesses don’t have 14 day cooling off, but they cannot supply what I signed up for?
Any advice please.
Thanks.

[robdcfc]

Id suggest they should have checked that before getting you to sign any contracts, also did they tell you you needed an Experian account? That could be your get out?

[Bluemondy]

An LOA to me is a Letter of Authority (I work in energy), so it's used by a householder to give
permission to a 3rd party to negotiate a contract on their behalf no?

The LOA itself not being a contract for the supply.

[Vron]

Bluemondy said:

An LOA to me is a Letter of Authority (I work in energy), so it's used by a householder to give
permission to a 3rd party to negotiate a contract on their behalf no?

The LOA itself not being a contract for the supply.

Yes, they're saying as I've given them 'LOA' I am basically tied to them to find me an(y) energy supplier even if it isn't the British Gas Lite Contract I thought I was signing up for.

[Vron]

robdcfc said:

Id suggest they should have checked that before getting you to sign any contracts, also did they tell you you needed an Experian account? That could be your get out?

That's what I said to him today. He's saying the LOA overrides that, and has sent me their terms and conditions, but I can't see anything to that effect.

[Racing Newt]

Vron said:

Hi
I signed up for a business energy contract on Friday. Today, they have phoned and said as I don’t have an Experian account they cannot supply. I’ve requested to cancel. They’ve said I’ve signed an ‘LOA’ to agree supply and if I do not stay with them with another chosen supplier, they will lose £432 in commission which I am liable for, or £1000 if I leave altogether. This was done over the phone. I know businesses don’t have 14 day cooling off, but they cannot supply what I signed up for?
Any advice please.
Thanks.

Why is experian being involved? they are a credit rating company, if the requirement was not stated on the phone then you can withdraw, and see them in court. If experian do not have you on their records then you cannot be classed as a bad credit risk, by the energy people.

[Geoffcapes]

My company does business energy procurement.

Was the company Utility Warehouse by any chance? Or Northern Gas and Power? (normally one of the two).

Be happy to look at the agreement for you, I've seen this loads of times.
Most of the time you can get out of their 'verbal contract' and the ridiculous claims they make.

[Vron]

Racing Newt said:

Vron said:

Hi
I signed up for a business energy contract on Friday. Today, they have phoned and said as I don’t have an Experian account they cannot supply. I’ve requested to cancel. They’ve said I’ve signed an ‘LOA’ to agree supply and if I do not stay with them with another chosen supplier, they will lose £432 in commission which I am liable for, or £1000 if I leave altogether. This was done over the phone. I know businesses don’t have 14 day cooling off, but they cannot supply what I signed up for?
Any advice please.
Thanks.

Why is experian being involved? they are a credit rating company, if the requirement was not stated on the phone then you can withdraw, and see them in court. If experian do not have you on their records then you cannot be classed as a bad credit risk, by the energy people.

They say the best deals are for businesses who are on the Experian database (which costs £25 a month to be on). EDF incidentally, said the same. I emailed him saying he made no mention of Experian when I applied.

[Vron]

Geoffcapes said:

My company does business energy procurement.

Was the company Utility Warehouse by any chance? Or Northern Gas and Power? (normally one of the two).

Be happy to look at the agreement for you, I've seen this loads of times.
Most of the time you can get out of their 'verbal contract' and the ridiculous claims they make.

No - it was Swift Switch

[tamore]

anyone fancy trying to get us a decent business energy deal? existing one up on 23rd september. DM if you can please.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Vron said:

They say the best deals are for businesses who are on the Experian database (which costs £25 a month to be on). EDF incidentally, said the same. I emailed him saying he made no mention of Experian when I applied.

I’m with BG lite (direct) and as far as I know I’m not on the Experian (paid for) database.

They did run a credit check when I rang but all was good.

Geniune question, why didn’t you just apply directly with BG?

[Vron]

I was looking to change and Swift Switch rang with the deal which was acceptable. The price is the same as going direct so I thought I’d let them do it.

[Geoffcapes]

Vron said:

I was looking to change and Swift Switch rang with the deal which was acceptable. The price is the same as going direct so I thought I’d let them do it.

I would be surprised if you couldn't get a better quote from someone, anyone else. They add 0.75p per kWh in commission!!!!!!!

As an example we add 0.3p, 'most' in the market add 0.5-0.6p.

You contract with them will only be valid if you've signed a contract and it was accepted by the energy supplier by the way (as per their t's & c's).

If it's not been locked, they can't hold you to the contract.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Geoffcapes said:

You contract with them will only be valid if you've signed a contract and it was accepted by the energy supplier by the way (as per their t's & c's).

I can’t remember signing a contract for business energy in the last 10 years. All done by oral confirmation over the phone.

[Vron]

It was emailed to me and I signed it electronically on my phone.

[Geoffcapes]

Ham_and_Jam said:

Geoffcapes said:

You contract with them will only be valid if you've signed a contract and it was accepted by the energy supplier by the way (as per their t's & c's).

I can’t remember signing a contract for business energy in the last 10 years. All done by oral confirmation over the phone.

You have to be careful with companies who do that. As some unscrupulous ones will tie you into a contract at rates of their choosing, and you won't be able to do a thing about it.

There have been a number of court cases because of the 'verbal contract' placing of energy contracts.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Geoffcapes said:

You have to be careful with companies who do that. As some unscrupulous ones will tie you into a contract at rates of their choosing, and you won't be able to do a thing about it.

There have been a number of court cases because of the 'verbal contract' placing of energy contracts.

It’s all the big players, not small energy companies or brokers.