Letting agent request for electricity supplier change

dave da rave

Hi All,

Terminating tenancy. Letting agent has a long list of requests which I can fulfill prior to moving out. However, one request is to ensure home is supplied with electricity by the same company as when we moved in originally.

I can't see anything in my lease to this effect. But want to know if this is reasonable. It makes zero sense to me. My supplier said I simply terminate my electricity contract on date of moving out and provide them with final meter reading. Then the land lord or new tenant can sign up with whoever they wish. In the interim, electricity will still be supplied to home.

For me to change over is hassle, also as soon as I switch I will have to cancel the new contract, more hassle. Otherwise it is my name is on a new bill. Seems an odd request to me.

I have already outlined this to them and they carbon copied the original request for me to change to original supplier.

Anyway do they have any reason to force this i.e. could it be used to withhold my damage deposit?

Cheers,
Dave

PS the mad thing is the other supplier is more expensive hence the change....

Michael D Not Higgins

No that's not reasonable. Close your account with the current supplier and let the letting agent sort out who the supplier should be. You can't set up a supplier for another person so it would be firmly in their own remit.

They can only withold deposit for damage or unpaid bills. If you pay the bill to the current meter reading they have no entitlement to deduct anything from it. If they try any funny business, open a PRTB dispute and they will likely back down quick enough.

gordongekko

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

No that's not reasonable. Close your account with the current supplier and let the letting agent sort out who the supplier should be. You can't set up a supplier for another person so it would be firmly in their own remit.

They can only withold deposit for damage or unpaid bills. If you pay the bill to the current meter reading they have no entitlement to deduct anything from it. If they try any funny business, open a PRTB dispute and they will likely back down quick enough.

Press the nuke button for no reason. If a tenant took that time with me I'd withhold the deposit until the claim was resolved with the prtb. How long would that take ?? A year maybe more.

Op it's probably just a junior in the office who has made a mistake. Give them a ring and tell them you will close the account but that they will have to open the new account themselves as you can't open it in their name yourself.You can offer to meet them when your moving out to confirm the meter reading and to close your account and to allow them to open the new account.

L1011

gordongekko wrote: »

Press the nuke button for no reason. If a tenant took that time with me I'd withhold the deposit until the claim was resolved with the prtb. How long would that take ?? A year maybe more.

Op it's probably just a junior in the office who has made a mistake. Give them a ring and tell them you will close the account but that they will have to open the new account themselves as you can't open it in their name yourself.You can offer to meet them when your moving out to confirm the meter reading and to close your account and to allow them to open the new account.

So, you'd willingly go to the PRTB with your sole justification translating as "I wanted to teach them a lesson". I'd prefer not to have such a childish landlord myself...

Michael D Not Higgins

gordongekko wrote: »

Press the nuke button for no reason. If a tenant took that time with me I'd withhold the deposit until the claim was resolved with the prtb. How long would that take ?? A year maybe more.

Op it's probably just a junior in the office who has made a mistake. Give them a ring and tell them you will close the account but that they will have to open the new account themselves as you can't open it in their name yourself.You can offer to meet them when your moving out to confirm the meter reading and to close your account and to allow them to open the new account.

I didn't say that. Only if they tried doing something stupid like witholding the deposit if the OP doesn't do the impossible. Expect a fine in the PRTB judgement for acting like a spoilt child.

gordongekko

MYOB wrote: »

So, you'd willingly go to the PRTB with your sole justification translating as "I wanted to teach them a lesson". I'd prefer not to have such a childish landlord myself...

The tenant opening an unjustified claim with the prtb is the childish one. Easy enough to pick up the phone to the agent rather than jumping off the deep end and calling the prtb for no reason.

L1011

gordongekko wrote: »

The tenant opening an unjustified claim with the prtb is the childish one. Easy enough to pick up the phone to the agent rather than jumping off the deep end and calling the prtb for no reason.

Eh. Once you start retaining it at all, its very much a valid claim.

dave da rave

Hi All,

thanks for the fast responses. TBH I don't want to go down the road of threatening to contact PRTB. I really just want to know if this is a reasonable request, if anyone else has had a request like it themselves? If it would be a legitimate reason to withhold my deposit.

Of course pending advice, if I do just close my current electricity account and move out, and they don't return my deposit for this reason I would then go to the PRTB.

To reconfirm I called the electricity supplier,
1) I close account on the day I move out and provide a final meter reading, a forwarding address for final bill.
2) The new tenant/landlord opens a new account with any electricity supplier they like and there are no hidden charges.

- The only caveat is that if someone does not open an account the electricity may be disconnected after 2-3weeks. However, my current supplier would call the letting agency reminding them of pending disconnection.

- If it ends up being disconnected then the new tenant/letting agency/landlord would have to pay €170 reconnection fee. I am not liable for anything once I close the account.


Based on all above, closing account is the sensible way to go, I feel the agency wishes me to have an active account for the property, in the event they do not rent it out within 2 weeks. It is still beyond me that they require it to be an active account with a specific supplier. In either case I will not leave it active, if I did change it over I would still close that account, electricity would still be cut off after 2 weeks if no one opens a new account.

gordongekko

MYOB wrote: »

Eh. Once you start retaining it at all, its very much a valid claim.

Where has the agent said they are withholding the deposit? All they did was ask for a few issues to be sorted. Instead of advising the op to ring the prtb it would be much easier to tell them to ring the agent to clarify things.

gordongekko

dave da rave wrote: »

Based on all above, closing account is the sensible way to go, I feel the agency wishes me to have an active account for the property, in the event they do not rent it out within 2 weeks. It is still beyond me that they require it to be an active account with a specific supplier. In either case I will not leave it active, if I did change it over I would still close that account, electricity would still be cut off after 2 weeks if no one opens a new account.

A quick call to the agent will probably resolve the issue. They probably want an active account with the original supplier in their name not yours.

dave da rave

Ah ha,

"supplier 1" = original electricity supplier
"Supplier 2" = current electricity supplier

I think I may have figured it out:
- I phoned "supplier 1" and they said I can transfer the account from "supplier 2" and then close it but I should give them 7-days between the transfer and close action.
- Still not understanding WHY I should or would want to do this, I found out that the original account with "supplier 1" has a landlord agreement included. Whereby should no one move in within 2-3 weeks the electric bill and account will automatically be sent to the landlord.

So in essence they wish me to change it back for their convenience. it will only cost me €25 ("supplier 2") to make the transfer, but I don't know why the letting agent couldn't have explained this, and also inform us of this when we moved in.


I still don't believe this is a lease REQUIREMENT but I may just do it to save a pain in the fArse!

Thoughts?

gordongekko wrote: »

Op it's probably just a junior in the office who has made a mistake.

No its not a junior, but they are not very personable.

gordongekko

Why is it costing €25

dave da rave

gordongekko wrote: »

A quick call to the agent will probably resolve the issue. They probably want an active account with the original supplier in their name not yours.

Yep, exactly. I don't know why they didn't state this in the email. I gave other options and they just copied and pasted the original request. No further explanation.

supplier 2 is 30% cheaper, and has offered a further 20% discount if the new tenant/landlord signs up with them. This offer and savings will be lost if it is transferred to "supplier 1". Not my concern though but it makes sense to me to save, especially since there is no central heating only electric heaters and we are coming into the winter!

dave da rave

gordongekko wrote: »

Why is it costing €25

I recently signed up to a 1 year contract with supplier 2. if i move out and close the account it wont cost anything. transferring it to supplier 1 breaks the contract and costs €25 or so I was told. I saved that and more by switching and knew that when I made the switch.

gordongekko

dave da rave wrote: »

I recently signed up to a 1 year contract with supplier 2. if i move out and close the account it wont cost anything. transferring it to supplier 1 breaks the contract and costs €25 or so I was told. I saved that and more by switching and knew that when I made the switch.

Why should the agent pay because you decided to break your contract?

dave da rave

gordongekko wrote: »

Why should the agent pay because you decided to break your contract?

I think we are on the same page. I will pay. I didn't state they would pay.

and so there is no further confusion, the "contract" is with the electricity supplier, not talking about my lease here.

El_Duderino 09

Hey OP,

This sounds like a really unusual request from the EA/LL. If it is in the lease agreement then you have already agreed to do it so best to suck it up, pay the E25 account transfer fee and move on. If it is not in the lease agreement then you should view it as a request on their behalf and feel in no way obliged to carry out their request.

There may be a third option which you could propose. Since they are asking you to do the account transfer for them as a favour, they could pay the transfer fee and any other associated charges.

If you are going to have the account in your name for a week when you are no longer a tenant and wont be in control of the house and the electricity used then I would just decline their request (politely of course).

dave da rave

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Hey OP,

This sounds like a really unusual request from the EA/LL. If it is in the lease agreement then you have already agreed to do it so best to suck it up, pay the E25 account transfer fee and move on. If it is not in the lease agreement then you should view it as a request on their behalf and feel in no way obliged to carry out their request.

There may be a third option which you could propose. Since they are asking you to do the account transfer for them as a favour, they could pay the transfer fee and any other associated charges.

If you are going to have the account in your name for a week when you are no longer a tenant and wont be in control of the house and the electricity used then I would just decline their request (politely of course).

I've decided to cut my losses. They have been obliging in other ways so I'm just going to pay and transfer it.

Supplier 1 said that I simply record the meter on the day I move out. In this case I will be there 7 days so no issue, however for future people reading this: you can take the meter reading as you move out and call 7 days later backdating the final bill to that date, i.e. in that case you would have a bill of zero/very little. In my case I will have a bill for 1 week with supplier 1 again.

Sorted, Thanks all for your inputs. But yes it is an odd request, and no it is not in my lease but there you go...

gordongekko

I don't get why you think your at a loss. You signed up to a one year contract with the new supplier and are breaking your contract. It's nothing to do with the agent. They just want the property back as they got it. Ie electricity in the original suppliers name. The €25 is your fault for breaking a contract not the agents fault.

SpaceTime

There is no "default electricity supplier" any more. The rental agent doesn't understand how it works. If you opened a new account the original supplier you'd quite possibly end up in new minimum term contract.

The landlord just need the MPRN and they can deal with whoever their preferred supplier is.

All you need to do is contact your supplier with the final meter reading and explain that you're moving out, you'll get a final bill and that's it.

I'd always suggest photographing the meter too so you've a visual record of the final reading.

If you've a minimum contract you can usually exit it very cheaply with electricity suppliers or move the account to a new address.

L1011

gordongekko wrote: »

Where has the agent said they are withholding the deposit? All they did was ask for a few issues to be sorted. Instead of advising the op to ring the prtb it would be much easier to tell them to ring the agent to clarify things.

The entire (hypothetical) scenario you came in to saying you'd withhold until the hearing was based on the deposit being withheld!

El_Duderino 09

gordongekko wrote: »

I don't get why you think your at a loss. You signed up to a one year contract with the new supplier and are breaking your contract. It's nothing to do with the agent. They just want the property back as they got it. Ie electricity in the original suppliers name. The €25 is your fault for breaking a contract not the agents fault.

I'm Pretty sure the OP said it is not in his contract to return to the original electricity supplier, instead it is a request made by the EA/LL. He is taking care of closing the current account, setting up another account with the original supplier and taking the E25 hit to oblige the EA/LL because they have been good to him in the past, not because he is obliged to.

Fair play OP. If they have facilitated you in the past it's fair play.

SpaceTime

The EA/LL is totally unnecessarily tying themselves in knots with that stuff though!
All they need is the MPRN and they can do whatever they want with the supply.

gordongekko

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

I'm Pretty sure the OP said it is not in his contract to return to the original electricity supplier, instead it is a request made by the EA/LL. He is taking care of closing the current account, setting up another account with the original supplier and taking the E25 hit to oblige the EA/LL because they have been good to him in the past, not because he is obliged to.

Fair play OP. If they have facilitated you in the past it's fair play.

Closing the current account is the cause of the €25 not opening the new account. The op signed a contract with the current supplier and is breaking it. The agent are only asking for the electricity to be in the same form as when they gave it to the op. It seams a reasonable request to me.

dave da rave

gordongekko wrote: »

I don't get why you think your at a loss. You signed up to a one year contract with the new supplier and are breaking your contract. It's nothing to do with the agent. They just want the property back as they got it. Ie electricity in the original suppliers name. The €25 is your fault for breaking a contract not the agents fault.

Well this has grown legs. we are on the same page yet you seem to want to play devils advocate. "fault" its my choice to transfer or close. If I close it doesn't cost me anything, if I transfer it costs me €25. you seem to be under the impression I am trying to duck & jybe out of something. I was trying to find out if I closed the account, and walk away could the letting agent withhold some/all of my deposit. The €25 is irrelevant to the choice.

Had the letting agent provided a little more info as to the requirement for the switch back (I requested this) then I would have learned that the landlord has an agreement with "supplier 1" that defaults the bills to them if no one moves in after a few weeks. ie if no one ever moves in after me the landlord will be billed automatically for electricity by "supplier 1". I found this out by calling "supplier 1" and now knowing final inspection is pending I wish all to go smoothly, thus I am cutting my losses, giving them what they want and hoping final inspection will go all the smoother, vs digging my heals in on this matter and suffering a microscope final inspection.

SpaceTime wrote: »

There is no "default electricity supplier" any more. The rental agent doesn't understand how it works. If you opened a new account the original supplier you'd quite possibly end up in new minimum term contract.

The landlord just need the MPRN and they can deal with whoever their preferred supplier is.

All you need to do is contact your supplier with the final meter reading and explain that you're moving out, you'll get a final bill and that's it.

I'd always suggest photographing the meter too so you've a visual record of the final reading.

If you've a minimum contract you can usually exit it very cheaply with electricity suppliers or move the account to a new address.

100%. photo for sure. As said it will cost me €0.00 to close the account, or €25.00 to transfer. That's it. Sharing at new place so they have electricity already.

MYOB wrote: »

The entire (hypothetical) scenario you came in to saying you'd withhold until the hearing was based on the deposit being withheld!

I have decided to comply with their request after talking to "supplier 1" and finding out the real reason they would request such a switch: It is more convenient for them (albeit more expensive supply of electricity), if they it takes longer than expected to fill the apartment. And I still don't know; if I choose to close the account not switching as per their request, can they withhold the deposit? I see no mention of electricity supply in the lease.



So yes, I have decided what I am going to do. But the original post questioned if it was a reasonable request and if I did not comply with said request could I lose part/all of my deposit.

dave da rave

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

I'm Pretty sure the OP said it is not in his contract to return to the original electricity supplier, instead it is a request made by the EA/LL. He is taking care of closing the current account, setting up another account with the original supplier and taking the E25 hit to oblige the EA/LL because they have been good to him in the past, not because he is obliged to.

Fair play OP. If they have facilitated you in the past it's fair play.

yes this is exactly what I am doing

Greenmachine

dave da rave wrote: »

Well this has grown legs. we are on the same page yet you seem to want to play devils advocate. "fault" its my choice to transfer or close. If I close it doesn't cost me anything, if I transfer it costs me €25. you seem to be under the impression I am trying to duck & jybe out of something. I was trying to find out if I closed the account, and walk away could the letting agent withhold some/all of my deposit. The €25 is irrelevant to the choice.

Had the letting agent provided a little more info as to the requirement for the switch back (I requested this) then I would have learned that the landlord has and agreement with "supplier 1" that defaults the bills to them if no one moves in after a few weeks. ie if no one ever moves in after me the landlord will be billed automatically for electricity by "supplier 1". I found this out by calling "supplier 1" and now knowing final inspection is pending I wish all to go smoothly, thus I am cutting my losses, giving them what they want and hoping final inspection will go all the smoother, vs digging my heals in on this matter and suffering a microscope final inspection.



100%. photo for sure. As said it will cost me €0.00 to close the account, or €25.00 to transfer. That's it. Sharing at new place so they have electricity already.



I have decided to comply with their request after talking to "supplier 1" and finding out the real reason they would request such a switch: It is more convenient for them (albeit more expensive supply of electricity), if they it takes longer than expected to fill the apartment. And I still don't know; if I choose to close the account not switching as per their request, can they withhold the deposit? I see no mention of electricity supply in the lease.



So yes, I have decided what I am going to do. But the original post questioned if it was a reasonable request and if I did not comply with said request could I lose part/all of my deposit.

I do think it is an unreasonable request, assuming you have given all the required notice to the EA and have settled your bill in full. If you have agreed a date to move out, then the EA can always contact supplier 1 requesting the transfer. How ever you seem to have made your own decision now op.

gordongekko

I've never heard of a charge for switching supplier. In fact they will give you discount to change. The €25 is a charge for some contract issue.

dave da rave

gordongekko wrote: »

I've never heard of a charge for switching supplier. In fact they will give you discount to change. The €25 is a charge for some contract issue.

lol you need to get over this €25. You seem more upset about it than me! I suppose it is a few pints alright!

Yes, I signed up to a 1 year contract. The year is not up. If moving and closing account there is no charge, however switching it over to another supplier in my name, even for just 1 day costs me €25 due to break of contract.

I knew about this €25 when I made the switch. But the the current supplier was so much cheaper that I saved €25+ on the first bill, hence there was no hesitation to make the switch.



OP out, thanks for all the input. Feel free to discuss if this is a reasonable request. Definitely and odd request but I don't think they really have a leg to stand on if I didn't comply.

Shakespeare's Sister

So you're being asked to close your account with, say, Airtricity and then open an account with Electric Ireland briefly around the time you're moving out, and then close that account (under your name) again? Totally ridiculous. An error I'd say.

xper

Shakespeare's Sister wrote: »

So you're being asked to close your account with, say, Airtricity and then open an account with Electric Ireland briefly around the time you're moving out, and then close that account (under your name) again? Totally ridiculous. An error I'd say.

Yeah, I wouldn't be accommodating the agent in this respect at all. Despite all the assurances from the various suppliers and the energy regulator, the process of switching supplier does not always go smoothly and is virtually impossible to pinpoint to one date. When I moved earlier this year, I had no end of issues what with charges past the date of departure from the old place, bills from the previous supplier at the new place despite siging up with my suppliers of choice immediately, correspondence sent to my old address in error. It went on and on even though I had done everything by the letter at the correct time. Took weeks and endless calls to the various players' call centres to put right.

So, would I add an extra switch into this mix for an address I'll no longer be present at? Eh, no thanks. The agent is being paid by the landlord to mange the property, let them earn it.

foggy_lad

gordongekko wrote: »

A quick call to the agent will probably resolve the issue. They probably want an active account with the original supplier in their name not yours.

If that is all they want then let the lazy ***** do it themselves.

gordongekko wrote: »

Closing the current account is the cause of the €25 not opening the new account. The op signed a contract with the current supplier and is breaking it. The agent are only asking for the electricity to be in the same form as when they gave it to the op. It seams a reasonable request to me.

My understanding was that cancelling the supply because the op was moving out was not going to cost anything even though the OP had a contract but to "transfer" the supply to a new company would cost €25 for ending the contract early.

I would tell the agent to feck off.

gordongekko

foggy_lad wrote: »

If that is all they want then let the lazy ***** do it themselves.


My understanding was that cancelling the supply because the op was moving out was not going to cost anything even though the OP had a contract but to "transfer" the supply to a new company would cost €25 for ending the contract early.

I would tell the agent to feck off.

The agent is asking for the account in their preferred supplier. It's exactly how it was given to the tenant. The tenant is breaking his contract with supplier and they will only release the op from the contract for a fee of €25

Lemming

gordongekko wrote: »

The agent is asking for the account in their preferred supplier. It's exactly how it was given to the tenant. The tenant is breaking his contract with supplier and they will only release the op from the contract for a fee of €25

The tenant has been put in the position of breaking their electricity contract BY the agent making what most would seem to view as a rather unreasonable and uninformed request.

gordongekko

Lemming wrote: »

The tenant has been put in the position of breaking their electricity contract BY the agent making what most would seem to view as a rather unreasonable and uninformed request.

The op is trying to tie the agent into a contract instead of the op.

Shakespeare's Sister

If the OP just closes their account with their current supplier (as should be the case, and would be usually - this request is just weird) then they won't be penalised for breaking contract. That's the case with my dual fuel contract - the T&C are that I stay with the same supplier for the duration of the contract, but change of address won't affect this.
Changing supplier though would incur an exit fee.

It's straightforwardly objectionable - this is plain as day... but there'll always be someone who'll go against the grain for the sake of it.

OP, just close your account and tell them to get the next tenant to register an account with whatever provider they're so obsessed with the property being supplied by (even though it doesn't make a difference, and it's the tenant that will have to pay for it, not them ).

El_Duderino 09

gordongekko wrote: »

The agent is asking for the account in their preferred supplier. It's exactly how it was given to the tenant. The tenant is breaking his contract with supplier and they will only release the op from the contract for a fee of €25

Gordon lad, the OP gave you the benefit of the doubt that you were playing devils advocate but now it looks like you're just being obtuse.

Reverting back to the original electricity supplier is not a normal part of a lease agreement nor was it specified in the contract, therefore he is not obliged to do it.

OP has corrected you on this point already so read carefully; the OP can end his agreement without a fine if the same supplier stays supplying the house for the 12 months. Cancelling the contract does not incur a E25 penalty, changing to another supplier incurs the penalty. Now re-read this last paragraph and feel free to phone a friend/ google any words you didn't understand.

Lets recap what we have learned here today boys and girls:
1 The EA did not state that the tenancy agreement that the tenancy must end with the same supplier it started with.
2 Now they have asked him to do it which amounts to them asking him to do it for them as a favour. He could refuse but he has decided to do it as payback for the EA helping him with something in the past.
3 His contract with supplier B appears to be as follows; If he closed his account with B and left B as the supplier to the house then no penalty will be uncured. He is voluntarily taking the E25 penalty for changing to the original supplier.

It is not a normal request to end a tenancy with the same supplier. If they want tenants to do it, they should put it in the tenancy agreement.

gordongekko

Shakespeare's Sister wrote: »

If the OP just closes their account with their current supplier (as should be the case, and would be usually - this request is just weird) then they won't be penalised for breaking contract. That's the case with my dual fuel contract - the T&C are that I stay with the same supplier for the duration of the contract, but change of address won't affect this.
Changing supplier though would incur an exit fee.

It's straightforwardly objectionable - this is plain as day... but there'll always be someone who'll go against the grain for the sake of it.

OP, just close your account and tell them to get the next tenant to register an account with whatever provider they're so obsessed with the property being supplied by (even though it doesn't make a difference, and it's the tenant that will have to pay for it, not them ).

Then the next tenant is caught with the €25 fee which is not fair. What the op can do is ask the current supplier to supply his new address for the remaining term of the contract. This has nothing to do with the agent and all to do with the op trying to get out of their contract early.

gordongekko

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Gordon lad, the OP gave you the benefit of the doubt that you were playing devils advocate but now it looks like you're just being obtuse.

Reverting back to the original electricity supplier is not a normal part of a lease agreement nor was it specified in the contract, therefore he is not obliged to do it.

OP has corrected you on this point already so read carefully; the OP can end his agreement without a fine if the same supplier stays supplying the house for the 12 months. Cancelling the contract does not incur a E25 penalty, changing to another supplier incurs the penalty. Now re-read this last paragraph and feel free to phone a friend/ google any words you didn't understand.

Lets recap what we have learned here today boys and girls:
1 The EA did not state that the tenancy agreement that the tenancy must end with the same supplier it started with.
2 Now they have asked him to do it which amounts to them asking him to do it for them as a favour. He could refuse but he has decided to do it as payback for the EA helping him with something in the past.
3 His contract with supplier B appears to be as follows; If he closed his account with B and left B as the supplier to the house then no penalty will be uncured. He is voluntarily taking the E25 penalty for changing to the original supplier.

It is not a normal request to end a tenancy with the same supplier. If they want tenants to do it, they should put it in the tenancy agreement.

What the op is doing is asking the agent to take on the rest of his contract. They don't want to. The want it back as was given. The op is being charged for leaving his contract early without anyone to take on the rest of the contract. I'm genuinely shocked that you can't see it's nothing to do with the agent. This is between the op and the supplier https://www.airtricity.com/assets/Terms/ROIDOMDSOG141YCONV2ROIOptionsGreaterGasDiscount-old.pdf all the agent is doing is making sure the op pays all his liabilities due on the property.

Shakespeare's Sister

gordongekko wrote: »

Then the next tenant is caught with the €25 fee which is not fair. What the op can do is ask the current supplier to supply his new address for the remaining term of the contract. This has nothing to do with the agent and all to do with the op trying to get out of their contract early.

Maybe I'm picking up things wrong.
My understanding is: if the OP changes supplier (completely pointless thing to do towards the end of a tenancy ) they'll be charged an exit fee by the supplier they leave for breaching T&C.
If they just close their account with their current supplier when they're moving out (as is the normal thing to do) there'll be no exit fee because no T&C were breached, and then the letting agent can get the new tenant to create an account with whatever supplier the letting agent wants them to be with and... no fee for anyone.

Or do I have it wrong?

gordongekko

Shakespeare's Sister wrote: »

Maybe I'm picking up things wrong.
My understanding is: if the OP changes supplier (completely pointless thing to do towards the end of a tenancy ) they'll be charged an exit fee by the supplier they leave for breaching T&C.
If they just close their account with their current supplier when they're moving out (as is the normal thing to do) there'll be no exit fee because no T&C were breached, and then the letting agent can get the new tenant to create an account with whatever supplier the letting agent wants them to be with and... no fee for anyone.

Or do I have it wrong?

Yes you have it wrong. The new tenant will have to take the remaining term of the op contract to avoid the charge. The current supplier will charge the termination charge to transfer the account to another supplier. The reason they won't be charged to close the account is that they still have the supply of the property. The agent does not want to be tied to the contract or to have the new tenant tied to a contract.

dave da rave

Shakespeare's Sister wrote: »

Maybe I'm picking up things wrong.
My understanding is: if the OP changes supplier (completely pointless thing to do towards the end of a tenancy ) they'll be charged an exit fee by the supplier they leave for breaching T&C.
If they just close their account with their current supplier when they're moving out (as is the normal thing to do) there'll be no exit fee because no T&C were breached, and then the letting agent can get the new tenant to create an account with whatever supplier the letting agent wants them to be with and... no fee for anyone.

Or do I have it wrong?

I was done but no Gordongekko you have it wrong, Shakespeare is completely correct.


2 options:

A) close account, no charge to me, no charge to new tenant. New tenant can choose any supplier they like. no charges incurred to anyone.

transfer account as per agents request. €25 charge to me (my current supplier's charge for breaking T&C's). New tenant will have to sign up/take over the account and thus also begin lease with original supplier. No charges to new tenant here either, though they are now with an expensive supplier.



The normal thing to do is close the account. There is no charge for this as long as you are genuinely leaving the property. There is no re-connection fee etc. It's very simple process and everyone is happy. The only niggle is a five min phone call with a supplier on the LL/agent's end if someone does not move in after 2-3 weeks. If no one opens an account with a supplier the electricity may be disconnected and then the re-connection fee will apply: €170.


Due to the aforementioned "niggle" the only reason I believe I was asked to change back is because the property has some agreement with the original supplier: if someone does not move in within 2-3 weeks, they will attempt to contact landlord/agent as before but in this case if no action is taken, the electricity WILL NOT be disconnected and will AUTOMATICALLY revert to the LL's name. Thus it is convenient for the LL.

So in summary in either worse case scenario (no one moves in) the land lord will have to assume responsibility for an electricity supply to the house. The only difference is that one happens automatically, the other requires a 5 min phone conversation.

Most here are correct, I am facilitating a convenience for the landlord at a cost of €25 to me. I don't believe I am obliged to do so (nothing in my lease), but as said I think they have been good in other ways and I want the final inspection to go smoothly.

El_Duderino 09

OP you sound like a reasonable guy but it's time to accept that Gordon knows more about your situation than you do.

dave da rave

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

OP you sound like a reasonable guy but it's time to accept that Gordon knows more about your situation than you do.

yes I am about to scream.....

I am capable of ignoring the "bull" replies, I am only replying in case someone else was in my situation, don't want them getting the wrong info. Gordon do me a favor call up some suppliers and outline the situation with them. Ask from all angles yours/landlord/future tenant. write it down and then post something constructive and correct.


EL-Dud, one minor correction to your previous post:
If I close the account I don't get charged, but the new tenant does not have to open an account with the same supplier. They can choose anyone they like, no charges for the new person to change. From the new tenants perspective they won't know who was last supplying electricity. Since I legitimately closed the account there are no hidden charges to anyone. It's as if the lights are on but the house is awaiting you to choose the supplier.

Shakespeare's Sister

gordongekko wrote: »

Yes you have it wrong. The new tenant will have to take the remaining term of the op contract to avoid the charge. The current supplier will charge the termination charge to transfer the account to another supplier. The reason they won't be charged to close the account is that they still have the supply of the property. The agent does not want to be tied to the contract or to have the new tenant tied to a contract.

Maybe it depends on the supplier? I wouldn't have thought the new tenant would have to continue the contract though; the previous tenant's account has nothing to do with them. It's the case with my supplier (as I've checked similar stuff myself) that the new tenant will just have to create their own account and will be billed from that point, they're not liable for anything prior to that.

With my supplier, if you sign up to a discounts plan, you're in contract - and liable for an exit fee if you change supplier during the contract. If you just close your account though, due to moving out, you're not liable for a fee, because closing your account/moving out is not the same as changing supplier. And that's it. The account is closed and... no more. There's no contract left for someone to take over - the contract is void. And nobody gets charged any fee.

dave da rave

Shakespeare's Sister wrote: »

Maybe it depends on the supplier? I wouldn't have thought the new tenant would have to continue the contract though; the previous tenant's account has nothing to do with them. It's the case with my supplier (as I've checked similar stuff myself) that the new tenant will just have to create their own account and will be billed from that point, they're not liable for anything prior to that.

With my supplier, if you sign up to a discounts plan, you're in contract - and liable for an exit fee if you change supplier during the contract. If you just close your account though, due to moving out, you're not liable for a fee, because closing your account/moving out is not the same as changing supplier. And that's it. The account is closed and... no more. There's no contract left for someone to take over - the contract is void. And nobody gets charged any fee.

exactly, closed is closed. nothing to do with new tenant. in this case my current supplier has offered a 20% discount if they do sign up with them, but they in no way are obliged to.

gordongekko

dave da rave wrote: »

yes I am about to scream....


EL-Dud, one minor correction to your previous post:
If I close the account I don't get charged, but the new tenant does not have to open an account with the same supplier. They can choose anyone they like, no charges for the new person to change. From the new tenants perspective they won't know who was last supplying electricity. Since I legitimately closed the account there are no hidden charges to anyone. It's as if the lights are on but the house is awaiting you to choose the supplier.

Well then no problem. Close your account then open new account in old supplier in agents name

dave da rave

gordongekko wrote: »

Well then no problem. Close your account then open new account in old supplier in agents name

almost across the line. I'll nudge you the rest of the way.

1) I already said i would be changin over out of courtousy I am not required to do so.
2) today I will ring "supplier 2" and say I am moving back to "supplier 1"
3) they will say no problem and charge me €25 for this action
4) 7 days later I will move out and call "supplier 1" saying i wish to close my account
5) they say no problem and I give final meter reading.
6) I walk away

At no point do I sign up on behalf of the agent, this is illegal and impossible for me to do. I can't even change the account into my partners name, she would have to call up and say she would like to take it over.

so continuing from 6) above. in all situations the house is left with a closed account.

Please read and understand this:
The landlord wishes the property to be last supplied by "supplier 1" as they have an agreement with them that in the event no one moves in the property will never get disconnected, instead it will automatically revert to the landlords name and they will be on the bill. This automation ensures that the property is not disconnected and €170 fee for re-connection is avoided automatically. The alternative is a 5min conversation by agent/LL saying please do not disconnect property, bill landlord instead.

and also note closing an account and disconnection are seperate things:
- closing: is me closing my account (electricity is still supplied for 2-3 weeks) notices will be made before disconnection.
- disconnection is no electricity and a charge of €170 to reconnect at a later date.


Finally to your "Well no problem". The problem is that I do not think it is a reasonable request and if i was not so obliging, could they withhold my monies!?

gordongekko

dave da rave wrote: »

almost across the line. I'll nudge you the rest of the way.

1) I already said i would be changin over out of courtousy I am not required to do so.
2) today I will ring "supplier 2" and say I am moving back to "supplier 1"
3) they will say no problem and charge me €25 for this action
4) 7 days later I will move out and call "supplier 1" saying i wish to close my account
5) they say no problem and I give final meter reading.
6) I walk away

At no point do I sign up on behalf of the agent, this is illegal and impossible for me to do. I can't even change the account into my partners name, she would have to call up and say she would like to take it over.

so continuing from 6) above. in all situations the house is left with a closed account.

Please read and understand this:
The landlord wishes the property to be last supplied by "supplier 1" as they have an agreement with them that in the event no one moves in the property will never get disconnected, instead it will automatically revert to the landlords name and they will be on the bill. This automation ensures that the property is not disconnected and €170 fee for re-connection is avoided automatically. The alternative is a 5min conversation by agent/LL saying please do not disconnect property, bill landlord instead.

and also note closing an account and disconnection are seperate things:
- closing: is me closing my account (electricity is still supplied for 2-3 weeks) notices will be made before disconnection.
- disconnection is no electricity and a charge of €170 to reconnect at a later date.


Finally to your "Well no problem". The problem is that I do not think it is a reasonable request and if i was not so obliging, could they withhold my monies!?

Jesus you are seriously missing the point . You are being charged the money because you are closing the account early without having anyone to take over the remaining part of your contract. If you were outside you contract terms you would not be charged the termination charge. The agent does not wish to take over the balance of your contract so you have to pay the €25 or it will be taken from your deposit. You can't walk away from contracts without paying the break fee.

Mick Murdock

He's being charged €25 for switching supplier not for breaking the contract. Closing the account and moving on yields no charge. They've been explaining this to you for 3 pages now.. :rolleyes:

El_Duderino 09

gordongekko wrote: »

Jesus you are seriously missing the point . You are being charged the money because you are closing the account early without having anyone to take over the remaining part of your contract. If you were outside you contract terms you would not be charged the termination charge. The agent does not wish to take over the balance of your contract so you have to pay the €25 or it will be taken from your deposit. You can't walk away from contracts without paying the break fee.

Benefit of the doubt has expired Gordon. Definitely being obtuse there buddy. For what it's worth I don't think it's intentional. Bless.

OP it's not a normal request and it's not in the contract so strictly speaking they would have absolutely no right to withhold any portion of your deposit.

If you were leaving the next tenant with an obligation to stay with supplier B or face a penalty (as our old pal keeps insisting is the case) then that would be considered your business and you should clear it up before leaving.

You have checked and stated repeatedly that you would be leaving no such liability for any other party.
With that said it sounds like the EA is acting unprofessionaly by asking you to sort it and rather than discuss it when you asked for clarification they resent the original request. They might have kicked up a fuss even though they are completely in the wrong so fair play to you for getting on with it.

You could wait until after you get your deposit back and then let them know that you felt it was unprofessional of them and another tenant might have refused.

Granted when you get the deposit back you probably won't care any more