In the middle of preparations for moving, it is easy to forget to tell the utility companies that you are moving. With the advent of new technology, it has become easier to let some suppliers know your final readings on the day you clear out.
Gas and Electricity
Like the other utilities, you will ideally have taken a final meter reading from your old property on the day you move to give to your supplier. Customers then need to get the new reading at their new home to make sure they pay the correct amount for their usage.
Powergen has an online form for customers to use on their website, while British Gas, the UK’s largest gas supplier, also provides an online system for customers to inform them about their change of address. Visit their website
Customers need to register with British Gas’s House system in order to do so. When you have signed up, you can let them know if you are moving to a property where you will be responsible for paying the bill or are moving between properties where you will be the named customer.
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If you are ending your gas or electricity account or taking on payment for a second home, the form will also be useful. In most cases, you will need to give the reading from the meter or let British Gas do an estimate for you.
If you do not want to fill out the online form, you can call the British Gas 24-hour helpline on 0800 645 6229.
It is vital that you have your boiler and gas appliances correctly installed and checked regularly by a CORGI-registered installer. Northern Gas offer a simple five-step installation service and have some great energy-saving tips on their website.
Other suppliers include:
- Southern Electric: www.southern-electric.co.uk
- Npower: www.npower.com
- Scottish Power: www.scottishpower.com
- For all others and advice in choosing a supplier visit www.uswitch.com
Water
Severn Trent Water, the main supplier for our region, provides an online form for customers to let them know their change of address (here). Where possible please provide 48 hours notice of your intended move, they ask.
The form can be used by anyone:
- Moving home within the Severn Trent Water region
- Moving home and leaving the Severn Trent Water region
- Moving to a home within the Severn Trent Water region
As part of the form you are asked to give the final meter reading in your old address as well as the initial reading for your new home. If the move involves rented accommodation and your landlord pays the water bill, you can inform them of this detail.
If you do not want to conduct proceedings online, then call Severn Trent Water on 08457 500 500.
Other suppliers include:
Telephone/broadband
For many phone users, it is now not just a case of informing their telecom supplier of the need to change their phone number but also their internet account.
BT, one of the UK’s main suppliers, promises to process the change of address for BT Broadband and BT phone lines in “one simple call” to 0800 800 150 (open Mon-Sat, 8am-8pm, free from BT landlines).
If you give BT at least five working days’ notice, they will aim to get your BT Broadband service installed on the same day as your phone line.
If you don’t have BT Broadband and want to transfer your phone line and broadband to your new address, you’ll need to organise these separately.
The company says it can change any BT Together Option and BT Calling Features to your new address automatically.
For more information, visit the site
Telewest also provides an online form or you can call the National Movers Centre on 0845 141 0111. They stress that it is “absolutely free” to transfer services. They add that you should let them know when you expect to have the keys for your new property “so that we can book a convenient time slot in which to visit and connect your service”.
Ntl have an online form for customers to complete before they move. They state that the more notice you give them, the more chance you’ll have to ensure that all your communication needs are in place on the day you move into your new home. Usually, Ntl can get you up and running within 14 days of contact but they say they aim to beat this where possible.
They add that if you are not transferring your services to your new address or are moving outside of our networked area, you will be required to pay the remainder period of the contract.
Tiscali also offer an online facility but say you must ensure that the BT telephone line has been installed prior to submitting your change of details otherwise the request will be rejected.
If you are moving to a property and will have a different phone number for Broadband the process of transferring the Broadband service will take up to 10 working days. However, if you are keeping your existing phone number the process of transferring the Broadband service will take up to 20 working days.
To ensure you get your post, the Royal Mail offers a redirection service lasting any time between one month and three years. Prices start at £6.90 for redirection to a UK address for one month.
For more information, including an online application form, visit their site
Or call 08457 740 740.
A checklist of other services
- Bank/building society
- Credit card/store companies
- Utility companies
- Council Tax office
- Hire purchases companies (car loans, etc)
- Insurance/Financial Service companies
- TV licence
- Employers
- Doctor, dentist and optician
- Schools & colleges
- DVLA
- Any subscriptions you may have – clubs etc
- Friends and family
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