So, you own a microbusiness? Perfect!
You will be pleased to know, or perhaps find out, that being a micro-business actually gives you more freedom and protection than other, larger businesses and even other SMEs. This means that it is easier for you to arrange and negotiate a more convenient and beneficial energy contract for your business.
It is important you take advantage of this, then. Switching your supplier can massively benefit your company and reduce your spending, meaning you can reinvest more of your money into your business (where it is of far more use to you).
Here at Niccolo, we understand small business, and we know how to support you. When you switch over to us, you are switching to a supplier who wants the best for you as opposed to larger suppliers who will happily treat you as a generic customer.
So, as E.ON is clearly not offering you what you want anymore, let us show you how easy the process is to switch over to us.
Am I a Microbusiness?
There is additional support in place within the energy market for microbusinesses. Generally, this is because microbusinesses are considered to be at higher risk of detrimental contracts than larger businesses with more funds and the capacity to have large, specialised account teams.
This means you get longer to switch your contract than other businesses so that you can be more sure, secure, and take your time to find the perfect deal for you.
To switch successfully, all you must do is have a new deal lined up whilst you still have more than 30 days remaining on your current energy contract. For this reason, it is a good idea to regularly remind yourself, or keep a note in your diary, of when your contracts are due to end. This switching window is unique only to microbusinesses and helps make it easier for you to not accidentally miss the switching window and being tied into an expensive roll-over contract with your current supplier.
However – there is additional support, too. Do not worry about potentially forgetting a date.
Your current supplier will contact you around 60 days before your contract expires. As well as this reminding you to look or agree on a new contract, the correspondence from your current supplier should also contain the following information:
Your yearly energy consumption (average) | |
Your meter information | |
The notice period of your contract | |
The details of your current deal | |
How your current deal compares to any new deals on offer |
It is important that you know this information as your potential future suppliers will ask you for it. As well as this, it is information you need to begin comparing and assessing suppliers so if for some reason your supplier does not contact you then be sure to ask them for it.
You qualify as a microbusiness if you:
- use less than 100,000 kWh of electricity a year, OR
- use less than 293,000 kWh of gas a year, OR
- have fewer than 10 employees (or the full-time equivalent of 390 contracted hours, perhaps split across more than 10 staff) AND your yearly turnover (or balance sheet) is less than £2 million.
How to Leave E.ON
The groundwork has been done, you have been comparing deals within your switching window and now you are ready to leave E.ON. Let’s have a look at exactly what you need to do.
To leave E.ON you can log into your online account here to end your contract. Alternatively, you can simply contact your new supplier and they will interact with E.ON on your behalf to close your account.
The Process: If you are within your 60-day renewal window
You need to give 30 days notice to leave E.ON.
Leaving E.ON should take around 3 weeks in total.
You do not need to submit a final meter reading to E.ON; instead, your new supplier will request a meter reading from your to begin your contract. This meter reading will be passed onto E.ON.
You will be sent a final bill around 6 weeks after you have switched.
The Process: If you are outside of your 60-day renewal window
If you are outside of your renewal window because you want to end your contract early then you may be charged an exit fee. The best way to check whether this is the case is by referring to your contract’s terms and conditions. If you are unsure you can contact E.ON via the following methods:
Phone Number* | 0345 301 4899. |
Final Payments and Settling
After receiving your final bill, your account will be closed. Upon doing this if E.ON notices that your account is in credit, so you have overpaid and are owed a refund, they will send the refund over to you within 10 working days.
If your credit is over £500 then they do ask that you are a little more flexible with time as it could take longer to reimburse you.
REMEMBER – do not cancel your direct debit with E.ON until all of these processes have taken place. Your final bill and any credit reimbursements will be taken via this.
How to Join Niccolo Gas
Within the aforementioned 60-day renewal period, or earlier should you wish to exit your contract early, you should begin comparing deals. After comparing potential deals you can contact Niccolo and enquire about starting your contract.
To get a contract prediction you will need to provide your annual energy consumption as well as some additional details. This will all be explained in more detail when you get in contact with us:
Phone Number* | 0141 610 8868 |
Online Quote Request | Here |
Email Address | info@niccolo.co.uk |
Postal Address | Niccolo Gas, Hudson House, 8 Albany Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3QB |
After you have agreed a contract with us, that is when you would get in touch with British Gas and begin the process of leaving.
In order to finish the process of joining Niccolo, the following will be required:
Provide a contact email address, as we issue e-bills | |
Provide a meter reading on the first day of your contract* |
*we ask for a photo rather than just a submitted reading as it helps us smooth any potential issues over with your old supplier regarding your usage.
Switching to Niccolo from E.ON will take a minimum of 15 days, but we do all the legwork during this time. In the month following your switch to Niccolo we will be in touch with your log in details for the Niccolo Online Portal as well as your first energy bill.
There you go – you have successfully switched your supplier and will begin your new and improved contract with Niccolo Gas!