Everything I Wish I had Known About Switching from Scottish Power to Niccolo Gas

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 Scottish Power 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:

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 micro business 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 Scottish Power

The groundwork has been done, you have been comparing deals within your switching window and now you are ready to leave Scottish Power. Let’s have a look at exactly what you need to do.

All the interaction about closing your account will happen between us here at Niccolo and Scottish power, you do not have to contact them yourself.

Scottish Power does not ask that you contact them directly to end your contract and switch supplier. Instead, you should contact your preferred new supplier and they will get in contact with Scottish Power to let them know your contract with them will be coming to an end. After they get this information, Scottish Power will begin the process of settling and closing your account with them.

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: do not cancel your direct debit with Scottish Power after you contact us and begin closing your account. Your final bill payment will still need to be collected via your direct debit, after which it will be automatically cancelled.

Final Payments and Settling

Now Scottish Power is aware of your intentions to leave, they will request that you submit a final meter reading to your new supplier who will then relay this information to Scottish Power. Using this information they can draft your final bill:

Within 6 weeks of this, Scottish Power will send you your final bill. If you are switching both your gas and electricity from Scottish Power it is important to remember these are processed at different rates so you will receive two separate final bills.

The final bill payment will be collected from your account via the usual method you use. If you are in credit, meaning you have overpaid for your energy at some point during your contract and are owed that money back, you will be refunded.

If your credit is over £5, Scottish Power will automatically refund you within 14 days. If you pay via direct debit it will be transferred into your account automatically. If you do not, you will be issued a cheque.

Should you be owed money in credit but the amount is under £5 then you need to contact Scottish Power about claiming your refund.

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:

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:

*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 British Gas 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!

Get a Quote from Niccolo