TERMS & CONDITIONS OF OUR SWITCHING SERVICE
1. Overview
1.1. The following document sets out the terms and conditions of service for Cheaper Business UK Ltd. We have set out below the principal terms which come into effect once a customer uses our switching service. If you have any further questions about these terms and conditions, or anything else, please contact our Customer Services team who will be more than happy to help you further. Our Customer Services team can be contacted on 0333 335 0531.
1.2. These terms and conditions govern the use of the services Cheaper Business UK Ltd provide to customers. It is important that you read these terms and conditions carefully. These terms are published on our website and are available via paper copy or email on request. By using Cheaper Business UK Ltd services, you signify that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. If you do not agree to these terms – DO NOT use our service.
2. Price Comparison / Switching Service
2.1. Cheaper Business UK Ltd provides a price comparison / switching service to UK organisations. To use this service you must be;
· An incorporated business, a registered charity or a constituted voluntary group that operated in the UK;
· Eighteen years or older (if a sole trader or a self employed partnership that operates and is/are resident in the UK);
· Meet the credit scoring requirements of any supplier (if applicable).
2.2. We reserve the right to refuse to provide our services to any customer at our discretion.
2.3. If the customer agrees to use our services, Cheaper Business UK Ltd will use its reasonable endeavours to identify, negotiate and secure competitive prices across several industries including energy, telecoms, water, merchant services and bookkeeping & accountancy services. We also quote for our own products and services where Cheaper Business UK Ltd is the direct supplier of those services. For the record energy prices are obtained from a leading panel of energy suppliers using price books provided by suppliers.
2.4. The customer agrees to provide Cheaper Business UK Ltd with accurate information to allow accurate quotations to be obtained – including the cost/usage/consumption of any particular contract, end dates and other know factors that may influence prices and quotations. The provision of a quotation by a supplier via Cheaper Business UK Ltd does not constitute an offer to the customer and offers will each have their own supplier’s terms and obligations attached. If the customer accepts a quotation and a contract is executed between the customer and the supplier, the contract is binding, and the customer will not be permitted to revoke such an acceptance. The supplier shall be entitled at any time to refuse to accept a customer’s offer of acceptance at their discretion.
2.5. If the customer and supplier wish to enter into a contract, Cheaper Business UK Ltd will provide a switching service (or renewal service) which will include organising the contract between the customer and the supplier for the purchase and supply of the suppliers’ services. Cheaper Business UK Ltd will not be responsible for any delays or failures caused by either the customer, Cheaper Business UK Ltd, the proposed supplier or any existing supplier in relation to effecting either a transfer of supply or renewal of supply.
2.6. Cheaper Business UK Ltd makes no guarantees as to either the quality of the service that their third party suppliers operate, or the prices obtained at quotation. With regards energy prices, please note these fluctuate on a daily basis and whilst we attempt to help secure competitive rates to enable switching or renewal, we cannot guarantee any quote is the cheapest. The customer is reminded that ultimately it is their responsibility to validate the accuracy of any quotations presented. Also, it is the customers responsibility to ensure that the contract(s) have been submitted to the supplier and will go live. This is usually represented by receiving/accepting communication from either the new or old supplier to confirm that the switch/ renewal is occurring.
2.7. The customer acknowledges that they are entering into a contract with a supplier for the provision of a product/service and not with Cheaper Business UK Ltd. The customer agrees that Cheaper Business UK Ltd is not liable in any way for any dealings, contracts or transactions between the customer and the supplier and that any such transactions, contracts, dealings or payment obligations are the customers’ responsibility and risk.
2.8. The customer agrees by using the service, that Cheaper Business UK Ltd is independent of any of their approved third party suppliers and that Cheaper Business UK Ltd is not instructed by the customer to act as their agent or representative. The customer agrees that Cheaper Business UK Ltd are not responsible for the provision of any services supplied by their approved third parties.
3. Charges
3.1. Cheaper Business UK Ltd is remunerated directly by the suppliers and receives a commission for securing and finalising the contract between the customer and the supplier. With energy this is usually by way of an uplift that is applied within your unit cost. With other services this is usually by way of a fixed commission. The cost for Cheaper Business UK Ltd’s service is therefore included within the cost of the contract that you agree with the supplier.
3.2. For energy and by way of example we may secure a price for electricity at 16 pence per KWH and apply a 0.9p uplift. The contracted price we would offer would therefore be 16.9p. Our commission would be calculated as 0.9p multiplied by your annual energy consumption and multiplied by the contract term. Our uplifts depend on the size and length of the contract and other factors such as credit risks. Our average uplift is a few percent of your total energy cost and typically between 1p and 2p depending upon suppliers. Because we get paid by suppliers, we only offer prices from those suppliers on our panel. Our panel currently consists of over 90% of the UK business energy suppliers (by customer numbers) so we have a very wide range to price from.
4. Duplicate contract fees
4.1. Where the customer enters into a contract with a supplier and uses Cheaper Business UK Ltd service, it is agreed that this contract is accepted as legally binding. In the event the customer enters into another contract with another supplier, and the contract facilitated by Cheaper Business UK Ltd fails to proceed to live status, Cheaper Business UK Ltd will receive no fee for its services from a supplier and will have incurred time and loss. In those circumstances, Cheaper Business UK Ltd reserves the right to charge the customer a one off “failed contract” fee, for energy, of £750 per meter, or the total value of commission we would have earnt on the contract introduction (per meter) – whichever is the higher figure. The same terms are applied for other services that offer fixed fee commission, of £750 per product/service or the total commission, whichever is higher. This is in addition to any charges the supplier may also attempt to recover for the failed contract. It is important that once you have entered into a contract with a supplier that you honour that contract and do not enter into duplicate contracts with other suppliers.
4.2. A “Win Back” is where we introduce you back to your incumbent supplier (renew) after beating another price from another supplier you have agreed to move to. By winning back the contract you are effectively cancelling the contract you have agreed to leave your incumbent supplier and renew again with them.
5. Change of Tenancy Notifications and Fees – Energy
5.1. Where a customer enters into an energy contract through Cheaper Business UK Ltd but decides to move premises or cease to trade mid contract and the landlord or another tenant takes over the supply, the contract will terminate. This is called a “change of tenancy” or “COT”. Cheaper Business UK Ltd fees are adjusted by supplier if a COT occurs. It’s therefore important that you notify Cheaper Business UK Ltd before the end of your energy contract in the event that you are moving premises and a COT will occur. We ideally recommend at least 14 days in advance of your contract end date. Failure to notify Cheaper Business UK Ltd will incur a fee for the loss / reduction in commission the supplier pays us. In those circumstances, Cheaper Business UK Ltd reserves the right to charge the customer a one off “failed contract” fee of £750 per meter, or the total value of commission we would have earnt on the contract introduction (per meter) – whichever is the higher figure. Cheaper Business UK Ltd will discount the % of the contract that’s been fulfilled from the failed contract fee.
5.2. Where a customer initiates a change of tenancy but it is later established that this has been done under false pretenses in order to procure a new contract through another broker or directly with a supplier before the contract signed through Cheaper Business UK Ltd has been completed, it is agreed that this constitutes a level of fraud against Cheaper Business UK Ltd which will result in an unforeseen loss of revenue. In this instance, Cheaper Business UK Ltd reserves the right to report the matter to the relevant authorities, including but not limited to the police, the Office for Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) and the energy supplier(s) who are involved in this COT action. It is also agreed that in such instances Cheaper Business UK Ltd reserves the right to charge the customer fees in the same respect as laid out in section 5.1 of these terms and conditions.
6. Early Termination of any other services that are not energy related.
6.1. Whereas Cheaper Business UK Ltd provides the customer with other services such as mobile phones, landlines, internet, card payment machines, accountancy and bookkeeping services etc… (for the avoidance of doubt this list is not exhaustive but providing a fair example of the other products and services which can be procured through Cheaper Business UK Ltd. The customer agrees that a “failed contract” fee may be added to any clawed back commissions or the like to cover administration costs of chasing the outstanding debt. Cheaper Business UK Ltd reserve the right to hold off on or remove a failed contract fee should the customer be forthcoming and pay promptly.
7. Failure to go live & Failure of a supplier – Energy
7.1. If a contract fails to go live (commence supply) due to the customer failing to provide us with information or documentation requested by either us or the supplier, or through a failure of a supplier or suppliers refusing to accept supply, Cheaper Business UK Ltd reserves the right to charge the customer a one off fee of £750. Critical information required, but not limited too includes – signed letters of authority, current supplier information, meter numbers, contract start or end dates, termination notifications, supplier ceasing to trade / onboard contracts and banking details including setting up direct debits or standing orders with a new supplier.
7.2. If your current supplier fails, and you enter a supplier of last resort (SOLR), Cheaper Business UK Ltd fees may not be paid by the supplier that fails. In those circumstances we will charge a fee of £750 (if our fees are not already paid by more than 80%) to cover our lost fees incurred. We may at our discretion agree to waive those fees if the customer instructs Cheaper Business UK Ltd to introduce another supplier to take over their SOLR contract.
8. Auto Renew
8.1. If you have provided us with delegated authority (DA) to renew your energy contract on your behalf, these terms and conditions continue to apply and are binding on any future contracts.
9. Payment of Charges
9.1. You agree that Cheaper Business UK Ltd can use all and any means to recoup any charges/fees which may arise by way of Direct Debit, Card Payment, PreAction Resolution Service or when all other options have been exhausted via the County Court.
10. Directors/Owner’s Guarantee
10.1. For the avoidance of doubt, If a fee is outstanding and is being sought under these terms and conditions, by engaging our services, its agreed that in the case of a limited company, all directors of that company, at the time of signing any contracts via Cheaper Business UK Ltd, become equally liable for the outstanding fees owed to Cheaper Business UK Ltd in the event that the fees cannot be obtained from the company. In the respect of a Sole Trader or Partnership, any fees owing will remain personally responsible to the individual(s) even if the business has ceased to trade.