linear10:I then started the process of switching to British gas and have just made the first payment to british gas of £50, obviously cheaper than Scottish power
Is it better to just sever all ties with Scottish power and go with British Gas?? Help please
There is more than one issue here.
Firstly you cannot treat monthly payments in isolation. You need to take into account also whether the current reading on the latest bill was actual or estimated and whether the previous reading on the lastest bill was actual or estimated. You also need to take into account what the debit or credit balance is on the latest bill. Also relevant but a smaller issue is the tariff details. Actually there is little difference between the most competitive Scottish Power and British Gas tariffs (except SP is slightly cheaper)
Next, you can only have one electricity supplier at a time. You say you have started the switching process and British Gas have already collected £50 by Direct Debit (is that right?)
There is an industry agreed switching process. British Gas would have asked you for, and you would have provided, the meter reading on a particular day. Then BG will set up your new account and inform SP of the transfer reading. Then SP will calculate your final bill.....and here is the good bit.....will refund you your £350 (eventually).
Well that is what is supposed to happen but BG do not have a great customer service record. Just check this forum.
Most energy companies refund the way they collect the payments, in you case by Direct Debit .......except you cancelled the DD arrangement. Understandable but probably a mistake. Now they will need to you send a cheque which could easily get lost in the post (ha ha I mean not sent). If the transfer is proceding normally you should ignore the SP £39 letter for the moment. Its hardly surprising its only £39 because you are £350 in credit.
I would stick with the BG transfer until it is completed. Unless its a fixed rate you have signed up to you can switch again in 28 days.