All the steps to cancel your contract
Are you not satisfied with your energy contract – gas or electricity? Are you moving or want to change supplier? Whatever the reasons that lead you to want to terminate your contract, you have every right to do so and we will explain for you in this article how to go about it…
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Termination of an energy contract: what are the stages of terminating a contract?
Termination of an energy contract can occur for many reasons and in various circumstances. Since the liberalization of the energy market, the contracts marketed by energy suppliers are all without any long-term commitment and without any termination fees.
This allows consumers to be completely free in their choice of energy supply for their home. As such, the termination process can take place at any time by sending a termination letter or by contacting the supplier: all energy suppliers operate in the same way.
Whatever the method, terminating an energy contract is free and certain elements must be included in a request for termination of contract.
Regardless of the energy supplier and regardless of the type of contract signed, electricity or natural gas, the termination process is completely free. In other words, no termination fees can be requested from customers wishing to end their energy contract. The only costs to be paid by consumers correspond to their last consumption made before making the request to terminate the contract. These costs are presented in the form of a contract closing invoice.
Here is what must be included in a request for termination of contract:
- the energy contract identifier number to be found on one of the invoices;
- the address of the accommodation in order to identify the energy meters;
- the Delivery Point (PDL) and Counting and Estimation Point (PCE) numbers;
- the last reading from the electric and/or gas meter;
- the desired date of effective termination of the energy contract.
What are the different ways to send a request to terminate an energy contract?
Once the decision is made regarding contract termination with an energy supplier, there comes the question of requesting termination of contract. Today, different means and channels of communication are available to consumers. In the Internet age, energy operators allow users to send their termination request digitally.
In order to have a clearer view of all the viable methods for sending a contract termination request to energy suppliers, here is a summary list of the different means available to terminate your energy contract:
Postal mail
The termination letter must be sent by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt and include all the information necessary for terminating an energy contract. This method is the most recommended in the context of energy contract terminations because it is the most official.
An e-mail can absolutely be sent to the energy supplier to request a termination of contract. In short, this takes the form of a classic termination letter to be sent digitally. This method of communication is also relatively appreciated by energy suppliers for contract termination requests.
Customer service by telephone
Termination of the energy contract is accompanied by the online customer advisor who will try to carry out the task as efficiently as possible. For the less literary, this is the simplest and quickest way to request termination.
The energy supplier’s online chat
A termination request can be made through the chat on the suppliers’ websites. This method is quite rarely used.
Customer area
Some suppliers offer a “Cancellation” or “Moving” tab on their customer areas. When the option is offered by energy suppliers, it is very practical.
Depending on the energy supplier, the means by which customers can complete termination procedures may differ. Overall, the communication channels remain the same, especially since for termination by postal mail is strongly recommended. On the other hand, some energy operators have contact forms through which it is also possible to make a request to terminate a contract.
What costs can be incurred by a breach of an energy contract?
Once again, electricity and gas subscription contracts are obligatorily without long-term commitment and without any termination fees, thanks to the NOME law. This therefore necessarily implies that no amount is requested from customers when they take steps to terminate their electricity or gas contract.
On the other hand, once the termination request has been made, it may take a few more days before the contract is truly closed. So, users are always liable for the energy contract closing invoice which takes into account the last consumption made with the previous energy supplier. In other words, this is the gas or electricity consumption from the day the termination request was received by the energy operator to the day the contract actually ends.
Finally, it should be kept in mind that the contract closing invoice may also include unpaid debts, if applicable. Depending on the monthly payments and the energy consumption of each user, the rating may be higher or lower, hence the importance of terminate your energy contract early.
