Guides › Energy and Water Bills › Energy Supplier Switched Without My Permission
Energy Supplier Switched Without My Permission
If you were switched to a new energy supplier without agreeing, tell your old supplier. Ofgem says it has 21 working days to switch you back, and you get £40 automatically from the new supplier once the mistake is agreed. You will not have to pay the new supplier anything.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Getting Switched Back
The Rules
If your supply is switched by mistake, tell your old supplier, which has 21 working days to switch you back. You get £40 from the new supplier, paid automatically within 10 working days of the mistake being agreed. An extra £40 may be due if compensation is not paid within 10 working days, or the supplier takes more than 20 working days to reply. source
Your Bills
Ask your old or new supplier to cancel the switch if it is still in progress, or reverse it. When you are switched back you will still get bills from your old supplier, and you won't have to pay the new supplier anything. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 21 working daysOld supplier switches you backFrom when you tell it
- 10 working days£40 compensation paidAfter the mistake is agreed
- 8 weeksEnergy complaint to the Energy OmbudsmanAfter 8 weeks with no resolution, or on receiving a deadlock letter
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Contact your old supplier and say you did not agree to the switch.
Step 2 of 5
Note the date, time and who you spoke to.
Step 3 of 5
Take a meter reading.
Step 4 of 5
Check you get the £40 compensation. Our free letter templates can write it for you.
Step 5 of 5
If it is not sorted, complain, then go to the Energy Ombudsman.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Energy Supplier's Complaints Team
Always start here, in writing.
Energy Ombudsman
After 8 weeks with no resolution, or when you get a deadlock letter.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Ofgem also says a switch you did agree to must be completed within 5 working days, or you get £40.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/get-compensation-problems-switching-energy-suppliers Checked 13 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-supply/youve-been-switched-to-a-new-energy-supplier-without-your-agreement Checked 13 October 2026
- energyombudsman.org/advice-for-consumers/what-is-back-billing Checked 12 October 2026