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How long does it take to switch business water suppliers?
Here at The Business Water Shop, we’ve made it our mission to ensure it’s never been easier to switch your business water supplier. Whether you’re looking to cut costs, get better customer service, or just want a supplier that actually responds when you need support, you can always count on us to do as much of the admin as we can on your behalf.
Now, there are a couple of Frequently Asked Questions that we often hear from our customers, and a lot of them revolve around timescales. So, if you’re one of the many people wondering how long it takes to switch suppliers, the short answer is: it depends.
Allow us to explain.
How long a business water switch takes
Normally when people ask this question, they can mean one of two things:
- How long the switch takes once it’s officially underway
- How long the full process takes from the moment you start enquiring
So, let’s deal with each of them in turn.
If you’re asking about the regulated switch period – that is, how long it takes once you’ve confirmed the switch – it usually takes between 15 and 30 calendar days. That’s the standard window used across England and Scotland. During this time, we’ll handle all the admin and communication for you in the background. So, other than a few simple things, you don’t have to worry about anything involved with smoothing the transition.
If you’re asking how long the whole process takes from the moment you start comparing options, it’s usually closer to 3 to 6 weeks. That includes everything from requesting quotes, submitting your details, giving consent to switch, and resolving any small issues like supply point errors or contract overlaps. If you’re switching a single site and your information is accurate, it can be quicker. For more complex setups, it may take just a bit of extra time to make sure that everything is accurate and generally in order.
For example, that means we’ll confirm that your supply point is correctly registered in the market database, and check that your contract end date is aligned with your plans. If there’s an outstanding balance with your current supplier, we’ll also help to clarify the steps for clearing it.
There are also a couple of different key factors that can influence the duration, such as efficiency of the supplier’s processes, the nature of any administrative requirements, contract terms and notice periods, meter readings and setup. We can keep you informed of any specific factors like these that may be relevant to you though. And of course, we can provide any advice you need, guide you through these early checks to keep things moving forward.
One important thing to address – yes, you’ll experience a consistent water supply throughout, so you don’t have to worry about interruptions.
What to expect during the switching process
Once you enter your details – usually your business name, address, and a few bits about your water usage – we’ll get to work gathering quotes. This can often be done within a day. The quotes you receive will reflect your supply setup, usage level, and service region. Some suppliers also provide extras such as consolidated billing or usage tracking dashboards to support more efficient management.
When you’ve had a chance to compare the options and select a deal, you’ll just need to give us permission to act on your behalf. This is done through a Letter of Authority (LOA), and it enables us to manage the switch directly with suppliers and the central market. From there, we’ll verify your supply point, confirm your eligibility to switch, and begin the formal process.
We’ll submit the switch request to the market, and your current supplier is automatically notified. If your contract terms are ready for changeover, we move ahead as planned. If anything needs review, we’ll let you know and help put the next steps in place.
Around your switch date, we may ask for a meter reading to mark the handover point. Your final bill from the old supplier will reflect this reading, and your new supplier takes over from there. The billing frequency and payment methods will be tailored to your new arrangement.
Who manages the switch on your behalf?
In short, we do! From checking your details to chasing suppliers, we take care of all the admin here at The Business Water Shop, so you can focus on running your business. As we’ve touched on above, that includes confirming your supply point, gathering competitive quotes, identifying any switching barriers, and coordinating the formal request through the market system.
We also monitor the switch once it’s submitted. That means we’ll stay in contact with the new supplier, confirm updates with the old one when needed, and keep everything aligned to the schedule. If anything needs resolving, we take care of it directly – for example, any rejected requests, missing data, or a timing issues. As well as managing the admin, we can also spot common problems early and sort them quickly. That includes duplicate meters, incorrect registrations, or active contracts that need review.
That’s everything in a nutshell! If you have any questions or need any advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. Or, if you’re already all set to go, you’re in exactly the right place. With a network of trusted suppliers at our disposal that spans across the UK, we’re perfectly positioned to get you the most competitive water quotes for your business. In fact, we’re able to save some customers up to 55% on their water bills, and you can count on us to use all our resources and industry expertise to get you the best deal.
It only takes a few minutes to get your online quote – so if you’re thinking about switching business water suppliers, there’s never been a better time to do it!
