Avoiding fuel contract exit fee

[MikeDub]

My 12-month dual fuel contract with my current provider expires on 15 April.
I just phoned a new provider who appears to be offering the best plan to switch.
I always worked on the assumption that when switching providers, the new provider contacts the old provider and does the necessary transfer of information, and the new contract only begins when the existing one comes to an end.
My new provider told me they can only do immediate switches, i.e., the change would happen today. They cannot schedule it for the 15th, when the current one expires. Obviously, I paused what I was doing, as my current provider confirmed that this would trigger the €50 exit fee...
So, I wanted to check: is this standard? In other words, there's no benefit to setting up one's new provider ahead of time. It's best to wait, in order to avoid the €50 exit fee.

 

[ClubMan]

I always worked on the assumption that when switching providers, the new provider contacts the old provider and does the necessary transfer of information,

Yes.

and the new contract only begins when the existing one comes to an end.

No - unless you time this appropriately yourself.

So, I wanted to check: is this standard? In other words, there's no benefit to setting up one's new provider ahead of time. It's best to wait, in order to avoid the €50 exit fee.

You're still in contract so breaking the contract early will result in a penalty. That is standard.

 

[Sue Ellen]

They cannot schedule it for the 15th, when the current one expires.

I think one of the sales people told me that the reason for this is that the rates can change ahead of the scheduling.