Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

Essexuser

Thanks for that. You are correct that I am in a fixed price contract until May 17. As you say, I don't hold out any real hope of reducing the price in the middle of the fixed term but I was interested to find out what others are currently paying, particularly locally, as I think this will provide a stronger bargaining position.

Keith

chookstowers4

Hi,
Just joined this thread as preparing to do the bi-annual haggle with the LPG companies.
Shame I didn't find this two years ago as I might have won a better deal, never mind!

We moved to our property four years ago, it had a very old oil fired boiler and the oil tank looked fit to drop.
Having opted to have an underground tank, my husband negotiated with Calor to install it and the subsequent,gas was 56ppl.
When it came to renewal two years ago, Calor offered 46ppl initially but I chose to ring around. Flogas came in with the best price of 41ppl which Calor matched. With limited knowledge at the time, we opted for this but have seen from the forum that others were being offered 'cashback' of free gas to the account.
The first year was to be 41ppl with the second year being variable. Having looked at the cost of LPG ppl on here, I rang Calor approx 8weeks ago and said if my second year was variable why had the price not dropped in line with the market?
I was told gas is bought two years in advance etc but when I pointed out that the price has been falling during that time and I've read up on a forum here, I was told most people don't know that much about the market!
I said I was upset with the variable not being reduced in my favour and they said the price was as it was.
I started to look at prices elsewhere and rang Countrywide but the number on their website put me through to Calor! I explained I was trying to get through to Countrywide and said I didn't want to proceed with the Calor call as I was dissatisfied with my contract. I gave a brief overview of my issue with the variable part of the contract. The operator said he felt he could do something re this. He put me on hold and came back to advise he would refund the difference on my last tank refill from 41ppl to 29ppl, the price I would be offered on my next renewal. No obligation. This was duly done and I rec'd £187 credit to my account.
It is annoying that each time we renew we have to go through this 'game.' Calor initially offered 34ppl as their best best price before I inadvertently went through the Countrywide number, with no offer of f'free gas' or fix in the second year.
So I rang around the options I have and came up with these:-
Avantigas - 30ppl (fixed for 1 year), cap on increase of 5ppl in any 6 moths in second year, service charge £110pa
Flogas - 29.95ppl fixed for 1 year, 3.5p cap in second year, £80 s/c and £250 free gas
Calor initially -34ppl fixed 12months, ??? In second year but I could leave if more than 3.5ppl increase per quarter, no free gas
Equal Response - 29.9ppl fixed for 1 year(DD) or 28.9ppl if pay on ordering, 4ppl total increase in second year, £120 s/c and £150 credit.
Have recently had a letter from Calor with amazing offers! To fix my rate for a year at 39ppl with the second year variable or take a reduced variable rate of 37ppl!
I rang Calor and said this was ridiculous given other offers and what they'd previously offered and said on theuklpg site the lowest price on offer is 27.5ppl.
They have come back with 28ppl for 12 months, one increase to 30ppl in second year, £90 s/ and £250 free gas.
This is very tempting but it's just so annoying that we have to go through this each renewal and that some customers are just in the dark and paying way over the odds.
I did try Woldlink as per other posts but the variable monthly tariff is no longer available, apparently according to the rep I spoke to people on that contract are paying 19ppl!!! It's a two year contract with the price being fixed each six months, from April it's slightly more than Calor
but they are also offering £250 free gas.
So I will keep reading the posts and see what people are paying before I sign anywhere for two years.
Thanks for the posts it's a big help.
I'm based in the East Midlands by the way.

mcmullank

chookstowers4 wrote: »

Hi, ...

I did try Woldlink as per other posts but the variable monthly tariff is no longer available, apparently according to the rep I spoke to people on that contract are paying 19ppl!!!...

Just to let you know that I am on the variable rate with Woldlink and I haven't been lucky enough to get a price as low as this.

bobmac62

April 2016 price from Woldlink is now confirmed at 22.93ppl +5% VAT

top10cat

Hi all,


New to LPG and came across this company who have offered 32ppl. Has anyone used them, I couldn't find any reviews online?

LittleVermin

top10cat wrote: »

Hi all,
New to LPG and came across this company who have offered 32ppl. Has anyone used them, I couldn't find any reviews online?

The subject line says it all. LPGSave - http://www.lpg-save.co.uk/ is a broker ... and the same person/people operate for all major fuels (see also www.powerandgas.co.uk). Like most brokers, they will get their money when you sign up to a supplier. It's not surprising then that sometimes you won't get the best price but the deal that gives the broker the highest fee. Some supposedly independent brokers are tied to one company (Flogas has/had at least one!).

So the advice most people on here would give would be to get your own quotes. See who will supply you by putting your postcode into the box on http://www.uklpg.org then ring round. If a supplier wishes to supply you they HAVE to give a quote over the phone, subject to a site survey. You need to ask whether the price is a tracker or fixed (and if so for how long, then the maximum rise per 3/6/12 months) AND the tank rental cost (and what this covers: it should cover tank AND fittings, but the supply line to your house is your responsibility). You can also phone farmers' co-ops / merchants like Mole Valley Farmers and Woldlink which both operate nationwide through subcontractors who'll do the delivery.

32ppl - is this good? Well, the post before yours gave Woldlink's tracker price as 22.93ppl this month!

Please post all the offers you get - starting price + max rise / tracker, plus rental. A few companies post their prices on-line - see HateLPG's charts but still good to contact them as they may have a fixed price deal if you want that.

Good luck - but if you want to use LPGSave do inquire the precise terms for the supply!

PS We were told that when Woldlink's tracker price was 20ppl they were making 6ppl (Flogas did the deliveries, all the paperwork, etc - "nice work if you can get it" springs to mind!).
..

top10cat

Hi


Just been offered a deal with Flo Gas for 29ppl for the first year and 32pppl for the second. £60 standing charge and £250 of free fuel. Sounds like a reasonable deal, although the reviews on trust pilot are far from complementary!

LittleVermin

top10cat wrote: »

Hi
Just been offered a deal with Flo Gas for 29ppl for the first year and 32pppl for the second. £60 standing charge and £250 of free fuel. Sounds like a reasonable deal, although the reviews on trust pilot are far from complementary!

...well, that's already better than the price the broker offered you! Though, of course, the broker's deal might have given you free gas for year 1 and you only paid 32ppl for year 2 (and I can see what looks like the Red Arrows from my window .. oh, no, they've got curly tails!).

Anyway, now you've got what sounds like a reasonable deal you've got a bargaining chip. Good luck! And yes, there are many tales about Flogas's unusual ideas about customer service. If you want to be sure about good customer service go for an independent (though Countrywide has very mixed reviews). You might want each company to email you a copy of their blank contract (especially if you like reading small print).

Here's a post with links for Trustpilot for Calor and Flogas: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=70245408&postcount=2620
..

top10cat

gosh what a minefield! All the suppliers seem to have appalling reviews with Calor leading the field. Oh well, least I know Calor is definitely out of the equation.

PG_Tree

Hi All,

What a great forum this is. I've been a little negligent and have not been searching the best LPG prices. I ran out of contract around 2 years ago, FloGas did not contact me to tell me the contract was up but continued to bill me for 56ppl. After my last fill up I rang and was offered 52ppl on a 2 year contract. I researched this and called back telling them of other offers. After further chases they are now offering me 29ppl and a max increase in year 2 of 4ppl. After arguing they are also offering £200 credit. I believe the offer is good enough going forward as the difference elsewhere is minimal, my main question is whether others have pushed for and been given a refund based on being ripped off. Appreciate I should have been more on the ball but the difference is price is ridiculous. I have submitted a complain and threatened to wite to the national press.