Price Comparison Sites - Different Prices ??

sooty&sweep

Hi

This probably a very stupid question but here goes...

Do different price comparison sites access different prices ?

I've looked through a number of sites and also gone direct (Scottish Power via Quidco) and got a different estimated annual cost each time.

I've not got accurate full year usage so I'm having to use my monthly payments to compare.

Is it a case that they all calculate ever so slightly differently or slightly different prices ???

Can anyone clarify ??

melb

Same thing happened to us. We decided to go with Scottish power capped but when we went through Quidco the cost was £100 more which rather overhshadowed the £72 promised cash-back with Quidco - were we doing something wrong?

PikeyBen

It's most likely because some price comparison websites simply don't update their information database to reflect the current prices regularly enough.

shornoff

I used EnergyHelpline to compare prices. My supplier at the moment is Atlantic Electricity and Gas. It said EDF would be cheaper by £320.

I then changed my mind and said my supplier was British Gas. EnergyHelpline said EDF would save me £320. Atlantic Electricity and Gas was not mentioned.

Pardon me for being cynical but isn't it in the interest of Price Comparison Sites to get me to change?

Decado23

If you're property supply has never been switched, then it's more or less a dead cert that picking the best looking deal from any comparison site will save you a few bob, regardless of how impartial they are.

If you're serious about getting the best price through regular switching then a bit of independent research wouldn't go amiss - use multiple comparison sites, check the rates listed against the recommended companies official published rates (comparison sites are sometimes not 100% up to date, which can give misleading results). After a site has given you a recommendation, make a note of it then go back to the site's home page (clear cookies, use another PC if particularly paranoid) and then put in your details as if you are already on the previously recommended tarrif - if they pull out a new recomendation then they're probably not being completely on the level with you.

check out http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7766798.stm
and
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/29/bt_uswitch/

a bit of an eye opener eh?