Comparing the comparison services/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

Maisy_Mouse_2

I have tried to change supplier using Simply Switch but despite frequent e mails to them after 4 months I am no farther along in the process than I was.

I have to day mailed to tell them I will do it myself and to keep the cashback as frankly I have lost the equivalent waiting for them to take any action.

Based on service to date I would not recommend them as a switching service.

Not sure if anyone has similar experience with them, but if you want to move quickly (I know it takes some time) don't rely on Simply Switch.

yoghurt

[I am also wondering, is it better to go direct to NPower and get £60 per year (paid at the end of the year) extra saving compared to £12.50 cash back which incidentally I found no info on the energy-helpline website ?

Hi Rubix

Did you ever establish if you could get the £12.50 via the energy comparison site AND the £60 once you joined Npower? (I am assuming this cannot be done but would like to be proved wrong)!

The 2 main energy-helpline websites Martin recommended both showed swapping from BG/SWEB to Npower-mu only worry after browsing this forum is any more price changes to come/the comparison being correct/little hassle in swapping over. The saving for me was £360pa so it sounds good!

Thanks

Ian_M_6

I'd be careful about comparison sites, particularly if you're in a new home.

I was quoted a saving of over £160 switching to Npower, only to be told that our house supply came from a non-standard piping company, and the gas bill would go up by a third, eliminating any savings. This is typical of new homes, apparently.

Fortunately, we can cancel our contract but it's an important caveat.

smooth_operator_3

Please be careful. There's a note at the top of every page about defamatory remarks. Many of the Chief Execs of the price comparison companies read these pages. Whilst I am happy for people to criticise their services, please keep the language polite and keep it factual, defamatory comments will be removed.[/QUOTE]


First time of posting new to this so bare with me....

Is still worth switching, i have just recieved my bill from Bristish Gas/Electric and nearly fell off my chair. Not really sure what to do, appreciate any advice

oldwiring

Ian_M wrote:

I'd be careful about comparison sites, particularly if you're in a new home.

I was quoted a saving of over £160 switching to Npower, only to be told that our house supply came from a non-standard piping company, and the gas bill would go up by a third, eliminating any savings. This is typical of new homes, apparently.

Fortunately, we can cancel our contract but it's an important caveat.

I have mentioned elsewhere that Southern Electricity and possibly others in the same group have abolished the extra charge with the May price increases.

Jays

Just tried Martin's second recommendation for a comparison site :http://www.ukpower.co.uk/msecashback

he says it lists all utilities but cannot find Atlantic Gas and Electricity in the drop down menu for my existing supplier, and cannot find any way of using them in the comparison.

Am I being particularly thick, or has anyone else had a problem?

Jays

Capyboppy

It sort of worked for me but not totally successfully. I am with Scottish Power capped until the end of March 07, but this wasn't listed. Then nearest SP tariff was May 07 so had to go by that. When getting the list it showed Ebico as the only one that would save me money (18) but only two stars for service. Yet again another different result. It will be very difficult next March if I want to use the comparision sites as all of them show different companies as the cheapest. Guess the only way is the long way and to write down all the khw hours etc to compare.

SAE

I used USwitch to change my electricity supplier when they had the offer of a free bottle of champagne.I had a confirmation letter from USwitch to confirm that I had indeed changed supplier and I have been on supply from the new supplier now for a couple of months but no champagne.
Have I missed something?
SAE

jicms

We are with Npower, having switched twice from British Gas and Atlantic. I have entered the same annual usage amounts into the following four comparison sites and got these results!!!

Simply Switch
£ -317.06 - Atlantic

Switch with Which
£143.33 (saving) - British Gas

Energy Helpline
£205 (saving) - Equipower & Equigas

UK Power
£159 (saving) - EBICo

What a mess. No wonder when I have switched in the past I'm immediately advised to switch again.

Has anybody else found these sites so unreliable. Looks like I just have to stay where I am else I'll never know who to switch to.

Capyboppy

jicms wrote:

We are with Npower, having switched twice from British Gas and Atlantic. I have entered the same annual usage amounts into the following four comparison sites and got these results!!!

Has anybody else found these sites so unreliable. Looks like I just have to stay where I am else I'll never know who to switch to.

That's why I have said the only truly reliable way time consuming as it may be, is to write down all the information and work it out the long way. Although I have only switched once in the last 3 years, I regularly do the comparision sites, and like you, come up with all sorts of figures, with sometimes my current supplier (SP) not even on the list. I would love it if Martin could explain why this is the case. After all, Martin does encourage us to use the comparision sites, but this is no good when this sort of thing happens. I know some people have said it is because some companies haven't updated their prices, but surely this can't be the case with all of them.