Misled by Swalec?

classicaltaff

I have just swapped to Swalec after being with Eon for some time. I used one of the comparison websites to look for a capped deal when Martin was recommending this a couple of months ago. Now I find out (from Eon) that the deal I'm on with Swalec gives me a 2% discount, not a cap - but I'm tied into the Swalec contract until 2010 with a £100 penalty if I change. So if Swalec put up their prices by 25% I'll still end up paying 23% more! What should I do?

Incisor

classicaltaff wrote: »

... Now I find out (from Eon) that the deal I'm on with Swalec gives me a 2% discount, not a cap - but I'm tied into the Swalec contract until 2010 with a £100 penalty if I change. ... What should I do?

Do? Ask Swalec what Swalec say their deal is. If there is one place I trust less than a company to tell you honestly what their deal is, it is their competitors.

backfoot

I've flagged this up as a potential problem on another forum in relation to Southern Electricity.It's so easy for customers to get confused between fixed discount (involving small discounts) and fixed. A lot of the fixed discount products do show up well initially in the comparison tables because of the small discount and people think they are 'fixing' at these prices.

If you aren't within the cooling off period, I think you have problems but you could try and approach their customer services and explain what has happened and see if they will be flexible and let you cancel without penalty.

Good luck.

Premier_2

Swalec are part of SSE. Their fixed discount 2010 tariff is not a fixed or capped rate tariff, but a 2% discount off their Standard Energy Online tariff.

How long have you requested the switch? If you are still within the 14 day cooling off period you can pull out without any penalty.

Otherwise, as you say, cancellation charges will apply. You just need to take these cancellation charges into account if you decide to switch before the expiry of the term.

classicaltaff

thanks - unfortunately I am past the cooling off period, in fact they have already started supplying our energy. When I think about it, I'm not sure if it's Swalec who did the misleading or the comparison website who brought them up as the best deal when I asked it to find me a capped rate. :mad:

paulonline123

You can do nothing really, you have a cool off period and if it was a major switching site approved by energy watch (moneysupermarket, uswitch etc) they all show the t and c's as does the information posted to you. If you didn't read and / or understand it frankly thats not SSE's fault or responsibility.

That said I do think the "fixed discount" is inherently misleading, and as a tariff pretty terrible.

As you have stated its the comparisons site that has mislead you by putting a fixed discount under the heading of capped prices but you'll never get any recourse from them.

Screaming and shouting may help as energy watch are the people who certify these sites but as the t and c would be in the details i think your stuck.