Ebico Is Now Expensive Even For Low Users

Woby_Tide

if they aren't making a profit, if the price is the same for all then yes

face facts: they won't run at a loss just to make sure they are cheapest it's unworkable

if another supplier can offer cheaper, use them, everyone wins, the fact is that supplier is able to subsidise it's rates from elsewhere, it's always going to happen

fair and ethical DOES NOT EQUAL cheapest

it's fairly simple really? Is fair trade tea and coffee the cheapest in the shops and cafes? If not why not?

Edit: thats excellent news about your prices, I've never used them for electric as they were never cheapest, thats was my sole motivation for using the company, the fact their gas was and still is cheapest for me is why I remain their, the fact they are ethical, woo bonus, I'm off to heaven. I've already said if you can get cheaper elsewhere then go there. Just quit lying about the facts. THEY ARE CHEAPER FOR SOME....but not all. It's simple really.

jonnyboy12345

Hi

I have only recently changes to Ebico from BG on the 25/09 so I get about a week of cheap prices im afraid at times of economic hardship I dont care about the little old lady or the single mum with a pre payment meter im afraid with rises like that and when you have a got a sibgle credit meter a good job and want to pay by Direct Debit it has to be one of the big 5 if theres one thiong I learned about growing up int e80s and 90s its look after number one and numbers ones family and if you are honest you will agree ethics dont pay bills so its back to a big supplier for me if the price rises werent so huge it would be easier for people to take but if you are a high user or medium user BG clicks tear 2 prices have got to look good! In addition I have just changed from Ebico for electric to BG Click 5 this was about 2 weeks ago and I have the welcome pack do you think they will honour the click 5 prices?

[Deleted User]

I am glad I don`t know many number one people in my world

jonnyboy12345

"I am glad I don`t know many number one people in my world" im afraid Kittie self survival lurks in all of us its human nature and certainly was instilled into me by my Conservative right wing up bringing and so it should have been

Premier_2

jonnyboy12345 wrote: »

"I am glad I don`t know many number one people in my world" im afraid Kittie self survival lurks in all of us its human nature and certainly was instilled into me by my Conservative right wing up bringing and so it should have been

Then you are not one of ebico's targetted customers

Why do people choose Ebico? Many choose us because our prices are cheaper for them. And many others choose us because they know our prices are fairer for everyone. Still others choose us for our innovative carbon-offsetting service, and because our tariff structure is simple, transparent and straight-forward.

Our core business aim is to reverse the dominant market trends within our own commercial ventures. Instead of competing for the business of those who can spend most, by offering them the best deals and cheaper rates, we use the combined purchasing power of all our customers to achieve ethical results that benefit the majority – while putting first those who have least.

http://www.ebico.co.uk/html/a_about.php

Ebico was set up specifically to help counter the market pressures that are increasing poverty and heightening social inequity. Our guiding principles are:

• to seek out ways to support those most disadvantaged by dominant market trends
• to redress the bias towards profit in the energy market by offering viable alternatives that are equitable and fair
• to initiate and practise wise stewardship of resources

http://www.ebico.co.uk/html/a_ethos.php

EquiPower, as the name suggests, is an equitable rate available to all domestic customers in England, Scotland and Wales. We even out between all our customers the different expenses of different payment methods. Nobody is penalised because of his or her budget or circumstances or by how much gas they choose to buy.

Everybody pays at the same fair rate and there are no standing charges.

In contrast, most other energy supply companies charge pre-payment meter customers at a higher rate than other customers. Their reason is that there’s more effort involved in servicing this payment method – i.e. supplying and looking after the meters, which are the company’s property.


When you consider that pre-payment meter users have to pay up to a third more than online customers in some regions, you realise what’s special about EquiPower

http://www.ebico.co.uk/html/e_pricework.php

So, in summary, they offer

No standing charges

The same simple flat rate for everybody regardless of your payment method

Help for the whole community in getting a fair deal from the benefits of energy competition

http://www.ebico.co.uk/html/x_news.php

Woby_Tide

c0113tt3 wrote: »

WOBY-TIDE, i think you should go and read some info from ebico pages, it goes on about trying to support those who are more disadavantaged i.e poorer households etc.., and that the big 6 are not as focussed on that issue and driven by profits. But yet ebico is now more expensive for such a pre payment meter user as the example given above.

EquiGas and EquiPower were set up specifically to ensure a fair, low rate for those on low incomes who need it most.

I am sure fair means fair, and im sure low means low as in cheap, but is not the case now, as the big 6 offer better even in circumstances in the example above, pre payment meter, poorer household.

So it does make them at least hyprocritical, and their mission / statements / ethics are now not achieving their goal, as it once did.

I think I'll have to stop now as you seem unable to grasp concepts but despite your 1 example the fact remains that depending on your consumption Ebico (on gas especially) will often better the big 6 on price regarless of your billing method. On many consumption figures they now won't(electric especially), but that seems to be only part you seem able to fathom/see.

The fact remains they still offer what they say on the tin, the fact they won't run at a loss to try and please someone who is myopic, isn't unethical

jonnyboy12345

"Then you are not one of ebico's targetted customers" perhaps you are right Premier however it does beg the question how many other customers like me have their gas supply with them purely based on personal costs and now that the prices are more in line with the big 5/6 and the big guns apply DD discounts and tariffs based on the more you use the cheaper it gets such as Click from BG and Eon Online Tarrifs how many of those customers will jump ship it will be a true test of ethics and only time will tell but I would suggest that we may see the beginning of the end of Ebico but we shall see maybe I underestimate the ethics of customers such as yourself it will certainly be interesting but this whole ethics thing stinks of old labour/socialist values of a bygone era but I for one do not wish to sub a single parent with a prepayment card when I am already helpling to pay for their rent, council tax and kids general upbringing !

BexTech

It does state in the quoted post:

"Many choose us because our prices are cheaper for them".

Now it would be nice for everyone to get a fair deal etc etc.

However 'people who are less well off' need to help themselves too and learning basic money management would go a very long way and open up bigger savings by being able to have a proper credit meter, paying by direct debit etc.

Look how many people you see today who are with a low income, yet buy items on credit which they don't really need and therefore paying over the odds for, instead of what I was always brought up to do and save, save, save until you have the money to buy the item and by the time you have the money the price has probably come down too.

I've been through a few bad patches but making sure I never had a prepayment meter meant I had more money than those who did. Making sure I didn't have loans from Provident and other sharks, meant I had more money. I bought clothes when I needed new clothes and not because I want more - I'm the same today. It's simply the must have now culture that is the problem.

Some report thinks many people are in poverty if they only have £10 per day per person to spend, well that's a lot lot more than what we spend a day, often not spending that in a week.

jonnyboy12345

I watched a programme last night about a woman on a low income she was moaning about not being able to pay bills but must of smoked about 5 cigs throughout the interview!!
Im not rich I have a family and struggle to pay everything each month but pay it I do ahead of going out drinking or smoking or anything else im just saying that people who work and can afford DD's and single credit meters should not suffer ahead of some groups of apparently "low income" households

BexTech

jonnyboy12345 wrote: »

I watched a programme last night about a woman on a low income she was moaning about not being able to pay bills but must of smoked about 5 cigs throughout the interview!!
Im not rich I have a family and struggle to pay everything each month but pay it I do ahead of going out drinking or smoking or anything else im just saying that people who work and can afford DD's and single credit meters should not suffer ahead of some groups of apparently "low income" households

I agree.