Confusion over comparisons

Trick

I have been trying to do a cost comparison for my Electric (energyhelpline) - but whenever i enter in the details of the plan i am on (to see if i can make any savings) - and then click on the link that says "show your current plan details" - they never tie up to what i am being billed.

I was on Sign Online V4.0 with nPower, but that changed to Electricity Standard from 23rd July.

But the unit costs it tells me are nothing i recognise, not from my update unit costs to any of my previous ones?

Weird. How can i rely on the cost comparison?

Cardew

Does it matter what tariff you were on, or indeed are on?

Simply enter your kWhs and say you are on BG standard tariff. It will then list the cheapest tariffs - which is the point of the excercise.

Trick

well yes i think it does - if its comparing my current costs to a new cost, then i want to be sure im saving money, or if transferring will cost me more - that is the point of the exercise.

Cardew

I understand that.

However when you get the cheapest tariff available, you can get all the details of prices per kWh and discounts etc on that tariff and easily compare with your current tariff.

I am no fan of comparison sites, but they are a useful tool as long as you enter kWh.

So if you use, say, dual fuel, pay by DD, for 20,500/3,300kWh gas/electricity on your current tariff, you can work out to a penny the cost - it is just simple arithmetic.

Then compare your figure with the cheapest the comparison site shows.

notbritishgas

Trick wrote: »

I have been trying to do a cost comparison for my Electric (energyhelpline) - but whenever i enter in the details of the plan i am on (to see if i can make any savings) - and then click on the link that says "show your current plan details" - they never tie up to what i am being billed.

I was on Sign Online V4.0 with nPower, but that changed to Electricity Standard from 23rd July.

But the unit costs it tells me are nothing i recognise, not from my update unit costs to any of my previous ones?

Weird. How can i rely on the cost comparison?

May I ask why you were changed from SoL4 to Standard in July? Surely the standard tariff was more expensive.

Trick

notbritishgas wrote: »

May I ask why you were changed from SoL4 to Standard in July? Surely the standard tariff was more expensive.

I have no idea - they sent me a letter saying they were changing me to the standard plan due to cost increases etc. and yes it is more expensive.

notbritishgas

Trick wrote: »

I have no idea - they sent me a letter saying they were changing me to the standard plan due to cost increases etc. and yes it is more expensive.

I asked this question because I am on SoL 10 and they have made veiled threats that if I wanted to continue to receive the low prices I should sign up to paperless bills, the inference being that if I did not then they could switch me to the standard tariff. I am surprised you did not complain.

Trick

i presumed they were allowed to switch my plan...?