First Utility - Any users or reviews

TrustMe

samba wrote: »

That's good to know. I have just phoned them and informed them of my decision to leave and they have confirmed that there will be no termination fees. If you read their t&c's, clause 15.1(a) allows you to leave if they raise their prices, while clause 15.12 confirms there will be no termination fees if you leaveunder clause 15.1(a). Clause 2.3 isn't relevent in this case, as that is only for changes to prices due to regulator/government imposed charges such as climate change levy, or a change in the rate of VAT.

As regards my dual fuel bonus, seeing as they haven't charged me for gas since January I am only expecting around £30-£40, which is cancelled out by how much more I will have to pay on their new rates, so I'm off.

Thanks samba

I have also phoned First Utility to cancel, and was told to just choose another supplier and switch. I was also told that there would be no cancellation fees or meter charges due to section 15.1(b). I was also told that I did not have to notify them in writing.

However, I have just emailed them to confirm the cancellation. This is because they need to know that I do not wish to be charged for the backdated increase for July (about £20 increase) which I don't have to pay for under the T&Cs. In fact KimYeovil pointed this out in another thread on the same subject yesterday.

I am awaiting the reply to this email to FU (if they ever do - past experience is not good), but I will be switching anyway this afternoon.

The strange thing is the CS guy seemed to be happy that customers were leaving - as I've seen elsewhere, they seem hell bent on committing commercial suicide!

BTW if you wish to phone them and are on a free call contract that doesn't cover 0845 numbers then use the number 01926 328810 - It may save you a few quid if you are held in a queue.

samba

TrustMe wrote: »

I was also told that there would be no cancellation fees or meter charges due to section 15.1(b).

You are right - the applicable clause is 15.1(b) not 15.1(a) as I stated above. D'oh!

I suspect that they have a lot of screwed up accounts on an earlier tariff (I signed up to Smart Online Saver V1 I believe), and just want to get shot of them.

TrustMe

samba wrote: »

You are right - the applicable clause is 15.1(b) not 15.1(a) as I stated above. D'oh!

I did spot that but didn't want to look picky

Well, I have just done the switch using SimplySwitch, and have estimated a saving of around £400 for the next year, which is a 33% saving (plus I get a £35 Amazon voucher ). The switching sites only estimate around £200 saving, but that is because they use the standing charges First Utility show on their tariffs for new customers - not the actual standing charges they've just massively increased to customers that have been with them for more than 3 months (so much for customer loyalty).

samba

I just went through quidco to switch and will be saving between £300 to £400. I get £60 cashback from quidco, which covers the exit fees for my new supplier if they also put up their rates in the next year or so.

Bridgeblox

Hello - another one here. Got the new bill estimate and the standing charged look oddly high. I too have clicked on "we've updated your prices" link (what a euphemism! Why can't they be honest and say "price rise"). Electricity standing charge up by 6%, unit charge up by 15%. Gas standing charge up by a whopping 76% and unit charge up by 9.5%. Plus a reduction in the dual fuel discount; I was promised that "All customers who sign up to this tariff will receive a generous 12.5% dual fuel discount, paid annually, based on 12 consecutive direct debits." This, of course has been reduced to 10% for the second year. I will be moving, of course, if only because of the underhandedness of the firm. They took over two months to take over the account back in November, clearly didn't provide my previous provider with the right data so they could close off my account, and with the complaints noted above, my opinion is that they are not long for this world. Avoid.

bardel

I too have had the same experience regarding the price change. To date, I'd had no problems with First Utility, and I've even had correspondence via email with their customer service email address, so they do appear to be better with regards to response than the early days.

I do however agree with all the other posts that this price rise is in fact very underhand and poorly managed. By their own admission they have known about the potential need to apply this price increase since the 1st April, yet choose to notify it after the fact by 28 days. This is clearly unacceptable conduct.

I'm off to work out my savings whilst I seek clarification of my discounts which aren't due to be applied until my anniversary in November.

gatita

Bardel,
I am in exactly the same position as you, I started with FU last December, and although I have been trying to work out just how much my discounts would/will be I am not at all sure. It would be so helpful if you could post what you have worked out.

I have been to the price comparison sites but find it sooooooooo confusing! Each company seems to have at least 10 different tariffs, and to try and pick between companies, is there is a Standing Charge, a lock in etc. ?
Ideally I would like NO standing charge, and NO lock in. But if I found a really good deal including one of them ,I would be willing to compromise.
Gosh, it used to be so easy!!! One Gas company and One Electricity company BLISS lol lol

bardel

Just worked out my uSwitch options... I can save approx £150 - £200 per annum by moving (against FU's new rates). But to do this, I will have to leave early, and depending on FU's response, give up my accrued discount (approx £175 to date - 9 months).

So, moving now rather than in 3 months will only save me a maximum of £50 for those 3 months, so looks like I'll be better off bending over and taking the rate increase for the next 3 months, cashing in on my discount at 1 year and then leaving....

I'll be popping that in the diary now then...

This still sucks, I'd love to be able to go back to my customers and increase my hourly rates for the last 65 days work without quibble....

bardel

hi Gatita,

just seen your post... For me, I created a quick spreadsheet with some simple formulas on it. Take the daily gas standing charge and multiply it by 365 to get the annual cost. Do the same with the daily electricity standing charge.

Next enter the number of kwh's of gas used in the last year (use your historic bills to work this out. Note that on the gas bill there is likely a formula to convert the meter reading into kWh, you need to copy this). Multiply this by the gas rate per kwh. Then do the same for the electric (usually no conversion to kwh required).

Next, pop over to your favourite comparison site, pop in your details, ignore what they think you're current tariff is, it rarely matches what you are actually paying I find...

Take the cheapest option they are listing and compare it.

The results will differ depending on your area and usage. Personally I don't mind if there is a standing charge or not as I am a high energy user. In fact the only query I have personally is which supplier as my gas energy consumption has changed from 22000kw last year (Jan - Dec 09) to an estimated 32000kw this year (Nov 09 - Jul 10), this is probably slightly over estimated, but it does make a difference to the best energy supplier for me.

I will be able to re-calculate more accurately in 3 months when it looks like I'll be leaving FU... Still disgusted that they are allowed to do this and that in fact contractually it would seem they aren't allowed, but don't care, siting that we are free to leave because of the breach of terms...???

If I don't get a favourable response from first utility I will be forwarding my complaints to Watchdog etc....

I don't normally get involved in these kinds of posts, but this is ridiculous. I feel partly fortunate that I'm able to interpret these issues and see through the wool that FU is trying to pull over my eyes. What really concerns me is all those people that will go unawares of this price hike / discount reduction / any other hidden changes we haven't picked up on yet.... The likes of the elderly etc who are just getting fleeced because of the deceitful way these changes to terms are imposed...

rant over!

PS, hope the above helps, I'd attach a pic of the spreadsheet (or the spreadsheet if I could, but it's not allowed!)

PPS, when comparing make sure you use matching figures with regards to vat, either all excluding, or all including, not a mixture of the two!

Plushchris

gatita wrote: »

Ideally I would like NO standing charge, and NO lock in. But if I found a really good deal including one of them ,I would be willing to compromise.
Gosh, it used to be so easy!!! One Gas company and One Electricity company BLISS lol lol

To be honest, standing charges dont usually make a great deal of difference to the bottom line price you pay. If you dont pay the standing charge they will get it out of you in the form of a higher primary unit rate so its pretty much swings and roundabouts in the majority of cases (it does depend on your usage though obviously)

Not sure I agree on your idea of bliss though, one company having the monopoly and charging what they like knowing you cant go elsewhere? Not my idea of bliss I'm afraid...