is london energy the same people as virgin?

loopy_lass

i have telephoned virgin to switch to them and they tell me they are no longer taking anyone else on at the moment!!!!!!

they did say however that london energy is the same service provider and have sent me details of this company.

Anyone know anything about london energy and are they the same (call centre and info etx) as virgin????

how strange....

loops xx

james_erskine

Virgin Home Energy announced on the 24th September 2004 that they were to be taking no new clients with effect from the 11th October 2004.

Virgin Home Energy was effectively a branded or packaged EdF (the owners of London Energy, SWEB and Seeboard Energy) tariff. It had been available as a dual fuel product or electricity only product.

Coincindentally over the last few days customers of Virgin Home Energy have been receiving correspondence confirming the transfer to another of the EdF brands is now imminent.

queensway_boy

From the 12/12/04 virgin home energy became:

EDF Energy and now give you nectar points if you have a card for each bill you pay and for joining up.

Davidboy

This is all down to the de-regulation of gas supplies, whereby a company can buy/transport gas from the beach into the transportation system run by Transco, this would be London Electricity, Virgin did not own it's own gas but bought it from LE to supply it's own customers. LE also supplied its own customers. Yes this has now changed to EDF.

Many companies you buy gas from do not own their own gas, but buy it from EDF and other companies who are called SHIPPERS. They ship the gas from beach. You may be interested to know that both Virgin and LE were found guilty by OFGEM to misleading the public on the savings that could be made by switching to them and pressure selling!!! (Not inferring EDF in that) And I would advise anyone who is thinking of switching to which ever company, find out about their Customer Service record, you will find that most of these "Cheaper" suppliers of energy are hopeless at customer relations and just want your money.

So do some homework BEFORE you switch and never sign up in the streets or on the door without checking them out first.

loopy_lass

Oooo now thats interesting... i will take your advice and check these things out first..

thanks

loops x

erb

From the 12/12/04 virgin home energy became:
 
 EDF Energy and now give you nectar points if you have a card for each bill you pay and for joining up.

I was transferred from Virgin to EDF for electricity and have received a brochure about nectar points.  It says you will get 200 nectar points per quarter if you pay the bill by monthly direct debit.  BUT this is instead of and not in addition to any incentives that you may be currently receiving for paying this way.  I don't know how much nectar points are worth but as the monthly direct debit prices are about 3% lower than normal I imagine that it might be better not to take the nectar points.  What does anybody else think?

Milex

This is all down to the de-regulation of gas supplies, whereby a company can buy/transport gas from the beach into the transportation system run by Transco, this would be London Electricity, Virgin did not own it's own gas but bought it from LE to supply it's own customers. LE also supplied its own customers. Yes this has now changed to EDF.

Many companies you buy gas from do not own their own gas, but buy it from EDF and other companies who are called SHIPPERS. They ship the gas from beach. ... <<snipped>>

Don't think so, Davidboy. Energy suppliers are just marketing & billing operations. None of them produce or handle the gas you pay them for. The gas is exactly the same regardless of who you pay for it. The producers (Shell, BP, BG etc) pipe it from North or Irish Sea oil & gas fields - or increasingly tanker it from overseas fields - into Transco's distribution network, who transport it directly to you through their pipes.

Think about it: how could either Transco or your billing company distinguish each other's gas? Do you imagine your gas comes down different pipes than your neighbours', who could be paying entirely different companies for their gas?

Virgin Home Energy was a marketing brand of LE, which - along with SEEBoard & SWEB - are part of EDF Energy, which in turn is a division of Electricite de France.

Davidboy

Milex...Do you think I am stupid or something? Of course the customer does receive their gas via different pipes, thats is not what I said at all. Read what I said properly!

Davidboy

Sorry missed an important little word out!! ::)



Milex...Do you think I am stupid or something? Of course the customer does NOT receive their gas via different pipes, thats is not what I said at all. Read what I said properly!

hollie.weimeraner

From the 12/12/04 virgin home energy became:
 
 EDF Energy and now give you nectar points if you have a card for each bill you pay and for joining up.

Just checked out the Nectar Points - They are offering me 1600 Nectar points instead of discounts of £25!!!!!

Yes they do give Nectar points but when you go through the process it actually states that it is as an alternative to discounts.  At least they offer a checking system so you can see if its worth your while but as they only seem to offer 800 Nectar points per account you would have to be a low user for this to be cost effective

Sorry Erb didn't see your post before i put this on but I have clarified it is possible to check the value of your discounts. I think Nectar points are worth less than 1p each.

sunflower_2

I was transferred from Virgin to EDF for electricity and have received a brochure about nectar points.  It says you will get 200 nectar points per quarter if you pay the bill by monthly direct debit.  BUT this is instead of and not in addition to any incentives that you may be currently receiving for paying this way.  I don't know how much nectar points are worth but as the monthly direct debit prices are about 3% lower than normal I imagine that it might be better not to take the nectar points.  What does anybody else think?

its more beneficial to take the discounts...

but some people are really fanatical about these points!
i know i was when i first started collecting

i am with edf and you still get nectar points just for loyalty
you dont have to lose out on any discounts