New Customer Looking For Best Deal

Plushchris

Claralou wrote: »

Thanks for all the comments so far. Unfortunately none of them answer my original question! So can we move on from UW and can I ask if anyone has any other suggestions please?!?

Try a comparison site once you know who the suppliers are at the property, when you move in you will be on the suppliers standard tariff paying quarterly until you instruct them otherwise.

Once you have found out the suppliers then go to one of the comparison sites and enter an average usage (20500Kwh for gas and 3300kwh for electricity) and see what comes up. Direct debit and internet based tariffs will be the cheapest. Some of the comparison sites have usage estimators based on the size of your property, what fuel you use for heating etc, you could try that and see if it changes the results at all, always use the detailed estimator and not just the general "Small medium or large" house size estimator.

You will see UW are unlikely to be in the top ten yet alone cheapest for you!

Plushchris

Forgot to mention, dont forget to take meter readings when you move in and take the readings yourself, dont rely on ones given to you by landlords/letting agents/estate agents. You then need to register with the suppliers at the property before you can switch away as the process takes about 6 weeks or so for you to change to another supplier.

You may find whoever was in the propert before you was with the cheapest supplier and you will just need to get put on the right tariff, again the comparison sites should tell you what tariffs the suppliers have.

Erikin_2

What bothers me about the Which? survey result is that it was only a satisfaction poll of just 49 people - for me too small a number for any meaningful assessment. No hard facts and figures.

In the most meaningful list “value for money” they came third.

Doing it yourself is the best option if you do your research well.

jimexbox

Erikin wrote: »

What bothers me about the Which? survey result is that it was only a satisfaction poll of just 49 people - for me too small a number for any meaningful assessment. No hard facts and figures.

In the most meaningful list “value for money” they came third.

Doing it yourself is the best option if you do your research well.

Indeed, from the 'tactics' of UW reps Ive read about on these forums, I wouldn't be surprised if the 49 replies were all from their reps. Its seems underhand tactics to advertise their company is the norm.

Premier_2

Claralou wrote: »

Hello All,

I am due to move into a rented property on my own in the next few weeks. As I will be a brand new customer I was wondering how I find the best deal for my utilities when I have nothing to compare them to? In particular, Gas, Electric and Phone and Broadband packages.

Is there any good deals for new customers out there at the moment? Also are there any things to avoid so I don't get caught up in long contracts, changing rates etc? Or do I have to stick with the current tenants suppliers and switch further down the line?

Any advice will be most gratefully welcome.

Thank you.

Yes you will need to take over the existing suppliers, at least as far as gas & electricity goes.

As you don't have anything to compare them with, you may as well remain with them for a while until you get some idea of your usage.

After you have gained some idea of your expected usage (allowing for any seasonal variations) come back and use the comparison sites in the resource bar above to see if you could get a better deal elsewhere.

Phone & broadband are different. You'd be betterr asking about those on the relevent boards here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=67

Brown101

Dependant on how long you intend to stay at the rented property, some of the guaranteed rates are good. I signed up with British Gas for gas and electric nearly four years ago with a fixed rate until 2010. Even when I have been stopped by other energy providers they all have admitted I am on the best rate around for both and they cannot compete. With Gas prices coming down things will improve. All companies will have gimicks to get you to sign up, at least with a fixed rate, like a morgage you know what to expect month on month.

As for switching you may get charged for breaking a previous agreement when you switch. Just be aware of that.