e.on utilities - Tesco points

wildballoonlady

Does anyone recommend e.on because of the free Tesco points you can get with some tariffs? do you get quite a few points this way?

If you have an outstanding amount with your present gas/electric utilities provider do you have to pay this off in full before you switch or would the new provider (eg e.on) take on that amount themselves and you pay it off through them?

Many thanks

Any links to similar threads would be very much appreciated too...

KimYeovil

I wouldn't call receiving one Clubcard point for every two pounds you spend with E-on 'free'. How much is a point worth - one penny?

Outstanding balances have to be paid. If you are paying monthly, the transfer will be straightforward and you will be billed for the final amount. If you are paying quarterly and have not cleared the last bill, the transfer can (and usually will) be blocked.

KimYeovil

It makes Utility Warehouse's card look generous.

(Grrr. I didn't just write that, did I?)

wildballoonlady

Thanks Kim Yoevil - Our gas and electricity comes to over £2,800 a year so maybe all those Tesco club points may add up to something? I think if there's not much saving to be had between utility providers then something like 'free' points could be a good bet? It's a pity about having to settle up though as have not the spare cash to do this at the mo. I wonder if there's any record of a company offering to take on the old debt?

Magentasue

I think you should go for the cheapest tariff and look at clubcard/nectar points as a bonus. With such a huge annual bill, is it business premises rather than a domestic property?

Very few suppliers will let you switch with a debt because it's harder for them to recover. I think most people who have switched with a debt, had only a small balance to clear. If anything, suppliers seems to have become stricter about this.

Edit: Maybe the points are worth having if you're spending so much. Unless I've got it wrong, I think it'd be worth £100 of vouchers which could be used for £400 worth of holiday or whatever.

wildballoonlady

Thanks Magentasue - No it's not a business but a family home - 5 of us including kids. Is that really a huge annual bill as I have no idea? What is the average a family would be paying per year? i had just resigned myself that that's life gigantic fuel bills. We're with Atlantic Gas and Electricity if that means anything...

Phlik

That's more than twice the national average. Should come in around £1200 pa.

National average is around 3000 kwh of elastictrickery and 20000 kwh of gas.

Phlik

wildballoonlady

With Atlantic Gas and Electric we pay DD per month £151 for elecrticity and £84 for gas. What do I need to check now as very worried now. Thanks!

1carminestocky

wildballoonlady wrote: »

With Atlantic Gas and Electric we pay DD per month £151 for elecrticity and £84 for gas. What do I need to check now as very worried now. Thanks!

Wooahhh.. you pay approx £1800 a year in leccy charges? Or does this figure include paying off arrears? As Magentasue suggested, your annual fuel bill is crazily high. I think with that sort of usage you really need to find the cheapest tariff and not worry too much about 'bonuses' like Tesco clubcard points. And you really do need to look at just what appliances you are using that make up such a huge consumption. If you post up your heating/cooking regime on here I'm sure there will be people who come up with very helpful fuel-saving suggestions...

Plushchris

wildballoonlady wrote: »

Thanks Kim Yoevil - Our gas and electricity comes to over £2,800 a year so maybe all those Tesco club points may add up to something? I think if there's not much saving to be had between utility providers then something like 'free' points could be a good bet? It's a pity about having to settle up though as have not the spare cash to do this at the mo. I wonder if there's any record of a company offering to take on the old debt?

That would mean £14 worth of Tesco vouchers or £56 worth of Tesco deals tokens for days out etc.

Anyone already signed up with them before today would recieve 1 point for every £1 spent so for someone with the OPs spend that would mean a lot of deals tokens!

wildballoonlady

I've just shuffled through statements dating back to Feb '07 and it looks as if we were paying each month ridiculously low amounts (prob an Atlantic incentive to hook us in?) lekky was £25 dd and gas £20 dd. So we are pprob paying off that deficit as well as regular usage. Looks as if we are now trapped as to leave Atlantic we need to pay off a lump sum <groan!>