New house dual fuel advice needed please

dadsarmy

Hi and thanks for any help

We moved into a new small terrace in July 2008 and soon chased electricty & gas suppliers. Eventually (today) we got a welcome letter from EON saying "phone as we are your suppliers".

Reading the gas (new meter) 23/07/08 to 7/03/09 = 98.113 used

Reading the electricity = 749 units used

We have never had gas before so understanding current deals is certainly confusing. Any help in dealing with EON would be appreciated. We are very reluctant to use DD where they can take what they want when they want. Is now a good time to break from EON or get a reasonable quote as we have never signed anything or contacted them on the phone etc.

Alan_Vickers

Can I suggest that you make a note of the serial numbers of your gas and electricity meters and check that these agree with the serial numbers shown on your first bills. Your should have a look at your gas meter to determine if it is recording in cubic feet X 100 or in cubic metres. This will be shown alngside the meter dials.

For gas you will be charged per kilowatt-hour (kWh) whereas the meter will be recording by volume of gas used. The conversion to kWh is dependent upon the calorific value of the gas supplied, which does vary. However you can make an approximate conversion by multiplying the reading recorded on the meter by 11 if you have a meter recording in cubic metres or by 31 if you have a meter recording in cubic feet x 100. This will give you an approximate idea of the kWh of gas used for when you look at energy tariffs.

JoyEdinburgh

I find the Direct Debit option really helpful with e.on.

If you have both your gas and electricity with them and pay by DD they give you 8% discount. It really does make a difference to your bills, whereas if you were to pay your bills as they arrive, the most discount you can get is 3% for paying within 14 days.

Legally, they can't take an amount from your account without telling you. The only problem is that they will change it and send you a letter telling you it has changed which, if you don't agree with it, prompts you to call them. The amounts they change it to have neer seemed unjustified to me tho.

E.on tend to offer better tariffs to people who have a monthly DD set up and it is a requirement for most of their cheapest tariffs. if you want a good deal it looks like you might have to set up a DD. otherwise just be really stingy wth your gas usage.

Premier_2

dadsarmy wrote: »

Hi and thanks for any help

We moved into a new small terrace in July 2008 and soon chased electricty & gas suppliers. Eventually (today) we got a welcome letter from EON saying "phone as we are your suppliers".

Reading the gas (new meter) 23/07/08 to 7/03/09 = 98.113 used

Reading the electricity = 749 units used

We have never had gas before so understanding current deals is certainly confusing. Any help in dealing with EON would be appreciated. We are very reluctant to use DD where they can take what they want when they want. Is now a good time to break from EON or get a reasonable quote as we have never signed anything or contacted them on the phone etc.

You moved into a property in July 2008 and haven't informed the utility suppliers yet? :eek:
Expect a big bill when they catch up with you, which they will!

I suggest you contact them now. You have deemed contracts with the existing suppliers from the moment you consumed the energy they supply.

Nearly all companies including Eon offer various tariffs some of which which include paying on receipt of bill if that is what you prefer, so no need to pay monthly and/or by DD.

dadsarmy

Many thanks for replies

We did contact Eon soon after moving in but were told we are not your suplliers.

Problem here may be complicate as 8 cottages built where a bungalow was knocked down. We know of 3 others here that have not received a bill yet.

Is there a DD that takes from you only what you owe similiar to the BT set-up?

Premier_2

Yes, Eon do offer the facility to pay by DD quarterly on receipt of bill i.e. you only pay the amount you are billed/have consumed