Scottish Power Online Energy Saver/Capped Rate mixup

GrahamSL

Morning all,

I've seen previous mention about people switching to a Scottish Power capped tariff. This is some information that may be useful:


Around the beginning of February, I switched to Scottish Power, signing up for the dual-fuel Online Energy Saver tariff. Everything has gone smoothly.

Last week, I had a telephone call from SP, explaining that their prices had increased from 1st March by 15% for gas and 8% for electricity, but I could retrospectively cap my rates at the pre-increase prices for an extra £4 per month. Being a cynic, and a dedicated moneysaver, I whipped out my calculator whilst she was on the phone and roughly worked out that the £4 pm premium would save me about £8 pm on my bills. I got assurance that the dual fuel and online discounts would be the same (£10.50 and £47.25 respectively), so I asked her to put me down for the new tariff. I was told that the £4 premium for the capped rates would show as an increase in my standing charge. Fair enough.

Anyway, this week I got curious about what I would actually be paying, and trawled SP's website looking for the tariff I was now signed up for. Non of the capped tariffs matched what I believed I should be paying, so I got back on the phone to Scottish Power.

I was told that I wasn't on a capped tariff, and I should never have been offered it in the first place because it's more expensive than Online Energy Saver. Apparently, the people who signed up for Online Energy Saver before it was withdrawn are keeping their tariffs at their original prices, including the £47.25 online discount. This will be protected until October 2006, at which point Scottish Power will contact the Online Energy Saver customers to discuss/offer new tariffs.

For those of you who signed up for SP Online Energy Saver, I would recommend you give them a call to clarify exectly what you will now be paying.


Cheers,

Graham

shopndrop

We are with Scottiosh Power for gas and elec. Rang them up this week to ask what rate we are on (standard?) and if there is any better rate they can offer. They just suggested paying monthly direct debit, we currently just pay when the bill comes in. Rang them a second time to double check that setting up a direct debit is the only way to reduce our bill and they suggested online energy saver or capping our bills. This would cost £4 per month but could be backdated to beginning of March and our current bill would be reissued all at the pre-increase price. Am rather concered to now read that online energy saver has been withdrawn. Do their staff know what they are talking about?

Have checked on comparison sites and N Power or Powergen seem quite a bit cheaper for us anyway. Are these reliable companies or are all power suppliers the same and once they have got your custom couldn't care less?