Atlantic Electric & Gas

littlewren

After receiving my latest bill from British Gas this morning and finding that the direct debit payment for my electricity bill has increased by about 80% - I also have my gas with them and this has increased of course, but not by quite as much - I'm definitely ready to move.

I have just been to a couple of comparison sites and the best deal shows Atlantic Electric & Gas.

I have never heard of them but wondered if anyone has any feedback on them please?

I want to switch as soon as I possibly can, so early feedback would be great.

Many thanks in advance,

Carrie

smartie1976

Can I ask you - have you checked your consumption and was your DD set an installment amount you believed would cover your bills, based on your conusmption for the size of property you have and usage? What are your DD payments for your G & E?

80% is a big increase which leads me to think that your DD values were originally set too low. In which case an increase is inevitable?
have you also any outstanding debt (or what was the amount owing on the last bills you recieved)

littlewren

smartie1976 wrote:

Can I ask you - have you checked your consumption and was your DD set an installment amount you believed would cover your bills, based on your conusmption for the size of property you have and usage? What are your DD payments for your G & E?

80% is a big increase which leads me to think that your DD values were originally set too low. In which case an increase is inevitable?
have you also any outstanding debt (or what was the amount owing on the last bills you recieved)

Hi,

To be honest, I'm a bit of a thicky when it comes to trying to work out consumption on my gas and electricity bills. It's all gobbledegook to me.

I live in a 4 bed detached house and I'm here for most of the day, but we don't have the heating on high. In fact, I often sit in the evening clutching a hot water bottle!

I expected the gas bill DD payments to increase and they did a few days ago from £26.50 to £33.50 per month from April. Then I received my electricity bill and I owed £28.62 but it said in the column on the left that my installment amounts would stay the same, so I didn't worry.

Today though, I received a letter to say that my electricity DD payment will also be £33.50 per month from April.

So although the gas DD payment has increased, it's only been by £7 per month, which I expected in view of the price rise. The electricity DD payment has increased from £17.50 to £33.50!

I haven't suddenly starting using more electricity for any reason and although I know that it will go up in the Winter because of the central heating, why should it have jumped so much? British Gas would surely have asked for a higher DD payment before now if they thought I needed to pay more?

BTW, on the last bill from December I owed £3.42, but surely that was the time they should have increased the payment?

Carrie

caveat_emptor

littlewren wrote:

I have just been to a couple of comparison sites and the best deal shows Atlantic Electric & Gas.
I have never heard of them but wondered if anyone has any feedback on them please?
I want to switch as soon as I possibly can, so early feedback would be great.
Many thanks in advance,
Carrie

I've been with Atlantic (part of Southern Electric) for about 4 months and so far no complaints. They raised their prices on 1 January so I hope the next hike is some way off. They also used to offer a months discount after twelve months for dual fuel DD payment, not sure if that's still on.

smartie1976

You only pay £35 for each utility and you live in a 4-bed detached house?

Can I have your house please!!!

littlewren

But it's not a warm 4 bed house Smartie, it's also very compact, small detached and we only use 2 of the bedrooms. Both these bedrooms are always so cold. I'm sitting here freezing at the moment as I'm so worried about the bills.

My grudge is that the electricity DD payment has been hiked up so much. They haven't done it gradually as they did with the gas, and now we're coming to the nicer weather - soon, hopefully - the heating won't be on as much anyway.

bootman

I was with Atlantic and recently switched my electric to BG.

Big mistake. I should have stayed with Atlantic, no problems at all

littlewren

Thanks Bootman, I can't seem to find any mention of Atlantic when I do a search here, so I was beginning to think no-one was with them!

kit

I switched from british gas to atlantic a few months ago.... slightly slow at the change over but all ok so far.

gaahmad

I moved into a new house and found that vendor was with British Gas for both gas and electricity! Needless to say I did a search and foud that Atlantic were the cheapest and switched over about 2-3 weeks ago. The transfer is still taking place and they even send progress leaflets to let you know what stage the transfer is at!

a&akay

I was with Atlantic then switched to NPower when former put their prices up. Now switching back to Atlantic as NPower have put their's up. Atlantic was OK. Remember that the commodity itself is pooled (gas and electricity) when you use it. Your next door neighbours are likely to be with somebody else. You can switch anytime you like if the price is right. Just make sure you take a note of the reading at changeover and check you last bill from your last provider and first bill from your new one. If you are in the winter months and you change within a year then your finall bill will be larger but you will be saving money in the long term if your new tarrifs are cheaper. Don't trust one comparison site, check at least 3. Martin's recommendations and Tesco's are worth trying.