Eon

Gambler

1carminestocky wrote: »

The Eon discount is indeed applied every quarter but Eon also have a very sneaky T&C if you ever decide to switch away from them in the future. I've always thought this was far too hidden and hence wasn't picked up on by the vast majority of Eon customers (we had an example earlier of a Eon customer of many years standing who also dispenses advice on here on Eon's products but was blissfully unaware of it also. Have you managed to find this sneaky T&C, MrChips?

Yep I've been caught out on this before but EON are now showing cheapest for me! Is there an optimum time to leave them?

MrChips

How about if I overestimate my usage up to my final quarterly bill, get the discount on this, then use the actual reading for my final bill at the point of leaving (with no discount).

This way, the final bill will be for a very low amount (or even negative) and so the lost discount will not be worth much, if anything.

Please feel free to point out where I am being naive!

1carminestocky

MrChips wrote: »

How about if I overestimate my usage up to my final quarterly bill, get the discount on this, then use the actual reading for my final bill at the point of leaving (with no discount).

This way, the final bill will be for a very low amount (or even negative) and so the lost discount will not be worth much, if anything.

Please feel free to point out where I am being naive!

I think it could be a 'goer' but a post 7-type scenario could still happen. I mean, how much cheaper are they? Is it really worth all the potential aggro?

MrChips

I need to switch as I am on a fixed rate until the end of this month after which the price will rocket. NPower would be cheaper than Eon per year, but would be more expensive if I didn't stay with them for that long.

I appreciate all the warnings here but I'll probably go for it and take my chances.

I recall now that when I was with Eon in 2008, my final bill didn't have the discount applied. I wasn't aware of the T&C that you described so I called them to point out the "error". The lady I spoke to agreed that it looked like a mistake so they refunded me

MrChips

OK I went for it. I have two weeks to cancel so I can always do that if Scottish Power rush the transfer through before 31 August and charge me £50!

I read the T&Cs very carefully and did spot that clause referred to above. I'll be very wary as and when I feel like switching again.

And £70 cashback too

qxt123

1carminestocky wrote: »

This is why it's so sneaky, MrChips. That strategy would actually be amongst the worst ones. Reason being it takes up to 8 weeks for a switch to competed. Apply to switch just after you've received your quarterly bill and chances are your final bill will be for 8 weeks of fuel - with no discount on! Like I say, it's a very very sneaky T&C. You can even fall foul of it when you've been told about its existance.

Hi

There's something I don't quite understand which I hope either you or the EOn Rep can explain.

So the rule is no discount on your final bill right? But since you get billed every quarter (is this true for there online tariff, SaveOnline too?), you couldn't expect a discount after those 8 weeks anyway? I mean even if they did give discount on their final bill, you still would be left in the same situation because in that 8 weeks you are waiting to switch, you haven't yet reached the next quarterly milestone in order to justify a discount.

Which leads me to ask, when they say you don't get a discount on your final bill, do they mean your final quarterly bill (even if that was 2 months ago) or your final bill just before you terminate your account?

Also, doesn't the fact they don't charge for leaving compensate this apparent trick, or are the discounts to be had usually greater?

Many thanks

MrChips

Just a quick update to the above.

Having joined Eon from mid September, I am already going back to Scottish Power. Their offer of £110 cashback plus a marginally cheaper new tariff means I am better off with them even if I subsequently move once more and incur their penalties.

Eon have been ok customer service wise but I find their website a bit clunky and not very flexible. Am just off the phone to their customer services with my latest meter readings to generate a bill as at todays date (my 2 week cool off period with SP ends tomorrow so Eon will know about my move shortly afterwards). Have adjusted the readings upwards based on estimated useage to the end of December, so that when the move takes place the final bill will be based on very little (if any) useage and hence the lost discount will not be worth anything. Fingers crossed this works.

brewerdave

MrChips, my circumstances are very similar to yours in that I left SP for EON mid Sept; However, I just looked for a cheaper tariff with SP than the current EON SaveOnline tariff and can't find one - the best I could do would be ~ £95 more so hardly worth switching even via Quidco (or whereever).
What tariff are youi switching to??
EDIT: I had already sussed the no final bill discount rule. Leave them in the Summer and make sure the Spring reading is a "little" on the high side!

MrChips

The tariff I am moving to is called Online Energy Saver 7, and is only marginally cheaper (1%) based on my estimated usage (I too am on the SaveOnline EoN tariff). It may be that it isn't available in your area?

There are plenty of cheaper tariffs than the SP one, but based on cashback, future cancellation charges, and discounts that only qualify after 12 months, this is definitely my best tactic.