EBICO - Ethos vs T&C's Query

felix_felix_felix

Hi, I'm hoping you guys could review the following statements from EBICO comparing their ethos statement and their T's &C's? I like the ethos enough to switch providers and hope I've misunderstood the rest...

Ethos - ( Can't post URL's as i'm a newbie ):

1. EquiPower provides electricity at the same rate per unit to all our customers within a distribution region. Your regional rate isn’t altered by how much you use or how you choose to pay, and there are no standing charges.

2. EquiGas means:
* one low rate for everyone
* no standing charges
* no alteration to our flat rate however you pay and however much – or little – energy you use.

T's&C's:

4.9 If you don’t provide or you withdraw a direct debit instruction we may bill you quarterly and alter your Charges accordingly.

Appreciate your feedback...

Oscar.

1carminestocky

I thought they charged the same whether you pay monthly DD or quarterly DD/cheque?

PS It's not the T&Cs that would bother me so much, it's more the price of their leccy. :eek:

felix_felix_felix

I'm new at reviewing my bills, but it seems that the gas is very competitive, and the electricity differential is worth it to support the community concept (and also very close to my dual-fuel discount from E.On). Thoughts are appreciated..

KimYeovil

I would be more interested by 4.2. When was that condition slipped in?

"4.2 If you’re a dual fuel customer (electricity and gas) and you move your electricity to another supplier but we continue to supply you with gas, we may charge you our gas only price, which could be higher than the dual fuel gas price."

1carminestocky

LOL......Ebico, the 'ethical' supplier. I reckon that T&C has been introduced due to even the committed Ebico-huggers looking at their leccy charge and thinking 'b*ggger this, I'm off'.

Cardew

felix_felix_felix wrote: »

I'm new at reviewing my bills, but it seems that the gas is very competitive, and the electricity differential is worth it to support the community concept (and also very close to my dual-fuel discount from E.On). Thoughts are appreciated..

Here are the terms:
http://www.ebico.co.uk/html/c_terms.php

That is a huge change for Ebico.

You are correct that gas is pretty competitive, very competitive for low users.

However their electricity is one of the most expensive tariffs available. For the average UK customer using 3,300kWh pa Ebico are 34% more expensive than the cheapest available.

Cardew

1carminestocky wrote: »

LOL......Ebico, the 'ethical' supplier. I reckon that T&C has been introduced due to even the committed Ebico-huggers looking at their leccy charge and thinking 'b*ggger this, I'm off'.

Couldn't agree more about not paying such high electricity prices; in fact there are not many companies that charge more than Ebico.

1carminestocky

Naughty changing the terms now maybe in an attempt to 'do' those gas only customers at a later date, though, isn't it? I suppose Ebico are still ethical compared to your supplier of choice, though, Cardew. I mean, they even charge their loyal punters an exit to change tariffs WITHIN THE SAME COMPANY.

Joe_L

Talking of ethics, how ethical is it to display a contact phone number on the Ebico homepage that puts you directly through to Scottish and Southen Electric, without mention of the fact. At best it's confusing, at worst, you think you're actually dealing with Ebico when you are not. This is what happened to me.

What is the nature of the relationship between the charity and the company, I wonder. Are Ebico, in fact, funded by Scottish and Southern Electric, to lure in customers. Just a thought. I mean, to all intents and purposes I've been treated as a Southen Electric customer since I signed up with Ebico.

Cardew

Ebico have their accounts handled by SSE.

Their tariffs are different to SSE however.

In simplistic terms Ebico have structured their tariffs to suit the low consumption customer and those who prefer to pay quarterly or have a pre-pay meter.

Until the latest changes in their T&Cs their tariffs were the simplest in UK.
One flat rate.
No discounts
Same price regardless of method of payment.

Ebico

Ebico uses the services of our partner Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) to supply electricity and gas and these are the general terms and conditions that apply to customers supplied through that arrangement. However, as there is no difference between the price of an Ebico fuel billed via a Direct Debit arrangement and any other method (credit or prepayment), there is no additional charge applicable under clause 4.9 for customers provided they remain on the Ebico tariff. Similarly, as there is no difference in the price of an Ebico fuel supplied as part of a dual-fuel supply and the single fuel on its own, there is no additional charge applicable under clause 4.2 provided the single fuel remains on the Ebico tariff.