First Utility - Any views?

aelitaman

Just been checking out the new rates seeing as the big 6 refuse to drop prices eventhough wholesale prices have dropped through the floor.

I have been looking at Ovo Energy and First Utility. It looks like First utility will be about 60 quid cheaper for dual fuel than I am currently paying. I know that the charge for your monthly usage not send a bill every six months so if I switch now I will have to pay the full amount for the gas I use over the winter. This is negated because I am on an npower scuplting tariff so they have 500 quid of my money in thier bank account at the present.

I am refering to thier non smart meter tariff the isave one.
Pluses
Pay monthly - no big surprise bill after 6 months (eventhough I monitor my useage)
No arguing with the idiots at nPower every 6 months when they just out of the blue double the DD eventhough I am always in credit.
Saves me 60 quid a year.
British company so supporting the UK economy (corporation tax should be paid here)
Nice online bills.

Minuses
12 month contract
Prices only fixed for three months - could they suddenly jack em up for the next 12 months of the contract.
Little track record
How good is the telephone service (in theory I should not have to speak to them as the only time I speak to npower is to complain as to why have they doubled my direct debit when I am in credit all the time)

Let me know if you have any experience.

TIA.

Premier_2

Big treads on this company here and here

A search for First Utility within this sub-forum pulls up a total of 15 threads.

gatita

I have decided to move over to them. I am on their iSave tariff, and for me there is no minimum contract, if I wish to leave after one month I can. Yes, the price is only fixed for 3 months, but if you don't like or agree with the new charges, you are free to move to anothe company. If you give them a meter reading at least 4 times a year online, you get £20after the first year.

I have contacted them twice in the past week, and have had courteous friendly contact with them, both times I got the same person which was nice! (thank you Loise). So, its fingers crossed! I am still waiting for the change over from Rip Off merchants Eon Staywarm!

aelitaman

Premier wrote: »

Big treads on this company here and here

A search for First Utility within this sub-forum pulls up a total of 15 threads.

I read those but there was no mention of the current situation as most were dealing with the smart meter stuff about 10 months ago and I wondered if the billing issues had been resolved by now that were mentioned.

CrashUK

I just joined isave I been on Atlantic Electric and Gas for over the a year..

On fix dd which is ok but they only read meter two times a year and thats why my bill has gone up. as now how own them money so higher fix dd
Only get a bill 2 times a year which I dont like.. at last meter reading my gas and that had gone up.. my fix dd change from £30 Electric pm and £30 gas pm to £37 Electric pm and £50 gas some of that bill is down to them not updating my fix dd which I send them meter reading online which they dont use? So now I own then money I just hope its all payed back by the time I join first utility

first utility is £250 cheaper over a year.

In a years time I will go back here and change to some who is cheaper and get £30 cash back. Going to get one of them owl meter with this years cash back..

Some good points on Atlantic Electric and Gas they Customer Service is very good and they do pick up the phone with in 10 mins but they cost a lot more

Also I never join powergen as they send me £310 bill for 3 days of Electric and they customer service is so poor. I call them up about this got some old man I was on the phone for 15 mins with him as he did some working out of the bill and at the end of it after him going Mmm Arrh to tell me the bill was right and that I got to pay it. I had to go to Trading Standards who helped me. BG are also very poor they dont pick the phone up.. BG on hold 2 hours