switching: urgent advice please!

Nikiya

I have been pondering and researching this matter for hours on end!!We are stuck in a problem that I'm afraid will arise next time we switch, if we do. I wonder how other people get round it....
We are with Scottish power standard tariffs, because if we switch to a cheaper one, we are stuck with them or penalized if we switch to another provider.
If you are to believe the comparison tools, there are cheaper providers BUT that will mean staying up to 6 weeks of cold weather with SP's standard tariff (in a very cold house!!)
The other problem is: How accurate are the comparison tools???
I have been running them for weeks and cannot find common ground.
Moneysupermarket and energyhelpline seem to "agree" on the quotes, but other sites (which, confused, gocompare, etc) give completely different assessments!!! The point is, much as I would like to kick SP, if the savings are not major compared to their saver7 tariff I'd be better off with an immediate switch.
Whatever we do, whenever the next arrangement comes to an end (next winter) we'll be in the same situation.... 6 weeks stuck with ordinary tariffs or accept whatever our provider offers us....
Help please!!
TIA!!

macman

I don't understand why you are 'stuck with them or penalized'?-that would apply if you are coming to the end of a contract which has an early termination clause, but the standard tarifs don't have a lock in?
Even if it takes 6 weeks to switch (might be only 4), you will still get the benefit of a cheaper tariff for the majority of the winter.

Nikiya

We are with Scottish power standard tariffs, because if we switch to a cheaper one, we are stuck with them or penalized if we switch to another provider.

That is what I said.
Standard tariffs have no penalties, better tariffs within the same company do. The difference between their best tariff and cheaper providers is not all that big AND of we'll have to remain for 6 weeks in their standard. I hope that is clear.
And I add: That is why it is so important that the figures provided are reliable... the difference between Scottish's best tariff and other providers (different ones depending on the comparison tool) may be as little as 100 pounds....

macman

Only you can do the calculations in that case-what's the difference between 6 weeks extra on the standard tariff, and the bigger saving over a year by switching supplier? If you just switch to their cheapest tariff now then that should be done in a few days, so that may be the best route for you.

waterbaby59

Hi,

I am sympathetic that you are confused and annoyed by what's going on with these guys. We were with them for years and thought they were good, but finally changed when they pushed our rates up and I found that I got a different story each time I rang Customer services.

The latest... a few days ago I was getting refund for just over £100, yesterday they billed me for £3.99, today I am getting £260 refunded which means they have been overcharging me by c. £25 per month. Just how much interest are they making on my money!

Can I suggest you call customer services and ask them to raise a complaint. They will then put you through to a more senior person and you may get a quicker resolution.

Premier_2

Nikiya wrote: »

...The other problem is: How accurate are the comparison tools???...

Extremely accurate in my experience.
But like any computer program, it's garbage in, garbage out.

Put in your correct details, especially ensuring the annual consumption is in kWh, and you should get a consistent result.
If you don't know what your annual consumption is (and your supplier cant tell you perhaps because you haven't been with them for 12 months), then assumptions are made, and each site may assume differently.

As for SP, they like most suppliers offer a range of tariffs for credit meter customers, not all of which incur possible early cancellation fees. Why not give them a call to see if you would benefit from being on a different tariff? As long as you make clear you are not interested in any with possible early cancellation fees, they should provide ypu with the appropriate details.

Nikiya

Thanks Premier. Let me tell you that when I talk about differences I mean having run the comparison sites at the same time on the same day, with the same data. I know my consumption in Kw so no guesswork involved.
With the same info, only Moneysupermarket and Energyline give very similar figures. GoCompare, Which and Confused figures differ so much that in the case of one provider there is a cool 150 pounds gap.
And I did speak with SP but their best tariff is the saver 7 --so they say themselves and the same comparison tools. Some providers are cheaper, but the "annual difference" cannot be spread equally over a year since the winter months is when consumption peaks. So that leaves you shouldering a big bill for six weeks.... is it worth?? The question mark over the real differences in tariffs makes the calculation almost impossible.
The problem is: whichever provider we (or anybody else) decides to take or stay with, at the end of the agreed period we'll be on the same boat: accept your own provider's new capped offer OR pay six weeks at their standard rate while you switch to another... no way round it, since most "cheap" tariffs come with cancellation penalties.