Southern & Scottish Moves Goalposts on Social Tarrif!

liquidstool_2

hey all,

i've been on the social tarriff - "energy care plus" for the last two years, meaning i get 20% off my electricty as i don't work because my daughter needs full time care. I called them up this morning to renew my tarriff, and was told that it has now finished to new customers but as i was already on it, i was entitled to reapply which i did. When she worked it out, i was told my income which has remained constant was now to high, i didn't spend 15% or more of my income on supply. I don't get this - with the huge increase in prices (i use oil for heating and water, electricty and solid fuel - coal & wood) i was told i was only using 9% of my income on fuel???

i pay £73 a month in electric, £70 in oil, and about £20 a week on solids. When i dug deeper, she let it slip that reason i no longer qualified for the tarrif was because they've increased the level to 15% of income - that's rather naughty............

liquidstool_2

UPDATE:

now thinking of changing suppliers as all is quiet, but how do i compare them? do i compare the new cost/tarriff which will be the standard (general domestic) @ 11.52ppu in vat or do i compare it against what i WAS paying 9.21ppu inc vat? i'm assuming i should compare on the tarrif to which i will be moved?

if anyone know of another company offering social tarrifs, i'd be obliged.

ta.

liquidstool_2

just used the energyline.com comparison and this was the best result:

Name E.ON - FixOnline NSC v4 (ELEC ONLY) (until Feb 2011) Region Southern Payment method Monthly Direct Debit Features • High service ratings
• Manage your account online
• Prices fixed until 1st February 2011
• Cancellation fees apply
Pricing Details Gas Electricity Standing charge n/a 0.00p per day (£0.00 per year) Unit charge (pence per kWh) n/a 23.489p for the first 225 kWh per quarter, and 10.007p thereafter Discounts Direct debit customers receive a discount of 6% off their total annual bill. FixOnline NSC v4 customers receive a further discount of 15.7% off their total annual bill for managing their account online. The total discount is 21.7% off the total annual bill. All prices shown are inclusive of VAT at 5%.

Additional Information Tariff Information FixOnline NSC v4 prices are fixed until 1st February 2011. There is a £10 cancellation fee for this tariff if customers switch away before the end of the fixed price period.
Customers must manage their energy account online to qualify for the extra FixOnline discounts.

sounds ok to me but then what do i know? this quote was gotten comparing my new tarrif, general domestic @ 11.52ppu inc vat with SE. My total spend of which would work out at £1050 a year assuming the direct debit doesn't go up with SE.

Could really use some feedback please peeps!

liquidstool_2

forgot to mention, SE said that as was not eligible for the social tarriff anymore, they would give me a one off £50 rebate in April,,,,,,,,would it be worth sticking around for that or just best to move on now while the market is steady?

liquidstool_2

anybody????? help here please!!!!

markharding557

hi have alook at edf their social tariif requires you to be on means tested benifits so you should qualify.
on mine i get a reduction on the standing charge and unit rate

KimYeovil

liquidstool wrote: »

anybody????? help here please!!!!

Use a comparison site to see which supplier and tariff is cheapest for your region. Chances are it will be cheaper than any social tariff in the first place.

Social tariffs change goalposts all the time. Some profit from them, others don't. That's life.