Good experiences wanted as well as low prices

Tigsteroonie

Hi there, you all seem so helpful on here, I thought I'd post our "wants" and see what you guys come up with! (Not that I'm lazy, I have done the comparison sites already)

We use 4125 kWh electricity and 10600 kWh gas per year.

We're currently on what I believe to be "standard" tariffs with Eon & BG respectively, as we were brand new customers last year, paying quarterly bills.

We're obviously looking to move to a cheaper tariff, saving as much as possible, also switching over to monthly DD.

Also we're with Topcashback, so I'm looking to include a decent cashback deal.

Initial suggestions from the comparison sites are that ScottishPower would save us the most, EDF a pound or two less. But I did note that if I searched for both those companies on MSE, SP gets mentioned more often as a "vent" and for problems than EDF.

So ....... Who should we switch to? Over to you!

Premier_2

If you look carefully, you'll see probably all the energy suppliers have a number of 'venting' posts/threads about them. I think sometimes, especially when they are brand new users, those 'vents' may be from competitors who hope to put you off going to the cheapest supplier.

Both Scottish Power and EDF are quite good as regards customer service, but sometimes I found you need to put your issue in writing to SP to get a sensible response. Having said that, there is also a pro-active SP rep on this site who seems quite good at resolving issues ... but that's in writing too isn't it?

If SP are the cheapest for you, I'd go with them.


Edit: Obviously any cashback is not directly from the supplier but the cashback site, so I can't really comment on that. I would treat the cashback as the cherry on the icing of the cake rather than make any decision based upon it (unless you plan to be a frequent switching tart)

DirectDebacle

I too am with S.P. for dual fuel. I can't comment on their customer service because I have had no reason to contact them.

My bills are accurate and the DD is set at the correct level and not messed about with. A much better experience than with my previous supplier.

I will be shopping around when my contract ends but wouldn't switch unless there were substantial savings to be made over S.P.

JasX

My experience:

Originally with E.on, -found they had very efficient online account management and good customer service

Switched to npower for the last year, got my cashback ok and they did work out cheaper overall but were a real headache... they are very slow to generate bills, online account management is near useless, tried to hike my DD mid term on the justification "we're going to assume you'll be doubling your useage for no particular reason" and found the customer service prone to mistakes (which since it takes them min 48hrs to do anything can cause a nuisance)

Just used topcashback to switch to scottish power, cashback (special offer £120.50 for a few days at the moment) started to track within 24 hrs and I'll wait and see how they get on

Plushchris

If you are on about the "Vent" thread I think you mean about Scottish power then thats mainly about their sales staff, by using a comparison site and going via a cashback site you are bypassing these scumbags (and yes, I do mean that as you may have seen by my post on that thread)

From my experience Scottish power have been fairly good, my personal feelings are that a lot (not all) of peoples problems with energy suppliers are somewhat self inflicted, this could be by not giving meter readings etc, relying on estimates, not checking payments are covering usage etc.

Now I'm not for one minute defending the energy companies here, but I do think some people cause the problems in the first place and then the energy companies are pretty rubbish at sorting those problems out.

Then like JasX above, sometimes the energy companies are just crap full stop (mainly Npower in my experience and what I've read on here)

Scottish power I've never had any problems with and my mum swears by them saying she will never move because of horrible experiences with others - Mums usually know best! lol

I dont seem to have had any real problems with suppliers but then I generally keep on top of things and keep track of whats happening.

Scottish_Power

Hi Tigsteroonie

I'm not allowed to sell to you on this forum so I'll give some general advice that everyone can benefit from.

Moving from a quarterly cash tariff onto a monthly Direct Debit tariff will lower your charges with most suppiers. If you have internet access and you are able to read your meters will ease, then setting up an online account with your chosen supplier will also benefit you. Your chosen suppier may offer an annual discount for managing your account online and it also allows you to update meter readings and generate bills as often as you wish, i.e. weekly, monthly etc. This way you know exactly how much gas/electricity you are using.

The customer service provided by an energy company is a major factor for many people. What I will say on this is that if you are prepared to manage your account online, you are greatly reducing the reasons for needing to contact customer services as you have all the answers you need at your fingertips.

I have been online now for over 2 years. If I want to check payments that I have made over this time, I simply log into my account and check the history. Likewise for gas and electricity used within this time, I just refer back to statements I generated and check the charge.

I'm sure you can tell I am a big fan of managing my gas and electricity consumption online.

If you are recommended a tariff by a specific supplier, check on the suppiers website for terms and conditions for that tariff. It may offer a discounted rate until a given period, it may be a capped tariff again for a given period. There may also be cancellation charges if you agree to this tariff and then cancel before the expiry date of the tariff. Just something to be aware of.

I hope I have been of some help to you. Let me know if you have any questions from the information I have posted.

Kind Regards

Colin @ ScottishPower

Tigsteroonie

Colin, if I have to phone SP customer services, where is the call centre based?

Plushchris

scottishpower_company_representative wrote: »

Hi Tigsteroonie

I'm not allowed to sell to you on this forum so I'll give some general advice that everyone can benefit from.

Moving from a quarterly cash tariff onto a monthly Direct Debit tariff will lower your charges with most suppiers. If you have internet access and you are able to read your meters will ease, then setting up an online account with your chosen supplier will also benefit you. Your chosen suppier may offer an annual discount for managing your account online and it also allows you to update meter readings and generate bills as often as you wish, i.e. weekly, monthly etc. This way you know exactly how much gas/electricity you are using.

The customer service provided by an energy company is a major factor for many people. What I will say on this is that if you are prepared to manage your account online, you are greatly reducing the reasons for needing to contact customer services as you have all the answers you need at your fingertips.

I have been online now for over 2 years. If I want to check payments that I have made over this time, I simply log into my account and check the history. Likewise for gas and electricity used within this time, I just refer back to statements I generated and check the charge.

I'm sure you can tell I am a big fan of managing my gas and electricity consumption online.

If you are recommended a tariff by a specific supplier, check on the suppiers website for terms and conditions for that tariff. It may offer a discounted rate until a given period, it may be a capped tariff again for a given period. There may also be cancellation charges if you agree to this tariff and then cancel before the expiry date of the tariff. Just something to be aware of.

I hope I have been of some help to you. Let me know if you have any questions from the information I have posted.

Kind Regards

Colin @ ScottishPower

Colin! :wave:

Any chances of you answering the questions posted in this thread you posted on...?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2213719

Scottish_Power

Hi Tigsteroonie

Sorry I missed your question. Customer Services are based in Britain (various locations).

Kind Regards

Colin