Quidco is best switching technique!!!!!

donaldtramp

Despite everything I've read on MSE I really don't think the MSE articles on switching gas and electricity deals offer the best for customers.
My procedure is simple:

1.Registering for Quidco
2.Check a few of the comparison sites to get a feel for which is the best supplier
3.Clearing my cookies on my computer,
4 Logging into Quidco then switching through them

Following this simple process gives MASSIVE positive differences to the customer compared with following any of the links "that help Martins site". The cashback is always MUCH greater. For example I believe at the moment Quidco and topcashback are offering £130 cashback for changing to NPower. Compare that to the £30 or a bottle of champagne offered on MSE!!

I understand Martin has to make money through links but should this be at the expense of the consumer?
Martin should be applauded for being on the heels of the gas and elecy companies and encouraging people to switch but I wonder how much money MSE makes through the affiliate links on the site?

P.S. There are also other websites like topcashback which offer far better deals as well as Quidco

Ken68

The site has to paid for Donald so little point in mentioning unaffiliated links.
Anyway more than enough mention of Quidco etc on all the boards.
With cancellation fees becoming the norm, Energyhelpline etc will have to pay more to keep in business.

donaldtramp

The site has to paid for Donald so little point in mentioning unaffiliated links.

Yup I agree but even Martin admits that he makes a "very good living from it and that in no way would this ever affect his advice"
I think it is affecting the sites advice...
Switchers can make way more money avoiding the companies on here with their £30 or "free bottles of champagne".
Give me the £130 any day. I can buy a bottle of champagne and keep £100 and odd quid:beer:

samizdat

Have to say I agree with the OP on this.

With mortgage advice, Martin is prepared to point out that you can use a broker for advice and then just go direct for the recommended product to save commission. However, it is hard to avoid the feeling that when he is getting part of the commission, he is less forthcoming.

I hate the way I put that! I think Martin has done fantastic work and am strongly in support of this site in general and the way it is run. Still, this is an area where there is room for improvement.

The only thing I would add is that I find Topcashback better to deal with than Quidco. Edit: I see the OP does mention TCB.

Plushchris

Martin does have to finance the site somehow though, and he does give alternative links to websites that he would recieve no commision for so the choice is there.

He does mention quidco and says that the quidco cashback is 100% guaranteed.

Premier_2

Plushchris wrote: »

...He does mention quidco and says that the quidco cashback is 100% guaranteed.

Surely that should be is NOT 100% guaranteed? (until it hits your bank account)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=30640321&postcount=9

samizdat

Plushchris wrote: »

He does mention quidco and says that the quidco cashback is 100% guaranteed.

Actually, he doesn't mention Quidco, or Topcashback or any other general cashback services by name. What he does do is include a heading, which reads:

"More top picks & a possible cashback boost "

Underneath that heading is the following text:

"When you switch only customer service, billing and, most importantly prices change (read how much you can save).

The pipes, circuits, wires, safety coverage and actual gas and electricity flowing through the house are all the same. The new supplier performs the switch; all you do is take a meter reading. Of course, there've been many switching ‘horror stories' and sadly these still happen, but for most it's a smooth process."

****

Doesn't really make any sense, does it? What has this got to do with top picks or a cashback boost?

Well, it turns out the above heading is clickable, which I only realised just now when writing this. IF you click it, more text is revealed, including the following:

It maybe be possible to INCREASE the cashback...

Occasionally some energy companies pay even more if you switch directly via their websites or via cashback websites. Therefore for the ultimate finesse, first use the comparison services to find the cheapest, then check the winner's website direct to see if it offers more cashback.

And also check if you can get more going via a cashback website both for the energy provider itself and on rare occasions for going to the comparison site, use the Cashback Sites Maximiser.

****

I think that text should be be permanently visible and probably strengthened to read: "The major energy suppliers run regular promotions on top cashback websites, where you can bag significantly higher cashback, sometimes over 100 pounds for a dual fuel switch. Keep an eye on the forums for the best offers, which come and go all the time."

It is true he does provide special links, from which he derives no commission, to the specialised utility-switching services.

However, considering you can get 130 quid cashback on npower at the moment, I think Martin really needs to re-evaluate the way he is presenting things at the moment.

Check for yourself: Martin's utility switching article.

samizdat

Furthermore, there are three stickies at the top of the Gas & Electricity forum that refer to Martin's preferred route of using a utility-switcher to gain only 30 quid cashback or the uswitch champagne.

Even furthermore, Martin's weekly e-mail and "Urgent Moneysaving" articles regularly promote this switching route without any mention that more cashback can be obtained using the cashback sites.

donaldtramp

Furthermore, there are three stickies at the top of the Gas & Electricity forum that refer to Martin's preferred route of using a utility-switcher to gain only 30 quid cashback or the uswitch champagne.

Even furthermore, Martin's weekly e-mail and "Urgent Moneysaving" articles regularly promote this switching route without any mention that more cashback can be obtained using the cashback sites.

Totally agree.
The way quidco/topcashback speak about cash back is that they give YOU all the cash that is due. I simply give quidco £5 once a year membership (out of my cashback and nothing if you earn no cashback).
Quidco explains cashback by stating that most other sites give only a proportion of the money paid by the company to the person who buys/switches.

So it makes you wonder, if some of the cashback that goes direct to the consumer through Quidco/topcashback is up to £70, £90 or even £130 for energy switches, where is the rest of the money going when you switch through the links on MSE?
Martin did say that "he makes a very good living".......

donaldtramp

Surely that should be is NOT 100% guaranteed? (until it hits your bank account)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...21&postcount=9

I've genuinely never had any bother, neither have the guys at my work who use the sites.
I must have switched elecy and gas several times last year (before the penalty clauses came in) and made a good amount of cash.

Premier_2

donaldtramp wrote: »

I've genuinely never had any bother, neither has the guys at my work who use the sites.
I must have switched elecy and gas several times last year (before the penalty clauses came in) and made a good amount of cash.

Nor have I ... but many have.

Have a read of the rest of that thead Martin posted in to see.