comparision websites-rip off!

napper

I used a comparision website at the end of last summer & was advised if I switched to EDF my payments would go down by about 25% so naturally I switched, then we had the harshest winter in a long while & not surprisingly I had a deficit at the end of the winter quarter due to my extra consumption.I have now received my next quarters bill & I' m incensed as despite my usage being almost identicial(its up by about 50 watts) to 1 year ago I m left with a deficit of £200.I feel as I was duped into joining EDF as I presumed the monthly direct debit would cover my usage if similiar to last year & whilst it was, I am left with a deficit to now try & clear.I thought comparision websites helped to save you money not leave you with a debt.EDF state they are not at fault, but the comparision website are-they in turn state they only used info received from EDF so they are at fault. Can anyone help me to sort this mess out by giving me advice on what to do next please , needless to say if I had the money I would pay what I owe but I dont -thanks in advance

Premier_2

napper wrote: »

...I' m incensed as despite my usage being almost identicial(its up by about 50 watts) to 1 year ago...

50 watts difference? How have you measured that over a year?

I'm afraid you've probably simply suffered from the same fate as most who don't know what they are doing with computer programmes; GIGO.

Give us your actual annual usage in kWh and your supply area and we'll see if you actually chose the cheapest deal. If you also provide us the supplier & tariff you were on, we'll tell you how much it would have costed if you were still on that tariff.
(all available from the comparison sites)

Regarding claims you can't pay, contact your supplier as soon as possible to discuss this. Arrange for a PPM to be installed if you can't come to any other solution - the debt can be added to that and recovered.

PeterDuckett

I wonder if that a gas reading rather than a usage reading that well be over 300Kw of gas.

Who set the direct debit and how different was it to your previous

JasX

napper wrote: »

I thought comparision websites helped to save you money not leave you with a debt.EDF state they are not at fault, but the comparision website are-they in turn state they only used info received from EDF so they are at fault.

Comparison sites are very efficient and a good way to locate the cheapest energy deal for your particular useage.... unfortunately they require a basic level of common sense to use and require you to put accurate data about your useage in or the well established principle of junk information in junk information out comes into play.

from the sound of your post you haven't a clue what your approximate energy useage is (or was), what tariff you were on or are now on or how your current charges have come about and seem to be blaiming everyone else for your lack of doing a little homework upfront :hello:

Don't schools teach you what a 'watt' is when you're about 13 years old anymore and how to do basic multiplication?

napper

the reading waselectricity not gas, I keep all my quarters usage on a spreadsheet & have the last 3 years, hence why I know the usage for the quarter in question was very similiar to the previous year-so no garbage in, but sure garbage out.The direct debit was set by the comparision website who have subsequently told me the info they quoted was obtained from EDF & nothing to do with them!

JasX

so do you have any figures for the last 2 years you can post as Premier suggested? what tariff were you on and what are you on now? also you *must* put figures into the comparison site in kilowatthours not £ per month or it won't be accurate.

Cardew

Apart from the fact that '50 watts' is a measure of power not consumption(presumably you mean 50kWh - kilowatt hour)

If you input accurate kWh information into a comparison website it will give you accurate results - and all the websites will usually be the same to within a pound or so.

However DD payments are another matter!

napper

yes my fault it should have read in my opening post kWh-thanks for all your replies

napper

ok consumption as an average for last 3 years Winter quarter 2138kWh Spring quarter 1353 kWh summer quarter 1060kWh autumn quarter1456kWh annual say 6000 kWh, supply area South West,current supplier EDF plan Economy 7 electricity tariff dd.thanks for any help.previous supplier e-on plan not sure :embarasse

JasX

napper wrote: »

ok consumption as an average for last 3 years Winter quarter 2138kWh Spring quarter 1353 kWh summer quarter 1060kWh autumn quarter1456kWh annual say 6000 kWh, supply area South West,current supplier EDF plan Economy 7 electricity tariff dd.thanks for any help.previous supplier e-on plan not sure :embarasse

Economy 7 Tariffs rely on you having dual meters so unless you know what amount was used at low rate and what was peak rate you won't have accurate information to base a cost comparison on.

napper

the average daytime usage over the 3 years is 5187 &night time 813-thanks