Worried about switching after changing provider...

just-saving

Hi,

After the hubby left last year I have the daunting task of deciding if/how to save money on gas and electricity. Having been an E.on customer for quite a few years and having had many suppliers knocking at my door trying to make me switch I have always been too worried to change. This week there was a knock on the door and a man from Southern Electric stood there saying I was paying too much, so, after ten minutes of him trying to pursuade me to change I thought it would be a good idea to take the plunge and make a switch...after all, if I am going to save money its a good idea right?

Well, now I am getting worried that it was a mistake. I dont have a recent E.on bill to hand but I know I pay £143 by Direct Debit for dual fuel. After just reading the paperwork the bloke left me it doesnt look like I will save anything, apart from being able to use a voucher he left me to knock £150 off my gas or electric.
He also said I will be paying £133 per month instead of my usual £143 so although it looks like I will be saving I will be really upset if I have to owe them a lump sum at some point.

He was pointing out some number on his sheet, something about 22kw with E.on and then pointed out its only 14kw with Southern Electric but it doesnt mean that much to me although he was saying you get more for your money with Southern Electric.

I just want to know, is it worth all the hassle of changing because I am starting to get stressed about this already and know that any supplier who comes knocking on your door is going to push you to change because like he said to me 'it'll make me an extra £10 if you swap!'

Thank you for any replies )

Joyful

If you know how much energy you use( not how much money ) go onto a comparison site such as Uswitch and check it out.

cing0

Staying with your current supplier or buying on the door step will not save you (the most) money. He's only there to get his £100 commision, not for your benefit. Tell your current supplier E.on you don't want to switch when they send you a 'sorry your leaving us' letter and then use one of the switching websites recommend on moneysaving expert to switch - select the one at the top giving the biggest discount.
Its your call if you want to fixed price tariff etc etc but I wouldn't personally lock myself into any supplier which charges penalties to terminate early.
Worry over! Hope that helps.

SwanJon

cing0 wrote: »

Tell your current supplier E.on you don't want to switch when they send you a 'sorry your leaving us' letter

I'm afraid this won't work - if you have changed your mind you need to speak to Southern electric within your cooling off period (i.e. ASAP)! The losing supplier cannot block a change apart from for a very limited number of reasons (e.g. debt)

If you don't have your last 4 bills you can call eon and ask how much you have used in the last 12 months in kWh, then put this into the comparison sites and make your choice in your own time - not with a slaesman in your house.

Yellowcard

Really annoys me when field sales agents just stand there and say they can cut x ammount from your direct debit without seeing any bills or any clue of your consumption.

maddipops

It is imperative that you call southern electric and cancel ASAP as someone else previously said. It's the old trick of the primary rate bluff that the sales agent has used. are you sure he didnt say you pay 22p with eon and 14p with SSE? He;s referring to your primary rate, and no doubt your secondary rate with SSE will be significantly higher than with eon, therefore nullifying any saving as most of your usage will be on the secondary rate.

Call Eon and get on save online v4, and get yourself a free energy saving monitor.

SSE have recently announced a 9% price increase so this is the worst time to join them.

just-saving

Thank you so much for your replies.
You know what salesmen are like, he had me believing him in the end that SSE were the best.
I rang them first thing this morning to cancel and said that I would rather change in my own time, but was on the phone for 15 minutes while the bloke told me all the reasons why I should change to them.
He won me over with all his speel, saying I would definitely save and that they are the cheapest gas supplier, even though they are hiking up their prices they will still be the cheapest!

Anyway, after just logging on to read your replies I am going to ring them back and tell them that I do not want to change.....end of!
I have just registered for paperless billing with my supplier e.on and can now see what I am using and how much it is costing so I shall be giving Uswitch a go and will change in my own time to the supplier I believe will give me an honest saving.

Thank you all so much

macman

If you want to save money, check your best tariff using one of the comp sites recommended on the main board (enter your annual consumption, not your monthly DD amount), and then switch using a cashback site. But get a move on, because a switch typically take 5 weeks, so if you want to get the winter heating bill benefits you need to act now.
Would you really expect an SSE rep to say that his rates are not the cheapest?

t0rt0ise

LOL.. you let them dupe you twice! Let us know what happens the third time. Seriously put your details in one of the comparison sites first and see if they really are the cheapest. I doubt it somehow but if they are you won't need to cancel.

cing0

just-saving wrote: »

He won me over with all his speel, saying I would definitely save and that they are the cheapest gas supplier, even though they are hiking up their prices they will still be the cheapest!

Based on you track record, I'd use the southern electric 'Online contact form' on their website and instruct them that you do not wish to be a customer and ask for email confirmation, that way you won't be swayed!
It takes 40-45 days to switch when using a comparison/switching website, 7 days less if you go direct (and not get the bonus or cash back).

FOREVER21

To get a trulely independent price comparison, with no catches use the " Which " web page