Why don't existing companies offer cheaper?

davidgmmafan

Not really arrogance more poor training and quality control.

whatmichaelsays

The simple answer to the question is "what motivation do they have to reduce your bill?". They are in business for profit and if they have a customer who is willingly paying £x, why would they point out that a customer could pay £<x?

How many people regularly seek a new tariff or provider? Probably not that many. The finance or insurance industries work on the same principle - that a significant percentage will just stick with them / auto-renew because they can't or won't seek to change.

Companies aren't there to hold your hand and look after you. You have to look after yourself.

Cardew

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

Companies aren't there to hold your hand and look after you. You have to look after yourself.

With respect, that is perfectly well understood and indeed is the subject of this thread.

The point being made is that this situation should not exist.

whatmichaelsays

Cardew wrote: »

With respect, that is perfectly well understood and indeed is the subject of this thread.

The point being made is that this situation should not exist.

It isn't necessarily a bad thing though is it? After all, those people that can't be bothered to change are subsidising my cheaper tariff.

davidgmmafan

I don't know if we can say the situation should not exist. I mean it annoys the hell out of me when insurance companies try to hike the rate despite having another years no claims.

There again if the practice is widespread in this industry and others doesn't that suggest that the opposite approach isn't a viable business plan?

Either view could be right, so maybe the companies should be able to find some middle ground. I don't expect them to say with any supplier the online tariff is usually less, as this may lose them customers. But some kind of review has potential, some customers will shop around anyway, but chances are most will say nice of them to save me say £50 won't look around to see if anymore can be saved.

chrisw

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

It isn't necessarily a bad thing though is it? After all, those people that can't be bothered to change are subsidising my cheaper tariff.

I'm quite happy for those who can't be bothered to change to subsidise my tariff. I probably wouldn't have bothered if it was £50 or so difference, but it was nearly £300 despite both being online tariffs.

Taking the moral ground, it's usually the more vulnerable who can't or won't switch - my mum refuses to move from British Gas regardless or even contact them and I would be very surprised if she was on their best tariff.

Plushchris

chrisw wrote: »

Taking the moral ground, it's usually the more vulnerable who can't or won't switch - my mum refuses to move from British Gas regardless or even contact them and I would be very surprised if she was on their best tariff.

There cant be many people that "cant" switch, the people that wont switch cannot then moan about their prices/bills if they refuse to do anything about it. They cant just assume that the company will put them on their cheapest prices by sitting there and doing nothing.

I've never understood those people that refuse to switch providers myself..

davidgmmafan

In there defence there are some astounding !!!! ups made, and whilst this isn't typical I imagine the horror stories put some people off.

I'm all for people shopping around as it should drive down prices generally, mind you they'll probably start bleating then like insurance companies saying they're not making any money (I have this concern with water companies too if everyone has meters and reduces thier consumption).

Pincher

Has anyone ever said to their employer:
"You can pay me less because I really want to work for you."?

If so, you have set an excellent example for the utility companies.