First Utility price rise yet?

babyboomer49

I am about to switch away from Atlantic/SSE for dual fuel. Atlantic come very low down on the comparison sites and First Utility near the top. EDF are top for my postcode but they have not increased prices yet. Can any First Utility customers say whether the iSave tariff has gone up in the last couple of weeks - i.e. since SSE announced their gas increase?

dogshome

Hi babyboomer49 - First Ut. are at the top of most of the comparision tables at the moment, but there having been some very scathing posts on this site from their customers.

EDF did launch slightly higher tariffs a little while ago, but whether or not this is on the same platform as BG's rise remains unknown

However, if you do sign up for 1 year contract with EDF, say 'Online saver version V6' , and then they put up the prices. You can reject the price rises by as soon as they are notified, by giving notice in writing that you are arranging to Switch - When you do this EDF must continue to charge the old tariff rates till the Switch is completed

babyboomer49

Thanks for the warning - having read some of the FU threads I think they are one to avoid.

I expect that forums such as these will generally get negative posts and not thousands of 'I'm happy with xx or yy', but even though poor customer service and billing issues can be improved over time, First Utility appear to indulge in general business practices that are too close to shady for me.

HalloweenJack

just changed to EDF`s online saver 7 , £100 for new customers , and another £80 quidco , and they said they wont change prises till march at the earliest.

glenderg

babyboomer49 wrote: »

Thanks for the warning - having read some of the FU threads I think they are one to avoid.

I expect that forums such as these will generally get negative posts and not thousands of 'I'm happy with xx or yy', but even though poor customer service and billing issues can be improved over time, First Utility appear to indulge in general business practices that are too close to shady for me.

My thoughts exactly thats why i dismissed them after doing my research

mickey234

They apparently promise not to increase their Tariffs for at least 3 months on joining them, god knows what they will do afterwards.

Be aware that you pay by Varible Direct Debit which means that you pay for what you use each month. You are likely to pay £250/mth in winter and £20/mth in summer.

You lose the advantages of Direct Debit of 12 equal monthly payments spread-out over the year.

hippey

I have had a horrible experience with FU, at first (2 years ago) they were okay, certainly not the worst, but I did find this from Consumer Focus (on the BBC website):

First Utility was accused of 'extremely concerning behaviour' in how it increased its prices for new customers within weeks of them signing a contract