Eon Exit Fee ?

backfoot

Premier wrote: »

I can confirm that none of the comparison sites (not just the two you mention) allow for the loss of discount on a customer's final bill when leaving E.On.

If you are so certain this contradicts the code, I suggest you make a complaint to Consumer Focus or Ofgem.
How much would you suggest the comparison sites should allow as it would vary with each customer and their specific circumstances? :huh:

Thanks for that information. It was what I expected.

I was going to ask Consumer Focus whose code it is but they already have an audit process to pick up significant issues.That's not to say,I won't give them a clue of something to examine.

Like any fair process though, I felt it was better to ask those who manage the actual data first. They should be the first port of call and should be able to advise their interpretation of the code and the highlighted clause in relation to the Eon policy.

The wording seems unambigous to me (doesn't it to you?), so although I am no expert of this Code, I would need persuading why the Eon Policy doesn't fall foul of this.

Hence asking them.:D

Premier_2

backfoot wrote: »

...The wording seems unambigous to me (doesn't it to you?), ...

:huh:

No.

Discounts are not payable on final bills.
(I've posted Malc's post above for the exception of where it can be)

backfoot

You have lost me Premier.

If there are no discounts on final bills,whatever the tariff, how does that not get caught by the highlighted clause.

i.e. those discounts which are not paid automatically.

So in the calculation done on the Comparison Site they shouldn't include all those relevant discounts because you won't get them if you choose to leave.

It's not disimilar to the Npower loyalty type bonusses which are paid in month 13. They are now specifically excluded because it's a conditional type bonus.

The code as I understand it, is trying to get Suppliers to simplify tariffs and isn't this a good example of where we would all benefit?

I wasn't aware of this Eon clause and indeed you had to look it up to be sure. You are extremely well informed, but most customers would first come across it when they were trying to leave Eon. They won't have factored it into their price comparison.

That can't be right can it?

MillicentBystander

backfoot wrote: »

You have lost me Premier.

If there are no discounts on final bills,whatever the tariff, how does that not get caught by the highlighted clause.

i.e. those discounts which are not paid automatically.

So in the calculation done on the Comparison Site they shouldn't include all those relevant discounts because you won't get them if you choose to leave.

It's not disimilar to the Npower loyalty type bonusses which are paid in month 13. They are now specifically excluded because it's a conditional type bonus.

The code as I understand it, is trying to get Suppliers to simplify tariffs and isn't this a good example of where we would all benefit?

I wasn't aware of this Eon clause and indeed you had to look it up to be sure. You are extremely well informed, but most customers would first come across it when they were trying to leave Eon. They won't have factored it into their price comparison.

That can't be right can it?

That was my argument all along - that the vast majority of Eon customers would not know anything about it until they left (even after 20 years, for instance). I accept that it's in Eon's T&Cs but the fact it isn't mentioned on the switching sites I have experience of is frankly disgraceful because you are effectively harvesting yet another tranche of customers who first come across it when they subsequently leave Eon. It just gives cynics like me massive ammunition to have a go and does nothing for the industry's already terrible reputation (I'm basing this on Which's frequent customer satisfaction surveys in which they generally mention the fact that the energy industry is the least respected industry in the UK, INCLUDING the banks before anyone queries this.)

Premier_2

backfoot wrote: »

You have lost me Premier.

If there are no discounts on final bills,whatever the tariff, how does that not get caught by the highlighted clause.

i.e. those discounts which are not paid automatically.

So in the calculation done on the Comparison Site they shouldn't include all those relevant discounts because you won't get them if you choose to leave.

It's not disimilar to the Npower loyalty type bonusses which are paid in month 13. They are now specifically excluded because it's a conditional type bonus.

The code as I understand it, is trying to get Suppliers to simplify tariffs and isn't this a good example of where we would all benefit?

I wasn't aware of this Eon clause and indeed you had to look it up to be sure. You are extremely well informed, but most customers would first come across it when they were trying to leave Eon. They won't have factored it into their price comparison.

That can't be right can it?

I gave what I think the explanation for that is earlier. You have a difference of opinion. I can't see me convincing you otherwise ... other than to say my approach works, whereas I hope you now realise yours fails.

The discounts are paid automatically where they apply. Discounts do not apply to final bills with Eon (except in certain circumstances).

MillicentBystander

Premier wrote: »

:huh:

No.

Discounts are not payable on final bills.
(I've posted Malc's post above for the exception of where it can be)

In other words, a second exit fee but just called summat else. Worse still, a never ending exit fee.

backfoot

Premier wrote: »

I gave what I think the explanation for that is earlier. You have a difference of opinion. I can't see me convincing you otherwise ... other than to say my approach works, whereas I hope you now realise yours fails.

The discounts are paid automatically where they apply. Discounts do not apply to final bills with Eon (except in certain circumstances).

Eh? What are the respective approaches?

I am simply looking at the Confidence Code words and applying them to the Eon discount structure. I am neither for or against your approach because I don't know what it is?

You seem to be personalising the issue for some reason,whereas it is just a matter of me asking the comparison site Reps for their interpretation. Until they respond,perhaps with much more background knowledge than either of us,then I and others can form a judgment.

Ultimately, the Eon practice seems outwith all other Suppliers and I honestly don't like it and I think it is the sort of thing Ofgem and CF have been banging on about regarding simplification.

So I wonder why you are so defensive towards the issue? Wouldn't it be fairer, if such a practice was forced to be more transparent?

Premier_2

backfoot wrote: »

Eh? What are the respective approaches? ...

see my post#27.

backfoot wrote: »

...Wouldn't it be fairer, if such a practice was forced to be more transparent?

I don't know what you expect.

The comparison sites cannot list each and every term of the supplier - they are pages long.

I have asked you how much the comparison sites should allow for the fact no discounts are given on Eon final bills and you haven't answered it. Presumably because you don't know either as the amount would vary depending on what the customer does, and so could even not apply at all.
How useful would that be to a consumer trying to compare tariffs?

The Eon reps on here make no effort to disguise the fact that no discounts are given on their final bills - how much more transparent can they be?

MillicentBystander

Premier wrote: »

see my post#27.



I don't know what you expect.

The comparison sites cannot list each and every term of the supplier - they are pages long.

I have asked you how much the comparison sites should allow for the fact no discounts are given on Eon final bills and you haven't answered it. Presumably because you don't know either as the amount would vary depending on what the customer does, and so could even not apply at all.
How useful would that be to a consumer trying to compare tariffs?

The Eon reps on here make no effort to disguise the fact that no discounts are given on their final bills - how much more transparent can they be?

No, but they should list the T&Cs that directly affect the decision to switch or not. Seems to me that they tend to just list the stuff that would persuade you to switch and not the stuff that would give you second thoughts. Here's an example of the stuff energyhelpline quote for Eon's Age UK tariff. We get loads of detail here....

Direct debit customers receive a discount of 2% off their total annual bill. Dual fuel customers receive a discount of 6% off their total annual bill. Dual fuel customers also receive a guaranteed cold weather payment of £10.50 per year. Total discount of 8% off the total annual bill plus £10.50

What's wrong with stating that 'no discount will be granted on final bills' here? Could be done and dusted in just 8 words! But wait, there's more:

E.ON work in partnership with Age UK to meet the needs of their older customers. They offer competitive gas prices, exclusive cold weather rebates for gas customers over 60, a free early-warning hypothermia thermometer, a free carbon monoxide detector, free energy efficiency advice, simple, clearer bills and a dedicated customer service helpline, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

It's all great news so far, eh? Where do I sign? Wait, there's more:

E.ON Age UK is available to anyone over 18. However, if you are over 60 you will qualify for the following extra benefits: cold weather rebates for gas customers, two energy saving light bulbs, a card hypothermia thermometer, Carbon Monoxide Alarm worth £20 (giving an audible warning if the deadly gas is detected in the room), and a Leaflet regarding free or discounted loft and cavity wall insulation.

I genuinely can't wait to sign up for this one. I'm so excited I've had to raid my Werther's box to try and calm down.

Premier's argument that the switching sites can't list such an important T&C like no discount on final bill due to space constraints is frankly ludicrous.

http://www.energyhelpline.com/fri/fri/Domesticenergy/Domestic/ShowCustomerCurrentTariffs?Id=6cdced18-b567-40a5-831b-9e870113a3b2&SwitchId=0&PostCode=WV5+8AN&RegionCode=5&CurrentGasTariffId=416718&CurrentElectricityTariffId=416511&CompareGas=True&CompareElec=True&GasUsageUnknown=False&ElecUsageUnknown=False&GasProfileOrigin=UserInputKWh&ElecProfileOrigin=UserInputKWh&CurElecSpendPeriod=PerMonth&CurElecUse=2000&CurElecUsePeriod=PerYear&CurElecEconomy7=False&CurElecEconomy7Usage=0.55&CurGasSup=59&CurGasSupTariff=894&CurGasPayMthd=1&CurGasSpendPeriod=PerMonth&CurGasUse=15000&CurGasUsePeriod=PerYear&ComparisonType=GasAndElectricity&PrefRadioSelector=None&AllTariffs=AllTariffs&SortByPrice=ExpectedSaving&SecSortByPrice=ExpectedSaving&FuturePayMthd=1&ClientHasJavaScript=False&CurElecSup=59&CurElecSupTariff=894&CurElecPayMthd=1&SupplyType=DualGasAndElectricity&SimpleGasUsageLevel=Unknown&SimpleElecUsageLevel=Unknown&ShowAll=False&Skip=0&Page=0&SecShowAll=False&SecSkip=0&DisplayCurrentSupplierDetailsLink=False&CurrentTotalSpendPerAnum=819.4995648000000000000000000&CurrentGasSpendPerAnum=532.71348480000000000000000000&CurrentElectricitySpendPerAnum=286.78608000000000000000000000&IsCustomerInputComplete=False&ProRataPreference=True&AgentId=0

backfoot

Premier wrote: »

see my post#27.



I don't know what you expect.

The comparison sites cannot list each and every term of the supplier - they are pages long.

I have asked you how much the comparison sites should allow for the fact no discounts are given on Eon final bills and you haven't answered it. Presumably because you don't know either as the amount would vary depending on what the customer does, and so could even not apply at all.
How useful would that be to a consumer trying to compare tariffs?

The Eon reps on here make no effort to disguise the fact that no discounts are given on their final bills - how much more transparent can they be?

Ah, I follow you now.

You are missing the point of the Code I think. None of discounts would be allowed to be included,because they are conditional.You are right, I cannot calculate the right amount,because no one can. That's the problem because Eon currently get credit for discounts which sometimes are not payable.It's the whole point of the issue.:D

That way the Code forces Eon to change this policy or not have the product appearing so high up in the tables.It would still be there but not as high as is currently ranked.

That would then be a choice for Eon to simplify by allowing discounts on final bills or alter its tariffs or do nothing.

You are still being very defensive towards a non customer friendly practice. The Money Saving is meant to be towards the customer not the businesses.

It's our chance to try and get a fair deal.Why aren't you onside?