Pitfalls when switching Utility provider

Felixbythesea

Hi,
I am new to this forum and this problem may already be flagged however I thought that this was serious enough to post it again.

I am just switching from a current fixed cost plan with Scottish Power. I entered all the correct data into uSwitch and exellent news, I am told that I can save up to £260 per annum by changing to a different supplier. I nearly pressed the button to proceed but thought I would just check using my own calculations.

Doing this I identified a major problem with seems to common with all the switching company software. Apparently, when doing a comparison with an on-going fixed price plan they access the up-to-date data from the supplier. However, this data (as can be seen on their websites) is the latest figures which someone joining the plan would have had to pay. So, for example someone joining the Scottish Power Online Energy Saver 10 plan in August 2010 would have been charged at unit costs very much higher than those which I have been paying as I joined the plan in Sept 2009. This means that the comparison being made by the switching sites gives a false indication of potential savings.

The only way I could do a proper comparison was to "fiddle" with my used input units until the total price for the electric and gas was approximately the same as the higher figures calculated by the switching software. This did work and gave me the numbers I needed to make a decision, but unfortunately with very much reduced savings!

One way round this would be for the switching software to have an option for entering the actual costs being paid for each kWh

Hope this helps prevent other from switching based on incorrect data

spiro

I only use the sites to find the cost with others suppliers. I know how much I paid last year. Also if your plan is about to end the site 'guesses' what tariff you will move onto next when working out your current consumption.

Plushchris

OP are you saying that there are different prices for Online energy saver 10 depending on when you signed up to it?

I thought it was a variable tariff, I've never heard of a tariff staying the same for people that joined it early on. If so I wish I had switched to Scottish power over a week ago...

Also, the gap between Sept 09 (when you say you joined) and August 2010 seem huge for an online tariff, are you sure it was available (IE on sale) for that length of time?

Premier_2

Plushchris wrote: »

...I thought it was a variable tariff, ...

Correct.

The only cause for concern is if the OP wanted to kbnnow the cost of what they used for the previous 12 months. Not sure why anyone would want that, but if they did they could get it from their own bills or the supplier.

Going forward, it the comparison site gives the correct results for all.

(To be really precise, it gives the cost of the future 12 months starting 01 August, as until then the old prices still apply )

uSwitch_company_representative

Hi Felixbythesea,

Thank you for posting.

The prices on the site are calculated for August to include the increase, as opposed to using the data from bills, which is historical. It's no longer possible to sign up to the online energy saver 10 plan so these are the rates you will be paying going forward. You should receive a letter from ScottishPower confirming in the next couple of weeks.

Spiro - hi! Unlike some sites, we don't guess what tariff you will move into next. The best way to compare if your fixed plan is ending is to enter your KW usage along with the plan name of the plan you're moving on to. This will give you the most accurate comparison.

I hope that helps.