SSE and switching

Boleigh

Hello Everyone

This is my first post here, so please be gentle!

I have been with SSE for ages, but looking at Martin's 'switch now' message I have done a bit of research and maths into switching gas suppliers, I just wanted to say two things:

1. SSE doesn't seem to be properly represented on the switching sites. So, for my gas bill energyhelpline says I could save up to £103/year, but when I do my own maths this actually turns into a cost of £94/year. I phoned up SSE to discuss this, since they have a five star customer service rating and the chap on the end of the phone says that because SSE refuse to pay switching sites they don't get represented there properly. SSE have fixed all their prices until August 2012, so they look pretty good value (well the best by a long chalk to me).

2. Has anyone else come up against this? Do we put too much trust in the switching sites who basically make their money out of us switching? Could we be actually costing ourselves money for the sake of a case of cheap wine?

Boleigh

I think what I'm getting at is how honest they are. I did not use uswitch, just energyhelpline.

macman

If you input correct data (annual kwh consumption, not monthly DD amounts) the comp sites are accurate.
You can't compare comp site results against historic bills, because what the comp sites show are the costs going forward, i.e. for the next 12 months.
They also calculate in any annual discounts or loyalty bonuses that you may have neglected in your own calculations.
Then once you have found the best tariff, just switch using a cashback site and you get to keep the commission for yourself.

dogshome

One of the most trusted brands in the UK is 'Which' the consumer organisation

They have a switch site at 'switchwithwhich' that not only brings up the usual list of prices in ascending order, but on each suppliers window there is a 'Compare' icon.
When this is pressed it brings up that suppliers tariff in fine detail, right alongside that of your present supplier

Cardew

Boleigh wrote: »

Hello Everyone

This is my first post here, so please be gentle!

I have been with SSE for ages, but looking at Martin's 'switch now' message I have done a bit of research and maths into switching gas suppliers, I just wanted to say two things:

1. SSE doesn't seem to be properly represented on the switching sites. So, for my gas bill energyhelpline says I could save up to £103/year, but when I do my own maths this actually turns into a cost of £94/year. I phoned up SSE to discuss this, since they have a five star customer service rating and the chap on the end of the phone says that because SSE refuse to pay switching sites they don't get represented there properly. SSE have fixed all their prices until August 2012, so they look pretty good value (well the best by a long chalk to me).

2. Has anyone else come up against this? Do we put too much trust in the switching sites who basically make their money out of us switching? Could we be actually costing ourselves money for the sake of a case of cheap wine?

There have been many posts like yours, over the years, and yet, when the example is described in detail, there isn't a fault with the comparison network.

For instance Energyhelpline(misleadingly IMO) make the assumption that at the end of a fixed tariff period the customer will revert to the high standard tariff.

So it may be with the SSE tariff fixed to August 2012, they have calculated 10 months on the current tariff and 2 months on the Standard rate.

Incidentally I am not a fan of Comparison websites as they are(IMO) parasitic and an unnecessary expense. They undoubtedly will steer customers toward a company paying the highest commission if it can be done 'legally'.

However provided you give kWh and learn to interpret the results. they aare rarely wrong.

energyhelpline_company_representative

Boleigh wrote: »

I think what I'm getting at is how honest they are. I did not use uswitch, just energyhelpline.

Hi Boleigh,

I'm disappointed if the SSE agent told you that. Any comparison site certified by the watchdog Consumer Focus has to show all energy tariffs truthfully, regardless of whether we have a relationship with the energy company or not.

uSwitch_company_representative

Hi,

We're disappointed to hear this too - as the Energyhelpline rep says, we're Consumer Focus accredited, so we show tariffs from all suppliers and we also show accurate information about tariffs.

Lauren

BobQ

energyhelpline_company_representative wrote: »

Hi Boleigh,

I'm disappointed if the SSE agent told you that. Any comparison site certified by the watchdog Consumer Focus has to show all energy tariffs truthfully, regardless of whether we have a relationship with the energy company or not.

Does this truthfulness extend to the statements made by the EnergyHelpline staff when they endulge in marketing to encourage you to transfer to another supplier? The unsolicited call I got yesterday from EnergyHelpline did an honest comparison but the expert advice he purported to give based on this was more questionable. In order to save £9 a year he recommended I incur £60 cancellation charges because my current supplier's prices are likely to rise before May 2012 (even though the same was true of the proposed firm) and that I should consider a Fixed Price out to 2015 the benefits of which are surely a matter of conjecture?

energyhelpline_company_representative

Hi BobQ, I’m sorry if you were unhappy with the advice you were given on the phone. If I’m right, I think you’re saying the advisor recommended a tariff that only saved you £9 a year and would incur a £60 cancellation fee by switching away from your current tariff, but that you would then be on a fixed price tariff until 2015? If you switched to a fixed price tariff then you would be unaffected by any price rises until 2015. You’re right that it’s a matter of conjecture that prices will keep rising, but I think what the agent was trying to get at is that the current £9 annual saving and £60 one-off cancellation charge is likely to be less than your bills could go up by over 3 years. If I’ve got any of this wrong or you think the advisor was incorrect or pushy, please email me at [EMAIL="customerservices@energyhelpline.com"]customerservices@energyhelpline.com[/EMAIL] with your details so that we can investigate the call, as we really want to make sure the advice we give out to customers is correct and appropriate.