Saving when you have debits with existing supplier

foreversomeday

I think that we are massively overpaying for our gas and electricity. Just on standard British Gas tariff for Gas and standard E.on (Energyplan I think) tariff for electric. Have been with the same suppliers since I moved in almost 2 years ago and have never changed them, despite being skint, because there was a clause in the rental contract stating we weren't allowed to.

However, have since been told this is not the case and the landlord has no right to insist we don't change provider. In any case I think we may be able to get onto a cheaper tariff with the same provider.

At the moment we're paying £63pm for gas and £47pm for electric. It's just a small victorian 2 up 2 down mid terrace, modern combi boiler for central heating/hot water and gas cooker. There's me, DP and DS who is 3. DP works nights so 2 nights a week he's awake and using electricity during the night. I'm a part time student so most of the time am home in the day with DS. Often we cook 3 separate meals because everyone is on different schedules. I know this will add to our gas bills, am not really looking to reduce (though wanting to start using slow cooker more) but more a query about changing tariff/supplier. The saving grace with electricity is that we don't have a tumble drier!

Anyway. Over the last 2 years the direct debit of the gas bill has been up and down and was reduced a lot just before last year's cold winter. Stupidly(!) I didn't think to keep this raised or check my usage and their policy is not to change them for 6 months (I think?) so ended up building up a £400 debit :eek: This is now down to around £250 at the last bill (September).

Electricity is slightly better but also has a smaller debit of £38. They have recently increased our DD (used to be £35) to cover this.

Anyway, I've had a look on uswitch and it seems we could save quite a lot by switching to a completely separate dual fuel deal. But I'm guessing that you can't just switch the debt as well and this needs to be paid off in full. Which would be possible with the E.on one but not for British Gas. So I am thinking, would it be worth switching the electricity now to the dual fuel provider, switching our gas tariff to a cheaper one but still with British Gas, until the debt is either paid off or at a manageable level to pay as a one off, and then switch that one too?

Would that be the best plan or does anyone have any other ideas?

NeverInDebt

The old supplier may very will not allow you to switch when you have debt so will block the switch. You could easily save money switching though standard are one of the most expensive tariffs on all suppliers. Not sure on landlord stopping you cant see why it makes a difference to them

foreversomeday

Thanks. So it's possible to switch tariff with the same supplier?

t0rt0ise

Yes you should change tariff even if you can't change supplier. You could do a check on uSwitch or another comparison site, look at the list it gives you and find the cheapest for your supplier.

victor2

Look for the best dual fuel plan with BG and switch the leccy from E.On to that.
Talk to BG about staying with them but going to a dual fuel tariff, even with your current debt. With any luck they'll let you do that.