EDF Online Saver Version 7

Froogle_Doogle

I am also coming to the end of my Online Saver 7 tariff. From reading this thread it seems I can start a switch to another supplier now without penalty now because EDF hiked their prices in July? I wish I'd known that in July

Regarding the July increase, I am currently waiting for a reply back from EDF as I challenged their price increase. My tariff increased - Electricity 36.25% and Gas 19%. What is the point of switching to the best deal if suppliers can increase their prices as high as they like, way above their advertised increases?

My rates:

Electric unit rate was: 7.68p and is now 10.46p = increase of 36% not 16% as advertised
Gas unit rate was: 2.771p and is now 3.298p = increase of 19% not 13% as advertised

I think I'll switch to nPower with the £100 Quidco cashback

snowcat53

Quote 'What is the point of switching to the best deal if suppliers can increase their prices as high as they like, way above their advertised increases?'

It isn't a fixed rate product. And it has now been established - thanks to sterling efforts from backfoot and others on this board - that if prices do go up you have a right to move away without penalty

As to the % figs, they also changed the standing charge (if i recall correctly) so it is fairer to calculate the overall increase in your bill based on your useage - i suspect the % figure they quote is for an 'average' user.

BooTheMoneySaver

Called up edf earlier and they have confirmed they will keep me on the OS7 tarrif as long I let them know before 1st jan and the new supplier contacts them within 15 days of my call. I am thinking of switching to npower go fix 8 with vouchers, but I was told by edf cs if I start the process now and npower contacts them before 1st jan, I would have to pay the penalty. I understand the entire process can take upto 8 weeks or even more, but cs said the penalty kicks in as soon as the new supplier contacts them before 1st jan. I'm worried if I don't sign up with npower anytime soon, the deal would be withdrawal. What to do?

I've been switching suppliers endlessly for years in order to save money and the process never gets easier. So don't need this over the Xmas period.

jalexa

Froogle_Doogle wrote: »

...What is the point of switching to the best deal if suppliers can increase their prices as high as they like, way above their advertised increases?

...or as I think you now realise what is the point of not switching when you are notified of a detrimental tariff increase?

Just to explain something (but not to excuse) OS7 was a "guaranteed discount" tariff. Not sure what the guarantee was but 2% is common. However an initial discount significantly greater than the "guarantee" is also common, usually an amount designed to achieve a favourable placing in comparison websites (just as a "deferred discount":eek: works to achieve a favourable placing).

When (not if) the initial discount is reduced, that is the time to reject the increase and commence a switch to whatever tariff is still on a favourable initial discount. When the initial discount reduction coincides with a market increase that can result in a hike above the market increase.

In your case, if you asked a valid question at the time of the increase notice, and an answwer to it would likely have led you to "reject and switch", but you recived no reply, you may have a valid Complaint. You do not need to remain a customer to have grounds for Complaint for your treatment while a customer.

Be aware that very likely the NPower tariff will be "deferred discount". It is not clear how to avoid forfeiting your "deferred discount":eek: should you subsequently switch before the discount is earned:(.

flashnazia

Within all this confusion in seems to me the best thing to do is:

Wait until the eleventh hour, i.e 30 dec to switch and contact edf the same day?

Or is that cutting it too fine?

victor2

flashnazia wrote: »

Within all this confusion in seems to me the best thing to do is:

Wait until the eleventh hour, i.e 30 dec to switch and contact edf the same day?

Or is that cutting it too fine?

The only risk is that the deal you have seen may no longer be available.
If the cooling off period the new supplier gives (typically 10 working days) takes you past the end of your current tariff, then you can be pretty sure the new supplier won't do anything until then, so you can initiate the switch a bit earlier. What you'll get is put onto your current suppliers standard (ie. expensive) tariff for about a month, but any discounts applicable to the current tariff should still be honoured.

Edit:
You don't have to contact your existing supplier to tell them you're leaving, the new one does that.

yus786

Started mine off today. Gone with nPower Online 24 plus Quidco

Spoke to EDF CSA to check my debit and i'm all good to leave.

flashnazia

victor2 wrote: »

The only risk is that the deal you have seen may no longer be available.
If the cooling off period the new supplier gives (typically 10 working days) takes you past the end of your current tariff, then you can be pretty sure the new supplier won't do anything until then, so you can initiate the switch a bit earlier. What you'll get is put onto your current suppliers standard (ie. expensive) tariff for about a month, but any discounts applicable to the current tariff should still be honoured.

Edit:
You don't have to contact your existing supplier to tell them you're leaving, the new one does that.

I got a letter from EDF notifying me of end of v7 and transfer to standard. At the end it states:

What if I want to switch?
To switch, call us free on xxxxxx by 1 Jan 2012. We will then continue to apply you existing prices until the date you transfer provided you new supplier contacts us within 15 working days of you notification. If you have outstanding charges blah blah......

So, taking the cooling off period into account, switch on around 21st, notify on 30th? It's about timing it to minimise risk. Ive no idea really!

victor2

flashnazia wrote: »

So, taking the cooling off period into account, switch on around 21st, notify on 30th? It's about timing it to minimise risk. Ive no idea really!

Sounds a reasonable plan to me. I left E.On to go to EDF (well, we all do silly things every now and then!) when my fixed price plan with E.On was nearing its end. I contacted EDF about 10 days before the end, verified they would not contact E.On until after the cooling off period and left them to it. I had a few weeks on E.On's standard tariff, as expected, and then got my final bill from them using the starting figures I gave to EDF as my final readings.
Went smoothly. Nothing else has since then, but that's another story!

BooTheMoneySaver

I did exactly the same thing end of last year....move from Eon to Edf. My first 5 months with edf was horrific.

It does seem wise to sign up to another supplier from the 21st dec onwards, but will the current deals still be available? It's a gamble!