should I switch now? on npower sign online 20

horngkai

Having seen the Go Fix offer ending tomorrow, I am very tempted to switch my tariff now rather than when my contract expire on the 31st December. Do you think they will complete the switch before the 31st? Its just a tariff switch so things could potentially get done and dusted quicker?

Any advise or any current Sign online 20 users who have switched?

flashg67

I'm in the same boat and wondering whether I need to spend New Years eve switching!? Have you checked out sign online 24 (think that's available til 5th Jan?)- was cheaper for me? Like you, i think the switch will go through quickly, and if it does go through before the 31st, a few days won't make that much difference?

horngkai

the sign online 24 is cheaper by about £20 for the year. But I was tempted by the Love2Shop voucher as that will bring the total cost of the Go Fix 8 cheaper than SO24. Only problem is the offer ends today and if I ask to switch, I will be hit with a £40 penalty. It will still be a saving of £40 after the penalty.... not sure whether to bite the bullet and switch today or not....

I think the last time I asked npower to switch, the tariff switched pretty much on the day I requested, so chances are, if I switch the tariff before the new year, I will have to pay the penalty.

Phil_GT

if your already a n power customer who's deal is coming to an end i dont believe you get charged to go form sol 20 to go fix 8

as you arnt leaving the company, n power also stated takes 2 weeks to go through which will if done today (i just did via uswitch for 100quid voucher) be in effect fully by jan 1st

however cant say if thats the same moving to another company though

noonah_3

From personal experience I wouldn't ever go back to Npower for all the money in the world. They are without doubt THE worst company to deal with, a bunch of crooks (proven by the biggest fine ever that they had for customer complaints this year) I really couldn't be anymore negative about any company.

I switched over to Atlantic just over a year ago for gas & electric and saved a fortune, plus they are a pleasure to do with. Literally just got a letter from them today totally unexpected saying that as a thank you they are refunding me with a full months payment for both gas & elec for being a loyal customer!..Highly recommended

tonyhamm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14274930

BBC - "Switching can take between six and eight weeks, during which time the old supplier continues to provide energy. "

Last time I switched from EDF Standard tarrif to nPOWER 20 tarrif it took over 2 months for them to changeover during which I was being charged EDFs top rate, as I had to stay to the end of the online contract to get their discount.

Supplier contracts prevent switching before the contracts over, because you end up losing your discount.

For example: If I switch from nPower 20 online before the 31st Dec, I lose the whole of my £80 dual fuel discount with nPower. So, Immediately after midnight 31st Dec I will switch - but still face being on nPowers horrific standard tarriff for about 2 months while I switch to another supplier.

Switching is still basically all sown up by the energy cartel.

To get the 'apparent' discount - which is often the very reason for switching, often only saving 20-40 quid on the calculators out there, you have to accept being on thier standard tarrif for around 2 months every time you switch - which will negate most of the discount they offer upfront!!

tonyhamm

Oh NONONO!. You will NOT get that discount, as you are a OLD 'HAS BEEN' nPOWER customer.

"Cashback is only available to new npower customers, on the tariffs listed here at the time of your switch.
If you are already with npower and change your existing tariff, you will not be eligible."
http://www.topcashback.co.uk/npower/

horngkai

Love2shop voucher is available for new and old npower customer.

I have got off the phone with npower customer service, they say no penalty will be incurred if switch today as it takes 7-10 days for the switching company to inform npower and then the switch take place in another 7 days.

tonyhamm

Thanks Horngkai - I can confirm the offer ON THE FACE OF IT is for both new and old and runs out midnight today.
The only question in my mind is being tied into this rate of gas and electric - but the penality for coming off is £20 per fuel, so if prices fall enough to make it worth it it won't be a problem.
The alternative is being stuck on nPowers Go Save 'sucker rate' for 2 months anyway!

UPDATE: Looking at the small print in the Terms and Conditions (moneysupermarket & USwitch)

"In order to take up and remain on our Go-Fix 8 tariff you
must:
• be a new customer of ours (or any other npower group
company) unless we permit otherwise in which case you
will lose any benefits of your previous npower tariff
and may not be able to return to that tariff later;"

https://www.moneysupermarket.com/gas-and-electricity/policydocuments/Go-Fix%208%20plus%2050%20TCs.pdf

Looks like they have tricked you over the phone into signing up for energy much more than the sign online £24 tarriff, without the £100 vouchers back.

UPDATE 2:
Just got off the phone to Npower and advisor confirmed that the offer is open to both new and old customers. Wrote down the date and time of the call and the name of the advisor in case there is a problem later. Voucher Offer runs out at midnight tonight.

horngkai

chances of price falling significantly is not great. The Go Save rate is much the same as Go Fix

tonyhamm

Without the duel fuel and electricity & gas DD discounts we will miss out on £100 if they say we are old customers and thus its not applicable.

I was surprised to find £100 discounts apply to the FIX 8 tarriff PLUS £100 vouchers for a new customer giving a potential £200 saving to a new customer.

At least this is what this page indicates
http://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/comparison/results/npower/go-fix-8/dual_fuel

There is a 14 day cooling off period, so it will mean more phone calls when the contract comes through the door to make sure its possible to get the discounts not just the vouchers.