People that can't afford gas and electric

robroe

jamespir wrote: »

to be fair some people just cant be bothered with the fuss or have no idea what is right for them

Quite rightly so. My main school of thought when writing my original post was me having previously read about X amount of people being in fuel poverty and having previously been told that something like 80-90% of the population are on standard tariffs surely alot of them can help themselves. My point was never about people should sign up on the phone BTW people!

new2012

What annoys me is that almost the first thing the caller says is did you know you are paying to much for your gas and electricity.

How do they know that?

I have had 3 calls from 3 companies in the past week (or it might have been the same one) that basically started in that manner.

I always say no I am not and they always ask, how do you know? in a tone of voice that comes over clearly that I don't know what I am talking about.

So I let them go through their speech and supply them with my usage and they say, well we can reduce your direct debit. But can they reduce my actual cost? No, because I am on the cheapest tariff I can get which they can't beat.

But they can reduce my direct debit.

Now I keep them on the phone as long as I can to waste their time.

robroe

Antispam wrote: »

I wonder how often cold callers actually do give the customer a better deal or it is a case of the more new customers they get the more commission they get? For a start the strategy of giving the customer the best deal is flawed, by definition they can only give you the best deal the company has assuming they do there job right.

How many times do we see on tv news, oh switch and you can save 100's they always seem to suggest the standard tariffs and dont assume the customer has already checked and on a better tariff or pay by direct debt.

Also companies have now got wise to serial switchers and often now have exit fees assuming the company has not recently raised there prices and or customer has complied with T&C's

I can only speak on how I sell and not the industry or even other people that work for the same company as me. But I 9 times out of 10 sell on price and therefore sell the cheapest deal and say for example they suggest they want something else I will tell them both. As for do we check. Each call is recorded and if I didn't check how they were paying and assumed wrongly and my company works on at best 2 strikes and your out policy. Yes I get more commission for the more customers but the easiest way I find to do that is to give the best price. But yes your right it is the best price the company I work for has rather than the market

CharlieBilly

Because they know best and they are can read your mind

They are reading off a script. They know Jack *hit and worse care Jack *hit about the customer they are only interested in one thing, commission

new2012 wrote: »

What annoys me is that almost the first thing the caller says is did you know you are paying to much for your gas and electricity.

How do they know that?

bloss0m

You cant go anywhere these days without being pestered by everyone

Shops like Currys: do you want a expensive cable?
Supermarket: Sky, Eon, chugger, photos for kids
High street: chuggers
Home: Betterware, Kleeneze, cold callers

I dont want a thing okay. Most of us have a brain, we can make our own choices and find best deals and not be sold something we dont want

You never use to get all of these years ago, but you sure as hell do now you only escape is live in outer Mongolia

HappyMJ

new2012 wrote: »

What annoys me is that almost the first thing the caller says is did you know you are paying to much for your gas and electricity.

How do they know that?

I have had 3 calls from 3 companies in the past week (or it might have been the same one) that basically started in that manner.

I always say no I am not and they always ask, how do you know? in a tone of voice that comes over clearly that I don't know what I am talking about.

So I let them go through their speech and supply them with my usage and they say, well we can reduce your direct debit. But can they reduce my actual cost? No, because I am on the cheapest tariff I can get which they can't beat.

But they can reduce my direct debit.

Now I keep them on the phone as long as I can to waste their time.

My direct debit is £10 a month. Which it is...They usually give up after asking that question. How much is your monthly direct debit? I do however pay much more than £120 per year. I hate DD's but the tariff I'm on requires a monthly direct debit to be set up and I agreed with my supplier that £10 a month is fine and I settle all bills when they come in to keep it at £10 a month.

It's not the cheapest tariff I could save a couple of pounds by switching to another supplier. Scottish Power currently is the cheapest but only for online switching.

robroe

CharlieBilly wrote: »

Because they know best and they are can read your mind

They are reading off a script. They know Jack *hit and worse care Jack *hit about the customer they are only interested in one thing, commission

Quite right I mean just like a tescos employee would tell you what there cheapest loaf of bread is but probably wouldn't tell you lidl sell it for 10p less. At the end of the day this post wasn't ment to be about pros or cons of energy companies or there sales methods but the hypocrisy of people complaining yet taking no action

Pincher

"Hello, I'm from your EXISTING energy provider. I see your current price plan is going to end, so I would like to offer you a follow-on price plan which is about £200 cheaper than our standard price plan. You don't have to take it, in which case you will be put on our standard price plan when you existing deal ends."

Would you believe I would hang on if I hear this?

As far as I know, I have never had this call.

Airmike23

I alos work for one of the big 6 and am amazed at how many people miss their current suppliers alternate tariff and switch companies when, often, for the sake of few quid more, or less, don't need to change companies just the tariff they pay to current company. It is frustrating that the power co's are unable to proactively offer customers the cheaper deals, the customer has to do the leg work and certain comparison websites exclude current supplier results so many folks will be unaware of a cheaper deal withg existing co as didnt figure in comp site results. Often the only thing that does make the customer change is the few that use quidco or that type of site, giving cash back. I think the power company that makes out is the one to clearly illustrate to a customer the composition of their bill, the tariff they are on and why they pay what they pay, helping in the future to understand the tariff cost make up, not cop out and "simplyfy" things - i.e remove cheapest deals thus reduce choice for customer and savings available. Why do you think BG are retaining customers lost on standard or v expensive fixed plan, but £100 per fuel rebate once back with them for a year, cos on price they've not got a prayer unless elec only!!

talulahbeige_2

new2012 wrote: »

What annoys me is that almost the first thing the caller says is did you know you are paying to much for your gas and electricity.

How do they know that?

I have had 3 calls from 3 companies in the past week (or it might have been the same one) that basically started in that manner.

I always say no I am not and they always ask, how do you know? in a tone of voice that comes over clearly that I don't know what I am talking about.

So I let them go through their speech and supply them with my usage and they say, well we can reduce your direct debit. But can they reduce my actual cost? No, because I am on the cheapest tariff I can get which they can't beat.

But they can reduce my direct debit.

Now I keep them on the phone as long as I can to waste their time.

Hallelujah, someone who actually understands the difference between Direct Debits and actual consumption.