Comparisons only made with 'Favoured' suppliers which may not be cheapest??????

JethroUK

Currently using Atlantic Gas & Electric and get annual refund (£100 ish)

Tried 3 comparison websites to see if I can get it cheaper - which they say they can

but????

As I scroll the list (in all cases) Atlantic dont appear at all??? (I check this every year and Atlantic always appeared previously - usually as cheapest)

That suggests they are only comparing details with 'favoured' suppliers (which doesn't seem to include Atlantic) - which in turn suggests Atlantic may still be cheaper (they just dont know/or display it)

jalexa

JethroUK wrote: »

That suggests they are only comparing details with 'favoured' suppliers (which doesn't seem to include Atlantic)

No. A Consumer Focus accredited comparison website cannot choose to exclude a tariff, however the supplier can elect for the tariff not to be listed.

The price listing order of comparison results is governed by the tariff pricing, not influenced by the comparison website.

macman

You'll find Atlantic there, but not on the first page...
The comparative data is there, as you presumably entered Atlantic as your current supplier.

JethroUK

jalexa wrote: »

No. A Consumer Focus accredited comparison website cannot choose to exclude a tariff, however the supplier can elect for the tariff not to be listed....

but the NETT result is same

In the absence of a quote (from supplier "X"), you can't tell whether other quotes are actually cheaper/dearer

Premier_2

JethroUK wrote: »

Currently using Atlantic Gas & Electric and get annual refund (£100 ish)

Tried 3 comparison websites to see if I can get it cheaper - which they say they can

but????

As I scroll the list (in all cases) Atlantic dont appear at all??? (I check this every year and Atlantic always appeared previously - usually as cheapest)

That suggests they are only comparing details with 'favoured' suppliers (which doesn't seem to include Atlantic) - which in turn suggests Atlantic may still be cheaper (they just dont know/or display it)

If you are doing the comparison correctly, you will have informed the comparison site you are using Atlantic and that will be used as the basis for the variances in prices offered.

All comparison sites quote all the suppliers and all their generally available tariffs; they are required to.

Note that some comparison sites give the user the option to only show companies & tariffs that the customer can switch to via the comparison site. If you select that option, that is your decision.

jalexa

JethroUK wrote: »

but the NETT result is same

Maybe but your OP allegation was "that suggests they are only comparing details with 'favoured' suppliers", which was the point I answered.

Where a supplier has elected not to have certain tariffs featured, what does that say about the supplier's attitude to "fair" comparison?

jalexa

Premier wrote: »

All comparison sites quote all the suppliers and all their generally available tariffs; they are required to.

Confidence Code Requirement 2(A) says this "the service provider is not required to show ... tariffs which the supplier has requested the service provider to remove from its website"

In that case Consumer Focus is required to be informed. I do not know if there is a sanction, the Code is voluntary.

Premier_2

jalexa wrote: »

Confidence Code Requirement 2(A) says this "the service provider is not required to show ... tariffs which the supplier has requested the service provider to remove from its website"

In that case Consumer Focus is required to be informed. I do not know if there is a sanction, the Code is voluntary.

This is the full wording of that requirement:

The service provider must use all reasonable endeavours to include price comparisons in respect of all available domestic tariffs and where applicable for all available payment types, for licensed suppliers (including for any agents, affiliates, and brands operating under the licence of a supplier), for gas, electricity and dual fuel, except that the service provider is not required to show:
[FONT=Wingdings 2,Wingdings 2]
[FONT=Wingdings 2,Wingdings 2] [/FONT][/FONT]social tariffs (ie tariffs where consumer eligibility is based upon social or financial circumstances, eg receipt of benefits); or
[FONT=Wingdings 2,Wingdings 2]
[FONT=Wingdings 2,Wingdings 2] [/FONT][/FONT]tariffs which the supplier has requested the service provider to remove from its website; or
[FONT=Wingdings 2,Wingdings 2]
[FONT=Wingdings 2,Wingdings 2] [/FONT][/FONT]tariffs which are available only to consumers in a specified region, to consumers that are not within that specified region

I can't think why a supplier would want to remove free advertising they would otherwise receive from the comparison sites for generally available tariffs.

Maybe you could show me a real example of where this has occurred?

However, in answer to the OP, no the comparison sites do not only display their 'favoured' suppliers ... well not unless you specifically ask them to and the comparison site offers that option.

Premier_2

jalexa wrote: »

...
Where a supplier has elected not to have certain tariffs featured, what does that say about the supplier's attitude to "fair" comparison?

Could you give a real-life example of this please, one relating to a generally available tariff?

Or is this just conjecture on your part?

jalexa

Premier wrote: »

Could you give a real-life example of this please, one relating to a generally available tariff?

Or is this just conjecture on your part?

What is your point? I was simply quoting from the Confidence Code and I don't think the part quote changed the point, certainly not intentionally. I think it would be up to Consumer Focus to explain what action they take when/if they are so notified. I explained in the post I did not know the answer to that but if you are saying you know CF would instruct a re-listing I am happy to stand corrected.

But since you ask, and this a not a current example (at least I haven't gone looking), but I am "certain" that some time previously when I looked for M&S Energy (to check rates) they were not listed but they were at the time ambushing shoppers in store (including myself) and the tariff had a presence on the M&S website.

There is an element of "conjecture" to do with how competitive (or rather uncompetitive) the tariff actually was as determined by the Confidence Code rules.

Premier_2

jalexa wrote: »

What is your point?...

I think the question was self explanatory.

Please quote an example giving actual tariff and which particular comparison site it is not shown on.

Hearsay of historical events is meaningless, especially when you don't specify the timeframe or comparison site involved. Please don't believe everything you read about on the 'net. Lets have some real data as evidence of any omissions if there is any