Using Swtching site and payment amounts

saral_2

Hi, has anyone used a switching site to change energy suppliers? What I'm trying to find out is when do you find out how much they are going to tell you you have to pay each month. I am putting in my readings and it is giving me an amount that it should be for the year, do they divide this amount by 12, or come up with there own figure. If you are not happy with it, either too high or low can you do anything about it?

Any advice is appreciated.

Cardew

I hope the figures(readings) you are putting in are kWh and not what you are paying.

You have to select payment method(Direct Debit or quarterly) and the figure it comes up with should be an annual total taking into account all discounts - dual fuel etc.

Obviously if they calculate price for the tariff you want is say, £600pa the payments will be £50 a month. Should you want to pay more I am certain the Utility company will be delighted to accept your money; but on the other hand why would they lower your DD?

If you really want to pay a lower DD, and get into a debit balance situation. you can 'fudge' your 'figures'. However as soon as your higher usage becomes apparent they will raise your DD to the correct level - plus a little to pay back the debt you have built up,

saral_2

No I have been putting in the KWH figures, I was just wondering if it was as simple as paying a 12th of how much they say the bill should be for the year and when you are actually given the figure you have to pay.

tonygilmore

I got a phone call from british gas today. They said u switch is a con - they don't ofer best rates because they have deals with some companies.

is this true?

dc

IMHO U-Switch are economical with the truth and promote some companies and ignore others. They are not alone in this as commisions are high, ( another legacy of mobile phone competition).

Use as many sites to compare as you can, to get a more accurate view of prices before changing, and then change via the general points sites, if possible, like Quidco ( eg £20 per service for BG), who do not have a vested interest in the tariffs.

tripled

All the switching sites have deals with some companies, that's how they make their money. uSwitch have always been sneaky, they used to hide details of cheaper tariffs with companies who didn't pay them comission by default, there was a slightly confusing option tucked away down the bottom of a page to undo that. However since the new confidence code came in, they no longer do this, but they still exclude Ebico from the results by default (who don't pay comission). I have personally found energyhelpline seems to give accurate results and to my knowledge brings up all providers and tariffs by default, including Ebico.

dc

tripled wrote: »

I have personally found energyhelpline seems to give accurate results and to my knowledge brings up all providers and tariffs by default, including Ebico.

My feelings too, it is the site I would trust most.

Regarding Quidco, I have often asked for feedback as to if the cashbacks actually are paid, but no replies as yet.
I used it to go from BG standard to Click2, it says £20 being chased, but the link for BG to BG tariffs says £5. I will confirm here any comes through.

Ken68

That's right Sara...divide by twelve, and you will have to build up a bit of credit history first. You will also have to pay off your present supplier.
I had assumed that your new supplier gets info from your old supplier as to credit risk, meter numbers etc., perhaps not.

wills34

If your direct debits come through not as you expected call the number for queries on your contract/direct debit acknowledgement letter and give them your kWh and ask them to check amounts. The will change it for you if necessary as they are gaining a customer and they have more flexibility to set direct debit's amounts before the contract enters the constraints billing system