POWERGEN...advice please!

PinkLipstickBabe

Hi Everyone,

I read this borard regularly and hardly ever see anything written about Powergen! I did a 'u-switch' check a month or so ago and it came up as Powergen being the cheapest supplier to my house. I was previously with British Gas for both my Gas and Electricity. My transfer goes through in the next few days. I signed up to the online 'dual fuel' plan and everything seems to have gone swimmingly. Online account set up okay, Direct Debit set up with bank, been informed by letter how much my first D/D payment will be on the 1/10/04 and can see no problems at all!
Did I make the right choice with Powergen? Has anyone had any problems? The reason I changed provider was due to British Gas ripping me off! The amounts they were taking by Direct Debit were around £100+ a month more than my usage. I complained as my accounts were in so much credit but they hadn't issued me a refund! It took me 2 weeks to get my money and get them to change the D/D amounts they wanted. I was so !!!!!! off I decided to change suppliers, so went to Powergen.

Woby_Tide

been with them 2 years now snce they showed up as chepaest at time, even now only TelecomPlus beat them and I'm not happy about moving to them. Had no real trouble with them. they do often over estimate and never learn but whenever they get to far out I provide readings then work out my own rough bill and ask for DD to change to that. They have been fine with it so far

(Admittedly I changed banks a few months ago and set up new DD, I rang and checked what details they have and they are correct yet every month £30 appears credited against my Powergen account yet neither my new bank or old bank account are seeing any money leaving, thats the moneysaving part )

PinkLipstickBabe

Thanks for your reply, seems I made the right choice ;D

freeonline

I had also bad experience with British Gas(was my gas supplier), very bad customer service, many errors...etc.
I phoned them 2 and gave them details of my account to set up my direct debit. Finally my bill arrived asking me to pay the amount due within the date .
Where's my DD details has gone?
Then on another occasion i phoned them to switch my electricity to them(from Powergen), to benefit of the dual fuel with British Gas. They asked me for a deposit (i think was £100) which i refused.
I decided to get rid of British Gas for ever and switch to Powergen to be my unique supplier.
They kindly did every thing on my behalf without asking me for any deposit or anything else and within 2 or 3 weeks i found myself with Powergen and i recieved my last bill from Brtish Gas saying we're sorry to see you go .

I recieved 1000 tesco club card as well from powergen as a reward to switch to them.
And this time my DD details hasn't gone in vain.
Recently they removed their standing charge(electricity) which means you pay for what you use but also means an increase in prices instead. Some benefit from the new change and others no really depending on your daily use.
And don't forget they've got a free phone customer service which means extra saving compare to B.G.

Woby_Tide

I forgot that bit aswell, clubcard points on everything you spend, not much but still 1% 'extra' off your bills

cloud_dog

PinkLipstickBabe

Have been with Powergen for a few years now - never had any issues.  I like the ability to check my quartely bills online, revise my monthly payments when things have changed, i.e. lady_dog looking after our new puppy_dog so I increased the payments slightly to cover extra heating / lighting costs with them at home.

Also where they have estimated bills they seem to be reasonable, i.e. most of my estimated bills have actually been less than the meter readings.

Periodically I'll use USwitch to re-chech them against others.  Last time I did this was in February (came out only a few quid more expensive than the cheapest for elec and gas over a year).  I'm planning on waiting another month or so (for all the suppliers to revise their charges based on BG increases) and will do another review using USwitch.

cloud_dog

PinkLipstickBabe

PinkLipstickBabe

Have been with Powergen for a few years now - never had any issues.  I like the ability to check my quartely bills online, revise my monthly payments when things have changed, i.e. lady_dog looking after our new puppy_dog so I increased the payments slightly to cover extra heating / lighting costs with them at home.

Also where they have estimated bills they seem to be reasonable, i.e. most of my estimated bills have actually been less than the meter readings.

Periodically I'll use USwitch to re-chech them against others.  Last time I did this was in February (came out only a few quid more expensive than the cheapest for elec and gas over a year).  I'm planning on waiting another month or so (for all the suppliers to revise their charges based on BG increases) and will do another review using USwitch.

cloud_dog

Thanks for your post Cloud_Dog, it's been very helpful.
Have a nice day xx ;D

chateau42

BG, like BT, old fashioned discredited monopoly, run for employees and shareholders, not customers, leave them. Any other supplier is usually better. Get your annual consumption or a good estimate, for gas and electricity, work it out. Learn to do it yourself, do not rely on salesmen. It is simple arithmetic, not maths(some kindof mystery!).  Savings are there compred with the old monopolies.  Do not stay with BG or BT.  :o I am trying to help those who are paying to much through misguided loyaly or total ignorance.

pak2

Working out who is cheapest is easier than car insurance quotes.

Add up your last 4 bills, phone the 6 companies and ask for what your annual bill would be from them based on the units (kWh)

There is no change in cover or excess, just bill header.
There's also not loads of companies using loads of dif names,

Pak