Scottish Power fixed March 2014 or Scottish Power Fixed November 2014

thinkpositive

Hi there.
Never switched energy before and was about to jump into the Scottish Power dual fuel fixed Price March 2014 deal as the Energyhelpline site works out I'd save £386 a year on that one. However then I noticed the Scottish Power fixed price November 2014 on which I'd still save £289 but fixed for that bit longer.
I know the March 2014 has no tie-ins but the November 2014 has cancellation fees.
Sitting here swithering on which one I'm to go for - need to do it today. Anyone give any views either way as I'm totally new to all this.
Many thanks

BigDee2

I've not switched before aswell and considering this SP fix.

Can you use any cashback sites aswell with this particular deal? if so, how?

Thanks.

Wywth

thinkpositive wrote: »

Hi there.
Never switched energy before and was about to jump into the Scottish Power dual fuel fixed Price March 2014 deal as the Energyhelpline site works out I'd save £386 a year on that one. However then I noticed the Scottish Power fixed price November 2014 on which I'd still save £289 but fixed for that bit longer.
I know the March 2014 has no tie-ins but the November 2014 has cancellation fees.
Sitting here swithering on which one I'm to go for - need to do it today. Anyone give any views either way as I'm totally new to all this.
Many thanks

Depends if you want to pay about £150 to fix prices for an extra 6 months or so, and over the lower usage summer period.

Up to you, but I'd be inclined to be happy to fix for 2 winters until March 2014 and have £150 in my pocket that would pay for any extra I may incur for the next 6 summer months. You could probably get some more cashback if you switch in March 2014 too, so that might be another £40 or so

Cardew

Agree with the above with one caveat.

Prices in the period March 2014 to November 2014 could be cheaper than anything available.

Like every decision we have to make on choice of tariff, it is a gamble.

thinkpositive

Thanks Wywth and Cardew....decisions, decisions, decisions. It is hard as another thought I had was whether it is more likely that Energy companies would put out their best new fixed deals in the months from March to October. So in 2014 it might be better to be free to choose another fixed deal without having to pay exit fees. The gamble being that if everything goes sky high in the meantime I might be glad of that 6 months extra fixed rate.

Good luck BigDee2 on your decision. I've not really got into cashbacks so would be going through Energyhelpline and get the £15 cashback.

BigDee2

Thanks thinkpositive.

I've gone through Topcashback and applied for the SP fix till Dec13.

Fingers crossed I get my cashback. I've got my reference number for the transaction from SP, so I'll chase TCB if they don't pay up.

Simon7685

As always these things are always a gamble and have to be worked out I think on everyones individual circumstances.

The fixed to November 14 deal is the one I signed up for yesterday afternoon before I saw the new fixed to March 2014 deal, at first I thought X£$%&! that's a mistake but then after calculating everything out it is still a good deal and I'm not unduly worried.

First thing to note is the fixed November 2014 tariff is fixing your rates for a full 8 months not 6. March 14 ends 28 Feb, Nov 14 ends 31 Oct.

Second thing (for me) is living on the North East coast in a 3rd floor flat, no central heating or double glazing = bloody cold other than the peak summer months. So we run our storage heaters usually until maybe mid May and are usually back on by mid September. Storage heaters = peak usage costs, even with Economy 7. So the extra 8 months which includes 3 when the heating is still on is highly relevant, especially if we get another Spring like this years.

Thirdly god knows what prices are likely to be come the end of this winter, nevermind the end of next winter. The one thing I am certainly convinced of is they are only going to go one way and that is up, up and up again. So the security of the fixed price for the extra 8 months may well be more than covered.

Like I said it's a gamble, like most things in life and everyones circumstances will be different, so what works for one might not for another. The only certain thing for most if not everyone is either tariff will save you money.

Just saying:D

rothchick

I debated this and in the end went with the November 2014 fix as it gives me peace of mind for the full 2013 winter season. It is more expensive but I'm classed as a low user anyways so not too concerned. My ddr has gone down by £10 as I'm in credit. :j

There is always a gamble with fixing and changing deals but I'm happy with my decision and now have nothing toworry abot for a few years