Before I switch to Npower a few questions please

jgallcash

HI all,

just doing an assessment of the tariffs available and I've come up with a £100 saving (from Scottish Power June 2013) by switching to a January 2014 fix with Npower.

I have no issues at all with Scottish power after an initial problem with them changing DD amounts.

The thing that I do like is that I get a reminder email from them to submit meter readings so that bills are accurate.

Is this something that Npower do too? How are their Cus Services?

penrhyn

N-Power regularly win the wooden spoon for the worst customer service.

jgallcash

Uh oh. Really? I'm not too sure I'm willing to swap £100 for a bad experience.

chanz4

Im with them and they send reminders, customer service has not been too bad think they are all as bad as each other.

jalexa

jgallcash wrote: »

just doing an assessment of the tariffs available and I've come up with a £100 saving (from Scottish Power June 2013) by switching to a January 2014 fix with Npower.

The main point I want to make is that January is not a good time for a fixed tariff to mature - it leaves you very exposed to the then energy prices still in the middle of winter.

Prices vary by region but for a region chosen at random both Scottish Power and Edf have "spring" 2014 tariffs (both with no early termination charges) at significant savings over NPower. Suggest you try another comparison website.

dogshome

n'powers £100 cheaper comes with strings attached - After you have paid 12 consecutive monthly D/Debits, your account is credited with a bonus of around £100
The problem is that your D/debits are weighted to collect this sum from you over 12 months, so although the Switch sites quote an annual bill, your D/D's will be higher than 1/12th of the annual bill

The bonus only kicks in after 12 D/D's and many n'power tariffs have a 6 monthly billing cycle, so by the time the bonus is reflected in a bill you are already 6 months into the 12 month period

The rules are specific, miss a D/D for any reason or change supplier, and the bonus vanishes.

Have a look at recent threads - They show a trend of n'power going into wolverine collection mode where there is debt on the account, even when the debt is their fault or even illusionary

jgallcash

Thanks all.

Will try a few more comparisons first.

Region is London BTW. A saving is a saving but I don't want lots of hassle if I can help it.

I contacted Scottish Power this morning and they told me I am on the cheapest tariff that they could offer.

jalexa

jgallcash wrote: »

Will try a few more comparisons first.

Region is London BTW.

I contacted Scottish Power this morning and they told me I am on the cheapest tariff that they could offer.

I think I see the flaw in your argument. The NPower "Jan 2014" tariff you mention is not a fix at all but discounted to standard (until Jan 2014).

If you want a fix (and a level playing field) then select fix in the comparison.

Given your Scottish Power June 2013 is an existing tariff it is hardly surprising it is cheaper than a longer fix.

jgallcash

Yeah thanks for the heads up with that. I just noticed.

Ok so looking again I see that First Utility iSave Fixed v4 March 2014 is a proper fix and still saved me £30 on my current annual amount but fixes for two winters.

I have to check if my gas is served by IGT to see if I am eligible first.

What exactly does this mean:?
"Customers will be transferred to the currently advertised standard tariff."

It seems a strange thing to say that customers will be immediately transferred onto something that isn't the tarrif they are opting for.