Mse energy statement not 100% true?

NittyGritty

i know that they do a great job but this is an extract from their latest newsletter. i have highlighted in bold the bottom statement is incorrect, those with scottish power on energy saver online 20, (note this IS NOT a fixed tarriff) are NOT effected by this latest increase, so i guess its kind of misleading and maybe forcing people into fixing when infact they dont have to.

i know its a small point but its true, unlike the statement mse gives in bold i highlighted

"Every electricity & gas bill payer who hasn't acted should check NOW. Since Fri, 3 of the big 6 have announced price rises due soon. Act now to save £100s and LOCK IN FOR TWO WINTERS, NO HIKES. Here are the key 10 Q&As:
1.Is my bill going to rise? All the hikes apply to both billed and prepayment meter customers. Only those currently on fixed tariffs won't see a change"

Cardew

Have you been told that it is not going up in December?

These are the terms and conditions of your tariff:

Under the Online Energy Saver 20 offer your prices will always remain 8.7%
lower than ScottishPower's standard gas and electricity prices until 31st
October 2013. Please note that your energy bill may vary depending on how much
energy you use. This is an online-only tariff, which means that you must be
prepared to manage your account online. This involves receiving and viewing your
bills online, providing meter readings online and carrying out general
correspondence online.

When SP's Standard Tariff increases in December, why won't yours follow to remain 8.7% below those prices?

NittyGritty

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4233683

straight from the horses mouth. so i guess its good news for some n not for most of the others.

NittyGritty

scottishpower_company_representative wrote: »

Hi typistretired yes I can confirm that Online Energy Saver 20 customers will not be affected by the price increase. Thanks David @ ScottishPower

this is the quote, this is just a guess as to why its not increasing, is maybe because its not been out that long? hence why no increase even tho its not a fixed tarriff, might be completely wrong tho

grahamc2003

NittyGritty wrote: »

this is the quote, this is just a guess as to why its not increasing, is maybe because its not been out that long? hence why no increase even tho its not a fixed tarriff, might be completely wrong tho

But the statement to me is very ambiguous.

Does it mean there'll be no absolute change to your rates, or - and more likely, since this is what you agreed to - the differential from the standard rate won't change?

Even the term 'fixed' is ambiguous too - sometimes meaning fixed absolutely, and others meaning a fixed differential which, from the extracts posted, yours is.

MillicentBystander

Cardew wrote: »

Have you been told that it is not going up in December?

These are the terms and conditions of your tariff:


When SP's Standard Tariff increases in December, why won't yours follow to remain 8.7% below those prices?

I nearly fell for this one as well and had indeed concocted a reply on the other thread similar to yours but then I read the quote on that thread again and didn't post it. Here it is:

"Online Energy Saver 20

Good news! You are not affected by this increase in prices or change to annual discounts. You will continue to benefit from a discount of 8.7% on our standard monthly Direct Debit prices (as at 27th February 2012) until 31st October 2013."

I took that to mean the 8.7% discount remains on the pre-increase standard price. Thoughts?

grahamc2003

Thew following, from the detailed T&Cs is completely unambiguous...

Prices may vary from the kWh
rates quoted in this leaflet, but the differential against our
standard prices for your payment method will remain at 8.7%. If
your prices increase we will give you at least 30 days notice and
you will be entitled to cancel the contract without a cancellation
charge

NittyGritty

grahamc2003 wrote: »

But the statement to me is very ambiguous.

Does it mean there'll be no absolute change to your rates, or - and more likely, since this is what you agreed to - the differential from the standard rate won't change?

Even the term 'fixed' is ambiguous too - sometimes meaning fixed absolutely, and others meaning a fixed differential which, from the extracts posted, yours is.

if u have any doubts, read post 4, if u again have any doubts, go to scottish powers home page and click the "price changes" click the relavant tarriff, it clearly states on there also NO price hikes as that tarriff isnt affected.

Cardew

Thanks

Seems strange that they could increase prices considerably and still comply with their T & Cs.

Perhaps, as there is no tie-in to your tariff, they know that people would switch to a cheaper tariff if they raised the price.

The cynic in me would suggest that at any time they could raise the price to 8.7% below Standard tariff, in a few months there may be no cheaper tariffs available.

grahamc2003

NittyGritty wrote: »

if u have any doubts, read post 4, if u again have any doubts, go to scottish powers home page and click the "price changes" click the relavant tarriff, it clearly states on there also NO price hikes as that tarriff isnt affected.

My doubts are very few.

Your tariff isn't affected, in my view, you'll almost certainly still be on an 8.7% discount to the standard tariff.

I admit that everything you are relying on is ambiguous and could reasonably be interpreted the way you are. But the only unabiguous information is (as you would expect) the detailed T&Cs I posted, which trumps all other ambiguous info (including the reps reply to your email). I may be wrong of course, and in a way I would prefer it if I were - guess we'll just have to wait and see.

You could do a price comparison and see if you get your current prices for the same tariff.

MillicentBystander

Was it February the last time SP raised their prices? I'm just wondering why they put that (as at 27th February 2012) line in the statement regarding not increasing SP Online 20. If so, the discount is clearly based on the OLD, pre-increase tariff. FOR THE TIME BEING lol.