EDF- Fix for 2012 ending - what now?

snowcat53

EdF's Fix for 2012 tariff ends 31 Dec. My search for a replacement fixed tariff has come up with Ovo, but of course switching now would incur EDF's penalty.

So ,,,,

Anyone got experience of Ovo?

When is the soonest I should initiate a switch to avoid EDF's penalty ?
Early December?

And - Crystal ball time - do you think Ovo's (or other) current fixed rate deals will still be available then?

Consumerist

snowcat53 wrote: »

Anyone got experience of Ovo? . . .

Been with Ovo for a few years now. Their customer service responds to emails within a few days at most.

It takes a minimum of three weeks to switch so I would say wait till about three weks before your current contract ends before initiating a switch.

The only tariffs available to new customers are one-year fixes. That is unlikely to change. They have not increased their prices in the current round so comparisons could be misleading at this stage - be careful.

snowcat53

Thanks consumerist.
On the timing, I recall last year I jumped off my former cheap tariff at the beginning of December to the Fix 2012 and took the hit of having to pay more for a month - I was glad I did as it was withdrawn before the end of december. The deals available by that time were much worse..

I will not be sorry to say farewell to edf...

chris1973

Anyone got experience of Ovo?

Personally i'd hit my back button if I was ever misfortunate enough to find myself on their website.

I'd just switched my Elderly parents to them for dual fuel, and their direct debit predictions are absolutely scandalous. Currently they were paying £50 and £30 a month (post increase) from their current supplier for Gas and Electricity, and OVO now want over £120 a month for both. Despite them supposedly appearing cheaper on the comparison sites.

Calling them and offering to send them past bills etc to prove their usage over the last 12 to 18 months fell on deaf ears.

OVO = A complete waste of space.

So, if you are changing over to them, prepare yourself for a shock when they confirm your monthly debits.

So they will be getting a call from me on Monday, cancelling the switch over.

Consumerist

chris1973 wrote: »

I'd just switched my Elderly parents to them for dual fuel, and their direct debit predictions are absolutely scandalous. Currently they were paying £50 and £30 a month (post increase) from their current supplier for Gas and Electricity, and OVO now want over £120 a month for both. Despite them supposedly appearing cheaper on the comparison sites.

They have been getting a bit aggressive recently on their DDs but I have always objected to unreasonable increases in DD and they have, so far, conceded.

You don't say whether your parents had accrued a credit or debit balance with their current supplier and Ovo do have a policy to increase DDs by 25% for the first few months if you join them in the winter.

If they are now hardening their attitude to DDs then I would agree that cancelling the switch is probably your best option. They will certainly lose my custom if they try it on with me at the end of my current contract.

I'd be interested to hear how you get on when you call them. The OP might also be interested. Don't forget to email them with written confirmation of the cancellation if you decide to go ahead with it. They might, of course, change their mind if you threaten to cancel the switch.

jalexa

snowcat53 wrote: »

EdF's Fix for 2012 tariff ends 31 Dec. My search for a replacement fixed tariff has come up with Ovo,

If you want to leave Edf then you want to leave Edf, though I can't complain about my 2nd year treatment.

The OVO first year 25% uplift is signaled in what is a commendably clear procedure. What is not so clear (and this applies to all suppliers) is the provenance of the projected annual consumption. The OVO procedure simply says "when you join Ovo, we look at your previous energy use".

I stand to be corrected but I don't believe the gaining supplier is informed of the previous "actual 12 months consumption". Even if they were they can also choose to use the industry measure AQ (for gas). This measure can be up to 2 years out of date and may still be capturing the last severe winter. The supplier may also choose to use "typical" consumption. The problem is you will not know until the first recalculation is performed.

If you were prepared to consider Edf, the Edf 2015 fix covers a further one and a half heating seasons and matures at a sensible time of year for a premium of about 11% over the OVO 12 month fix. I do not think that is a bad deal and your actual consumption pattern will have been demonstrably established.

Consumerist

From the Standard Licence Conditions :-

27.13 Paragraphs 14, 15, and 16 apply where a Domestic Customer pays the Charges for the Supply of Gas which are payable under its Domestic Supply Contract by way of regular direct debit payments of a fixed amount (which amount may be varied from time to time in accordance with the relevant Domestic Supply Contract).

27.14 The licensee must provide to each such Domestic Customer an explanation in clear, plain and intelligible language of the basis which a fixed amount (and any variation of that fixed amount) has been determined.

27.15 Save where a clear and express Principal Term of the relevant Domestic Supply Contract provides otherwise, the licensee must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the fixed amount of the regular direct debit payment is based on the best and most current information available (or which reasonably ought to be available) to the licensee, including information as to the quantity of gas which the licensee reasonably estimates has been or will be supplied under the relevant Domestic Supply Contract.

jalexa

Consumerist wrote: »

From the Standard Licence Conditions :-
Quote:
27.13 Paragraphs 14, 15, and 16 apply where a Domestic Customer pays the Charges for the Supply of Gas which are payable under its Domestic Supply Contract by way of regular direct debit payments of a fixed amount (which amount may be varied from time to time in accordance with the relevant Domestic Supply Contract).

27.14 The licensee must provide to each such Domestic Customer an explanation in clear, plain and intelligible language of the basis which a fixed amount (and any variation of that fixed amount) has been determined.

27.15 Save where a clear and express Principal Term of the relevant Domestic Supply Contract provides otherwise, the licensee must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the fixed amount of the regular direct debit payment is based on the best and most current information available (or which reasonably ought to be available) to the licensee, including information as to the quantity of gas which the licensee reasonably estimates has been or will be supplied under the relevant Domestic Supply Contract.

I can see from threaded mode you have posted in response to my last post.

Are you trying to make or contest a particular point?

Consumerist

jalexa wrote: »

Are you trying to make or contest a particular point?

Personally, I think Ovo might be in breach of the SLCs by rejecting up-to-date consumption data and that the OP might be able to use the extract in discussions with them.

snowcat53

Sinking feeling of deja vu here, having been through long complaint procedure with edf and the Ombudsman over DD setting. This really needs sorting out properly by Ofgem.

Chris 1973- can you tell us how exactly Ovo explained their calculation? What figures did they use for consumptuon?

And yes I could stick with the edf devil i know - the extra cost would be 140 in the first year, after that I might win out , who knows.

jalexa

Consumerist wrote: »

Personally, I think Ovo might be in breach of the SLCs by rejecting up-to-date consumption data...

I'm well aware of the SLCs you quote. Unfortunately there is a massive regulatory gap here. It has existed for as long as the relevant SLCs have been in force but has particularly had detrimental effect since suppliers wised up to the gap during which time Consumer Focus [rip] have practiced for their own demise, the Energy Ombudsman has demonstrated it does not understand its own terms of reference:rotfl: and Ofgem Consumer Affairs Directorate has played hear, speak, see no evil in the face of, in my personal experience, the offer of salient facts.

The regulatory gap is that at the moment of applying for the switch the gaining supplier does not have previous actual consumption to form the basis of reasonable projected consumption. Shortly after the switch is completed, at which point the customer is bound by contract, the gaining supplier has access to the industry measurement AQ (for gas). This is a hopelessly dated measure which requires reads a minimum of 9 months and a maximum of 36 months apart:eek:. That could still be capturing the last severe winter.

I]In my only concession to post accuracy I have to concede I am not 100% certain whether that is the current specification or the specification for the future improved AQ methodology.[/I

It is also relevant that regulations excuse suppliers from providing statements of previous actual consumption where the customer has less than 12 months custom.

Direct Debit as a payment method is deeply flawed for the first 12 months until actual consumption has been established. It is a pity that the Regulator appears silent in the face of the evidence. This is a fundamental competition issue.