Cooperative Energy - Any views?

bubieyehyeh

Having just switched to co-op, I'm starting to feel it was a bad idea.

My online account has still not been setup properly.

I've rang them three times, and each time it takes at least 10mins of queueing. Luckily they have a freephone number.

None of my calls has resulted in the problem being fixed, and promises of calls back to keep me informed of progress on the problem have not been met.

So I wont be recommending them to anyone, and seriously thinking of going back to my previous supplier.

Wywth

bubieyehyeh wrote: »

Having just switched to co-op, I'm starting to feel it was a bad idea.

My online account has still not been setup properly.

I've rang them three times, and each time it takes at least 10mins of queueing. Luckily they have a freephone number.

None of my calls has resulted in the problem being fixed, and promises of calls back to keep me informed of progress on the problem have not been met.

So I wont be recommending them to anyone, and seriously thinking of going back to my previous supplier.

You pays your money, and takes your choice.

Presumably you moved from the old supplier to the Co-op because the Co-op were cheaper?
If so, and you are prepared to pay over the odds for exactly the same gas and/or electricity from the previous supplier, then go ahead.

I think I would prefer the lower price, even if there are some initial teething problems the new supplier setting up your account online. We all had gas & electricity without any online accounts for years with no issues, but if you think it is now vital, then pay more and go back to the previous supplier.

If course, the co-op may no longer be cheaper, come April, but that's the risk you take when opting for a variable tariff.

On the other hand, the previous supplier could also cause you some initial problems setting up your online account correctly... but at least like Stella Artois, it is reassuringly expensive. :cool:

Kite2010

I'm still waiting for them to tell me what my direct debit will be, they randomly took £45 out last month, no email/letter/entry on website to say about it. Isn't that against the direct debit guarantee?

Nada666

zorber wrote: »

They are ethical so unlikely to pull the direct debit trick that people like eon use to get you into massive credit with them.

I don't have any objection to the company but think your claim that they are 'ethical' is ridiculous. 'Ethical' is a pretty meaningless buzz-word that has little weight.

Here are some practices that some would label unethical:

"we share our profits with our customers twice a year" - but our richer customers receive a larger share and our poorest customers do not receive a penny

"Single unit rate irrespective of consumption[...] it seems wrong to charge lower rates to higher consumers, when we should all be trying to reduce our energy consumption" - a blatant and ridiculous lie - they operate a daily standing charge which means that they absolutely endorse a the-less-you-use-the-more-you-pay-per-unit tariff. And unlike a two-tier tariff there is no (even very small) break for their lowest consumers.

Also I do not where you get the idea they are less likely to mess up direct debits - they explicitly say they want to offer a "Fixed payment amount" and will only review things every six months and they'll "keep the amount you pay us fixed for as long as possible". (I don't mind that policy but it seems contrary to your assumption.)

Yes, there are fine policies too - no need to take dual fuel to receive their best price, the one price for all customers, no penalties for leaving. But the fact that they are hostile to poorest consumers is questionable - hardly counts as 'ethical to all'.

Wywth

Kite2010 wrote: »

I'm still waiting for them to tell me what my direct debit will be, they randomly took £45 out last month, no email/letter/entry on website to say about it. Isn't that against the direct debit guarantee?

The rules of the Direct Debit scheme require the Originator (i.e the Co-op in this case) to provide you appropriate advance notice both in terms of the amount they will take and when.

As with all Direct Debits, you can be assured you are fully protected by the terms of the Direct Debit Guarantee. Claims should be made direct to your bank.

debutyou

Wywth wrote: »

Taken to task???

According to that link it says:

Now since the 2% reduction was last year and earlier this year the Co-op have announced a price increase (at least for new applicants), I doubt they would have run the old advert again anyway.

Interesting the ASA didn't bother taking the supplier to task over the old advert i.e. something more than the supplier saying they will not to run it again. Presumably the ASA considered there was nothing worth taking them to task over.

'Premumably the ASA considered there was nothing worth taking them to task over':

What utter rubbish.

Bottom line here is the customer(s) that complained were right (won) and were backed by the ASA - Cooperative hadn't reduced prices by 2% for all its customers, as they stated. The marketing didn't match the reality, and ASA had to put them right.

The only saving grace is the company involved - Cooperative Energy, knows when to tow the line, when its told to by the ASA. In other words, they were 'cooperative', (forgive the pun).

buglawton

Coop are coming up cheapest in Uswitch in my area if you take out First Utility for no cancellation fee fix till 2015.
So have been trawling this thread.
Scottish Power comes up 1st cheapest but with cancellation fees of £25 per fuel type.
Now off to see if any Quidco etc intro cashbacks.

Consumerist

buglawton wrote: »

Coop are coming up cheapest in Uswitch in my area if you take out First Utility for no cancellation fee fix till 2015. . .

Another helpful aspect of Co-op Energy is that tariffs are charged according to only your electricity region so not pricing surprises AFTER the switch has taken place.

I notice you live in the Thames Valley so it is likely (postcodes beginning SS or RM) that your gas region is London whilst your electricity region is Eastern. Suppliers' and comparison-sites' calculators don't recognise dual-region customers so you often don't find out until its too late. Fortunately, the difference is often small - but not always.

buglawton

Thanks done Coop via Uswitch via Quidco be curious to see if this tracks nothing showing yet.

[ edit ] tracking Email now arrived from Quidco.