Add your feedback on energy supplier Sainsbury’s Energy

colsten

My dual fuel switch from EDF to Sainsbury, using uSwitch, was a bit of a nightmare as between uSwitch and Sainsbury they managed to lose my application. Sainsbury did open a complaint for me and managed it quite well.

My switch was apparently completed last week, 7 weeks after my original application. I submitted meter readings online on the switch day to both, EDF and Sainsbury, so I assume they both have them. I am still waiting for my final bill from EDF, and it remains to be seen how well Sainsbury's billing works.

Sainsbury credited my account with £20 as compensation for the delay, and I think that's a fair amount. uSwitch have also paid up, so I am currently £50 ahead.

I was leaving EDF only rather reluctantly as their billing always worked like clockwork and they have a nice app for submitting meter readings. Sadly they couldn't get anywhere near the Sainsbury's price. I am now committed to Sainsbury's for the next 12 months so I hope I won't regret my decision to switch.

Boxman

Perhaps the other side of the coin, I've been with Sainsburys since October (no deposit requested) and have had no problems whatsoever. I've just given them my 1st April meter readings via the website which were immediately accepted and a correct financial statement was available online within 48 hours.


Interesting, on that statement it indicated that a significant saving was available to me if I switched their 'Price Promise May 2016' tariff. On checking it would seem that compared with my current 'Fixed Price February 2016' tariff I could save nearly £80pa on my gas usage of around 12,000 kWh BUT for my electricity usage of around 3,250 kWh pa it would cost nearly £140 more!


I wonder if I can just switch the gas to that tariff but leave the electricity as it is and just pay at the standard rate for March and April next year? And would I lose my dual fuel discount?

Just_landed

scout59 wrote: »

I've been with Ovo for the last year after switching to them through the CEC and haven't had any problems at all. After getting a reminder email from the CEC I was just about to switch to Sainsburys Energy - the company the CEC recommend for me... And then I checked this thread. The end result is that I'm more than likely to stick with OVO. I don't even want to chance going through the hassle other people are experiencing, not for a saving of roughly £50 (including the CEC £30 cashback)
With all the problems that people are highlighting on here with SE I really don't understand why MSE are offering SE as a viable option?? On my CEC home page it clearly lists the problems with other suppliers Customer Services and warns about new suppliers not having feedback yet BUT there is NOTHING on the SE summary - you have to click on the link that brings you here to the forum. If the CEC want to continue offering SE as an option then surely they should also highlight the problems in the same way they are with other suppliers?? I've been a big fan of MSE for years but this has dented my faith somewhat
Just glad I had time to check the thread out before I completed the switch! Thanks Forum Posters

My feelings are the same and I totally agree with you, I am with OVO was thinking of moving to SE but as you say for the saving of £50 the potential hassle is not worth it.

[Deleted User]

Middlestitch wrote: »

Not impressed. Have submitted my meter readings online (gas and electricity) four times over the last month and on each occasion have had an e-mail saying the website is having 'technical problems'. How about getting on and sorting these 'technical problems' out...?

I had this too. Turns out, what they don't tell you is that opening reads have to be submitted by phone on 0800 107 4985 - you can't do them online.

I think if they made this clearer, a lot of people's frustrations would be ironed out.

And in other news, I checked my account today, and they've posted a "misc adjustment" credit of £20, which I assume is this goodwill gesture.

Fleeb

I switched from npower to MSE Sainsbury's Energy deal in late February. I took meter readings on the day of the switchover and phoned both suppliers to inform them of those numbers.

I never received a final printed bill from npower (but I did notice a refund from them go into my bank account). Nor have I received any paperwork from Sainsburys confirming my opening meter readings.

On a whim I just logged into my old npower account to view my last bill only to find that both companies have agreed to use estimated readings instead of the ones I supplied. The Gas estimate is higher than my meter reads right now, about 40 days later, and my current Electricity meter reading is only a little higher than their Feb estimate.

So now I've got to make complaints and spend my time chasing both companies to get them to use the real meter readings - because apparently they can't even manage to note down two pairs of numbers and pass them between each other when required.

How do the energy companies get away with such ineptitude? It's almost like the top executives have got together and made a gentlemen's agreement that their firms be universally rubbish.

Londoner_1

Fleeb wrote: »

I switched from npower to MSE Sainsbury's Energy deal in late February. I took meter readings on the day of the switchover and phoned both suppliers to inform them of those numbers.

I never received a final printed bill from npower (but I did notice a refund from them go into my bank account). Nor have I received any paperwork from Sainsburys confirming my opening meter readings.

On a whim I just logged into my old npower account to view my last bill only to find that both companies have agreed to use estimated readings instead of the ones I supplied. The Gas estimate is higher than my meter reads right now, about 40 days later, and my current Electricity meter reading is only a little higher than their Feb estimate.

So now I've got to make complaints and spend my time chasing both companies to get them to use the real meter readings - because apparently they can't even manage to note down two pairs of numbers and pass them between each other when required.

How do the energy companies get away with such ineptitude? It's almost like the top executives have got together and made a gentlemen's agreement that their firms be universally rubbish.

You should have been proactive and phoned both companies and give them the meter readings like i did. The paperwork did come through but i ensured that i rang both suppliers a few times and gave them teh readings . My old energy co owe me £400+ and i hope they don't go bust before then.

nickinoo28

After being told on 26/03 that someone would ring me back to finalise my account, I am still waiting. My old supplier account closed on 16/02 so I should of been with Sainsbury's energy since 17/02 but if this is the case it would be nice to have some kind of confirmation of this. The only confirmation I have is the £30-00 payment for switching from MSE. I have emailed them again today asking for some kind of clarification but I think nearly 2 months of chasing them and not even getting a response is very poor customer service roll on the end of my year with them when I can switch and never have to deal with such ineptitude again.

scope

What a nightmare!! Way out estimates, unable to correct them, nobody calls back as promised..

If you are planning of switching Sainsburys/British Gas, DONT - you will regret

davidsuffolk

Fleeb wrote: »

On a whim I just logged into my old npower account to view my last bill only to find that both companies have agreed to use estimated readings instead of the ones I supplied. The Gas estimate is higher than my meter reads right now, about 40 days later, and my current Electricity meter reading is only a little higher than their Feb estimate.

So now I've got to make complaints and spend my time chasing both companies to get them to use the real meter readings

Personally I would work out whether you have lost enough to bother? If many ££ then maybe but if just a small amount then is it worth the bother; just let them get on with it?

MSE_Dan_L

scope wrote: »

What a nightmare!! Way out estimates, unable to correct them, nobody calls back as promised..

We've been escalating the issue of incorrect estimates with Sainsbury's Energy, following posts on the forum. If the estimates are significantly wrong, you can contact Sainsbury's Energy or your old supplier to raise a dispute about this. It has told us that this type of thing generally takes a few weeks to resolve.

If you're struggling to get through to someone, you can email the special msecollectiveswitch@sainsburysenergy.com mailbox - someone should get back to you within 48 hours, to help you with this.