Switching to SSE after Npower nightmare

joe427

Hi,

I changed my Gas and Electricity supplier on the 4th November via uswitch to Npower from Scottish Power. Now the 30th of January - nothing, no letters, no phone calls. I have however had a direct debit pop up on my bank account and 2 emails from switch to confirm the switch payment/setup.

I did chase 3 times, and after my phone call tonight I have been told that my application has been stuck in an error and will take another 6 weeks to process so I told them to stick it - worst experience I've had with an energy supplier.

Going back to uswitch, it looks like SSE is now the cheapest energy tariff. However bit confused on which way to go about it.

If I go through Quidco direct to Southern Electric, then I get £46.40 cashback and £50 towards my bill from Southern.

If I go through Quidco to uswitch, I get £26 something, and switch to Southern electric through them.

Except the plan on uswitch is different to what is on the Southern Electric website. On uswitch it's called Discount Energy Bonus April 2015 and on the Southern Electric website it's called Discount Energy April 2015. The prices are slightly different too, not by much but the uswitch one is the cheaper one - why does uswitch offer a slightly different plan?

chanz4

what taiff you on with npower, as may cause you charges

25.6_Pre-contract_oblig

Hi joe427,

I think you realise that you are another Customer who has been caught up in the mess that npower have caused (as they introduce their 'new system').

As documented in
Warning: npower accept new customers without sending them a Contract
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4273611
There are lots of people having problems switching to npower.

We now have evidence of knock on effects of the 'new system' affecting existing Customers too.
If you are short of time just read the most recent posts (Pages 8 and 9) where some of the other issues are documented and there are links to other threads here at MSE.

See also
The SAP anti competition argument
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4294069

From what you have posted you have NOT 'fully switched' to npower: you have yet to receive your Contract and as npower told you (when you spoke to them) it will take them "... another 6 weeks to process ..." the switch.

So, I recommend that you continue to move to SSE.

Do bear in mind that you may be regarded (by the Industry) as partly with the Supplier you were with 'before npower' and partly with npower. So, I recommend that you explain to SSE what has happened since 04-Nov-2012.

If you have any difficulty tell SSE about the main thread (above) - about npower breaching SLC 25.6 (by not sending you your Contract).


Hi chanz4,

I notice that

• you are a prolific poster,
• are very well informed about npower and the Industry,
• often post in threads involving npower,
• are aware of the issues at npower (you have posted in both of the threads I have just cited),

and yet you rarely point this out to other posters nor do you advise them to Complain.

25.6_Pre-contract_oblig

chanz4

I work in the industry and just like them, know a lot of people that uses sap. I will say you dont have to keep posting the same long posts.

DirectDebacle

joe427 wrote: »

Hi,

I changed my Gas and Electricity supplier on the 4th November via uswitch to Npower from Scottish Power. Now the 30th of January - nothing, no letters, no phone calls. I have however had a direct debit pop up on my bank account and 2 emails from switch to confirm the switch payment/setup.

I did chase 3 times, and after my phone call tonight I have been told that my application has been stuck in an error and will take another 6 weeks to process so I told them to stick it - worst experience I've had with an energy supplier.

Going back to uswitch, it looks like SSE is now the cheapest energy tariff.

If I go through Quidco direct to Southern Electric, then I get £46.40 cashback and £50 towards my bill from Southern.

If I go through Quidco to uswitch, I get £26 something, and switch to Southern electric through them.

Except the plan on uswitch is different to what is on the Southern Electric website. On uswitch it's called Discount Energy Bonus April 2015 and on the Southern Electric website it's called Discount Energy April 2015. The prices are slightly different too, not by much but the uswitch one is the cheaper one - why does uswitch offer a slightly different plan?

The reason the comparison sites showed SSE Discount Energy Bonus April 2015 (introduced 17/1/13) as the cheapest is because they incorporated the £100.00 switching bonus into the tariff thus showing an increase over the discount on the Discount Energy April 2015 (introduced 8/1/13) from 2% to 11%.

This was purely to improve SSE comparison site performance and is in direct contravention of the Confidence Code.

This matter is being investigated.

Those who signed up to the later tariff may want to know why they are not receiving their £100.00 switching bonus if that is the case.

Those who signed up to the original tariff may want to know why they were duped into signing up to a 2 year 2% discount with early termination fees when only a few days later an apparently much more favourable tariff without termination fee was introduced by the same company.

This matter is currently being discussed by SSE with a consumer watchdog. Direct any complaint/query to SSE initially.