MSE's Cheap Energy Club: Discuss & feedback

Southend1

Got my gas and elec bills this morning and did a comparison. Am switching from EBICO to Southern Electric (EBICO admin is by Southern Electric so theoretically should be straightforward but won't hold my breath!).

Apparently I will save £6/month and get £30 cashback. Wondered whether I will in fact save as I use zero gas over the summer months and Southern Electric have a standing charge - maybe I should have waited until September to switch? Who knows?! The whole system is a flipping nightmare - there should be no standing charges and a single unit rate (except economy 7) so people can compare like with like. Or just nationalise the lot! I note from my gas bill that Southern Electric makes 8% profit on gas supply so nationalisation would mean an immediate 8% price reduction or some welcome investment in the network.

Wywth

Southend1 wrote: »

Got my gas and elec bills this morning and did a comparison. Am switching from EBICO to Southern Electric (EBICO admin is by Southern Electric so theoretically should be straightforward but won't hold my breath!).

The easiest and quickest way to move from Ebico to Southern Electric (or vice versa) would be to give them a call. They will be able to treat your application as a simple tariff transfer meaning you could start saving today! :beer:

If you are unsure of the savings, they will gladly run through them with you on request before you ask to transfer.

MillicentBystander

Please be aware that it appears SSEs cheapest tariff includes an 11% discount on monies paid in the first 12 months and that annual/paid in arrears discount is included in the figure shown on the switching sites. Leave before your 12 months is up (and/or miss a payment) and not only do you have to add the discount back onto the figure shown on the switching site but also you will be hit with a £50 exit fee! It really is an absolute minefield out there no matter which switching site you use.

Tariff Notes
The cost shown includes an 11% discount ONLY applicable in the first year.
Guaranteed to be 11% less than SSE's Standard rates until 31 March 2014 and at least 2% less after that, until 1st April 2015.
After 1st April 2015 you will be moved onto SSE's Standard plan, unless you choose another plan.
Variable rate tariff - energy prices may go up or down.
This tariff has a standing charge.
Paper billing by default, though online billing is available with an additional £6 per fuel discount on top of savings shown.
Pay by Monthly Direct Debit, Variable Direct Debit (quarterly) or Pay on Receipt of Bill.
Dual fuel only - you must take both gas and electricity.
No IGT charges.
Early termination fee of £50 (inc. VAT) applies if the customer leaves before the 1st April 2014, regardless of fuel options (whether single fuel or dual fuel).
Notes: This tariff is not available with prepayment meters.

http://www.ukpower.co.uk/home_energy/compare/dual/GHPWETJQ/26751-Discount-Energy-Bonus-April-2015/details


PS If you use zero gas over the Summer months I'm not at all convinced a tariff with a standing charge is for you plus I'm not entirely convinced any switching site will in any way accurately give you the best deal.

Southend1

Wywth wrote: »

The easiest and quickest way to move from Ebico to Southern Electric (or vice versa) would be to give them a call. They will be able to treat your application as a simple tariff transfer meaning you could start saving today! :beer:

If you are unsure of the savings, they will gladly run through them with you on request before you ask to transfer.

But I wouldn't get the £30 cashback? Also I wouldn't be eligible for the tariff as it is not available to existing Southern Electric customers.

I wouldn't trust an energy company to explain savings to me - I've been stopped by dodgy salespeople many times in the street saying they can offer me a cheaper tariff than my current one but how on earth do they know without any figures being provided!

I know the system is set up to confuse consumers into paying over the odds but I see there is a new policy coming into force whereby each supplier will only be allowed a maximum of four tariffs - at least this is a step in the right direction. Hopefully the government will also force energy companies to standardise tariffs so that consumers can compare like with like.

Southend1

MillicentBystander wrote: »

Please be aware that it appears SSEs cheapest tariff includes an 11% discount on monies paid in the first 12 months and that annual/paid in arrears discount is included in the figure shown on the switching sites. Leave before your 12 months is up (and/or miss a payment) and not only do you have to add the discount back onto the figure shown on the switching site but also you will be hit with a £50 exit fee! It really is an absolute minefield out there no matter which switching site you use.



http://www.ukpower.co.uk/home_energy/compare/dual/GHPWETJQ/26751-Discount-Energy-Bonus-April-2015/details


PS If you use zero gas over the Summer months I'm not at all convinced a tariff with a standing charge is for you plus I'm not entirely convinced any switching site will in any way accurately give you the best deal.

Thanks- I had spotted the £50 exit fee and won't be switching again until the 12 months is up.

Re: the standing charge - god only knows. I have a GCSE in maths but this is not enough for me to work out whether I am really saving any money by switching. I don't think actual prices were mentioned at any time in the switching process, only the claimed saving.

The only reason I am switching now is because I trust MSE to give me honest advice, otherwise I would have stayed with EBICO because I like the way they don't hit poorer customers on pre-pay meters with higher tariffs.

MillicentBystander

Southend1 wrote: »

Thanks- I had spotted the £50 exit fee and won't be switching again until the 12 months is up.

Re: the standing charge - god only knows. I have a GCSE in maths but this is not enough for me to work out whether I am really saving any money by switching. I don't think actual prices were mentioned at any time in the switching process, only the claimed saving.

The only reason I am switching now is because I trust MSE to give me honest advice, otherwise I would have stayed with EBICO because I like the way they don't hit poorer customers on pre-pay meters with higher tariffs.

I agree it's complicated but as I see it no switching site (MSE uses its owner moneysupermarket for their calculations so in that respect it's no different to any other switching site) give you a figure based on what they estimate will be your usage pattern over the next 12 months. Whilst of course the switching site will make allowances for reduced Summer gas usage it's highly unlikely it will assume someone uses NO gas during the Summer so the figure you got may well be skewed. Just a thought. another thing to bear in mind. Like I say, an absolute minefield and it's not just about choosing the 'cheapest' one on the switching site's list at all.

PS The big problem with exit fees and annual discounts paid in arrears is it severely limits your choices in that should SSE increase the tariff you are on by a silly amount you effectively HAVE to stay with them. It's about as anti competitive as it gets. Exit fees (especially on variable tariffs) are wrong and can in no way be justified in a supposedly competitive marketplace. Imo of course.

Southend1

MillicentBystander wrote: »

I agree it's complicated but as I see it no switching site (MSE use moneysupermarket for their calculations so in that respect it's no different to any other switching site) give you a figure based on what they estimate will be your usage pattern over the next 12 months. Whilst of course the switching site will make allowances for reduced Summer gas usage it's highly unlikely it will assume someone uses NO gas during the Summer so the figure you got may well be skewed. Just a thought. another thing to bear in mind. Like I say, an absolute minefield and it's not just about choosing the 'cheapest' one on the switching site's list at all.

PS The BIG problem with exit fees and annual discounts paid in arrears is it severely limits your choices in that should SSE increase the tariff you are on by a silly amount you effectively HAVE to stay with them. It's about as anti competitive as it gets. Exit fees (especially on variable tariffs) are wrong and can in no way be justified in a supposedly competitive marketplace. Imo of course.

Hopefully they will send out a switching pack with the standing charge and prices per kw/h listed clearly. Or maybe I can find them on the web. If so, I may be able to make a spreadsheet to show whether it will save me money. Also I live alone and work full time therefore am a low user so slight changes in consumption can cause big changes in cost depending on the tariff structure. Like you say, it's a minefield!

As an aside, I would think zero gas users are fairly common for 6 months of the year. I switch my heating off in spring until the cold weather returns and I have an electric shower and dishwasher so don't use gas for heating water in the summer either.

Southend1

Southend1 wrote: »

But I wouldn't get the £30 cashback?

Actually looking at the Southern Electric website, if I went direct I would get a £100 credit on my bill instead of MSE £30 cashback??

!!!!!!, I think I'm just gonna cancel the switch and stick with EBICO. Better the devil you know.....

MillicentBystander

Southend1 wrote: »

Actually looking at the Southern Electric website, if I went direct I would get a £100 credit on my bill instead of MSE £30 cashback??

!!!!!!, I think I'm just gonna cancel the switch and stick with EBICO. Better the devil you know.....

Yes, cashback is yet another minefield and really should be checked out - it is after all how the switching sites make their wonga. For example, topcashback offer £46.86 for a dual fuel switch to SSE. A difference of almost £17! To be fair at least MSE Energy Club are giving you some/a decent %tage of the cashback they receive, many switching sites give you nowt and pocket it all themselves!

Dutchy1980

I have had some real trouble getting onto the MSE Cheap Energy Club website to register for this service. I can get onto the main website fine but as soon as I try to register, the page will not load. I have been trying for two days without any success - I just get a message saying the server cannot be reached. Am I doing something wrong?