Big Community Switch

VoucherMan

Signed up for this a while ago.

Big Community Switch

Just got the results through.

An annual saving of just over £100 compared to my recently finished fixed rate.

Just want to see if MSE can beat it now with their scheme.

notbritishgas

Our local council has been actively promoting these schemes (currently on the second version I think).
However there is great secrecy about the resulting deal, eg tariff etc.
So can you post details of your deal, kwh rates and standing charges, any discounts, length of deal, is it a fixed rate and any other details you think relevant, thanks.

Wywth

You'd be better off following this advice
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

VoucherMan

notbritishgas wrote: »

Our local council has been actively promoting these schemes (currently on the second version I think).
However there is great secrecy about the resulting deal, eg tariff etc.
So can you post details of your deal, kwh rates and standing charges, any discounts, length of deal, is it a fixed rate and any other details you think relevant, thanks.

Can't view them now. will post this evening unless someone else does first.

Wywth wrote: »

You'd be better off following this advice
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

I was planning a two year fix but since this deal will be about £150 (quick guess) cheaper I'm hoping to save more this way.

Wywth

VoucherMan wrote: »

I was planning a two year fix but since this deal will be about £150 (quick guess) cheaper I'm hoping to save more this way.

You won't save yourself the maximum amount of money by restricting yourself to Scottish Power (electricity only credit account) or British Gas/Sainsburys for all other purposes

SwanJon

You can find the results of ichoosr switches relatively easily - they all have a similar format:
http://bigcommunityswitch.ichoosr.com/Product/leveranciers.rails?actionId=288

Googling 'ichoosr results' suggests that this was linked to a few others announced on the same day.

VoucherMan

Details of offer-

The small print suggests that prices may differ regionally. These are for the North West.

Tariff: Sainsbury's Energy Price Promise July 2014* + bill credit offer** (Online billing)
Payment method Monthly Direct Debit
Electricity £0.1362 / kWh
Standing charge £62.00 / year


Tariff: Sainsbury's Energy Price Promise July 2014* + bill credit offer** (Online billing)
Payment method Monthly Direct Debit
Gas £0.0455 / kWh
Standing charge £95.00 / year

Extra
Dual Fuel Discount £15.00 / year

Bill credit after 12 months** £210.00 / year



My actual saving compared to EDF's 2 year fix which was my other option is £159 for the year.

I'm sure prices will rise again before July next year but unless it's over 26% I should still hopefully get a new deal & be better off.

The only problem for me is the offer closes on May 8th but my annual discount from Npower isn't due until May 6th so not much of a gap for switching.



The small print in case anyone wants to pick at it -

Price Promise July 2014 terms and conditions
* Price Promise July 2014 rates are fixed until 31st July 2014 at a premium of 6.4% above our Clear & Simple tariff rates as at 21st February 2013. At the end of Price Promise July 2014, we will move you onto our standard variable tariff in market at that time. Price Promise July 2014 is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. If you cancel this agreement (for example by switching to a new tariff with us or to another energy supplier) before 31st July 2014, we may apply an exit fee (inclusive of VAT) of £35 for electricity and £35 for gas. These will not be applied if you move home. Exit fees will be collected, before any other amounts you owe us, from payments you make or any credit balance you have. You must remain a Direct Debit customer. If you do not, we may transfer you to our standard variable tariff in market at that time and charge exit fees. Price Promise July 2014 rates are subject to any VAT and regulatory changes and changes to discounts applied to your bill. These terms and conditions apply in addition to our standard terms and conditions of supply which are set out in the Contract Pack. We will honour Price Promise July 2014 rates unless we are prevented from doing so by the action or anticipated action of any governmental or statutory body.

Bill credit offer terms and conditions
** Amount includes VAT at 5%. Only one offer per household/customer. For eligible customers taking gas through a credit meter, the £135 offer will be shown as a credit on your first gas bill issued 12 months after the date of your start of supply. You must take both your gas and electricity with Sainsbury's Energy and remain a Sainsbury's Energy customer for both fuels on the same tariff(s) you signed up to at point of credit.

All prices shown are valid for energy region Norweb. If this isn't your region, please contact us
Please note that cancellation charges may be applied by your current supplier if you switch.

schober

They offered me £441 for dual fuel. This is about the same as i currently pay; however there is somesthing called "bill credit" of £210 which brings the price down to £231.The best uswitch could offer was £340. So, for me a big saving as my consumption is modest

What is bill credit? presumably they are overcharging me then giving me back my own money (without interest) It seems to be a potty idea

Wywth

schober wrote: »

They offered me £441 for dual fuel. This is about the same as i currently pay; however there is somesthing called "bill credit" of £210 which brings the price down to £231.The best uswitch could offer was £340. So, for me a big saving as my consumption is modest

What is bill credit? presumably they are overcharging me then giving me back my own money (without interest) It seems to be a potty idea

£441 per year? That seems a very low usage.

What is your anticipated annuaL consumption in kWh of each fuel?

You may want to double checkthe bill credit of £210 - the previous post says its only £135

As you say, you could save almost £100 with a different supplier, and with possible cashback that could make up the extra £35 ... and you won't have to wait over a year to get it. (by which time you will probably be on a much more expensive tariff )

Marylynn1949

It looks as if Sainsbury's Energy has made a really poor start in the field of customer service. Ichoosr emailed me to say that "We now understand from Sainsbury’s Energy that the welcome pack you will receive is standard and therefore does not detail the bill credit from the offer you have accepted."
I expect I was only one of thousands of customers who queried this by phone as soon as I got my welcome pack.
What sort of organisation wins a potentially huge contract and then fails to tailor its information to accurately reflect its terms and conditions?
How much time must have been spent on answering these phone calls?
What will Sainsbury’s Energy do to restore customer confidence?