First Utility 18.6% rise.

Deceived_2

First:Utility are claiming a price increase of 18.6%. This is just the average of a 48% increase for electricity and a 1% increase for gas based on average annual use as defined by Ofgem.
The dodge is that unless these prices are held for a full year to allow the higher winter use to be mitigated by lower summer use then the the average price increase of 18.6% is not valid. We are being misled for there is every likelihood of another price hike within 12 months. FU has chosen to hugely increase its electricity price knowing full well that summer usages of electric will not fall as dramatically as gas. By the time winter approaches I suspect we will see a large increase in the cost of gas but not much on electric, again allowing FU to claim a much lower average increase. The reality could be that within a period of say 6 months, both electricity and gas prices will have increased by as much as 50% but will have been achieved by two price hikes both being claimed to be less than 20%. My gas usage averages 75% Nov to Apr and 25% May to Oct. Electric 55% and 45% for the same periods.
I also switched last December from British Gas due to its deliberate tariff manipulation going into the winter period of higher consumption. I will never go back to BG but who can you trust?

boots_babe

I'll probably get flamed here, but I don't see what the fuss is about.

I too, joined First Utility at the end of last year. Obviously disappointed that they are now going to increase prices but so what, I will spend 15 minutes on the comparison sites to identify who is currently cheapest, and switch again.

If anything I'll get an added bonus of cashback/wine/whatever for switching again. It's hardly a massive inconvenience and after all, prices were obviously going to go up at some point.

kezzygirl

eh?hold on a min, we joined first utility in Dec 2012, I am on the isave fixed v4 march 2014 tariff, will my prices be increasing too?

garysletters

I have no problem with them upping the price, its their choice. However, I also joined in December, but I got a 123 Santander account and moved my DD to them in march.
Problem is, first utility have set up the new DD, but haven't taken any money.
I keep on getting debt letters. I've called, emailed, web chatted, and even twittered them, I keep on being told to ignore the (escalating) debt letters, and that credit dept will be calling me.......but nothing.

I've been to my bank and got a print out showing the DD is active but unused, but they continue to claim Santander Refused to set the DD up. They lie!

The problem being that I now want to move (my elec price is rising 61.5%). However, with a £300+ debt showing on my account, they are not gonna let me!

What do I do? I'm resigned to the fact Im gonna have to pay by debit card, lose my 2% cash back, just to allow me to move.

Their customer service is awful.

(I've started recording my phone calls to them so can prove all their failings.......I do warn them I'm recording them)

stoneman

I still haven't received notice of the price rise

boots_babe

garysletters wrote: »

I have no problem with them upping the price, its their choice. However, I also joined in December, but I got a 123 Santander account and moved my DD to them in march.
Problem is, first utility have set up the new DD, but haven't taken any money.
I keep on getting debt letters. I've called, emailed, web chatted, and even twittered them, I keep on being told to ignore the (escalating) debt letters, and that credit dept will be calling me.......but nothing.

I've been to my bank and got a print out showing the DD is active but unused, but they continue to claim Santander Refused to set the DD up. They lie!

The problem being that I now want to move (my elec price is rising 61.5%). However, with a £300+ debt showing on my account, they are not gonna let me!

What do I do? I'm resigned to the fact Im gonna have to pay by debit card, lose my 2% cash back, just to allow me to move.

Their customer service is awful.

(I've started recording my phone calls to them so can prove all their failings.......I do warn them I'm recording them)

Oh dear that doesn't sound good. In answer to your question though, just call them up and pay over the phone, then your account will be clear and you'll be free to move.

NoviceAngel

To those that say 'What's the problem just switch again' That's fine if you have the time to go through the comparison websites, then the cashback websites and work out exactly the best deal for you now.. TODAY and switch, but I think the vast majority of people just want a reasonable price that will stay reasonably low in the market place. Not necessarily giving the absolute cheapest rate at all times, but one that will give low rates over a few years.

For a long time now, I've realised that this never happens, you get a good deal, they hoick you in and pull the rug under your feet.

I've resisted 'FIXED tariffs' but I'm going in for a fixed deal from npower, fixed until Jun14 so I've got about a year I can forget about changing what seems like every 3-4 months.

The problem I see here, is FU are only giving you effectively 1 months notice, and that means switching yesterday to start the switching process to try and avoid the hike. Also, the 'hike' is absolutely preposterous, if they increased their prices but still came out as a cheapish provider then what really would be all the fuss about, but they are moving customers automatically from the cheapest deal around to a very expensive tariff. That's the problem.

It’s a real shame for FU and their customers that they have knifed in the back. FU customers will vote with their feet and no doubt switch yet again! Am I the only one fed up with this?

boots_babe

NoviceAngel wrote: »

To those that say 'What's the problem just switch again' That's fine if you have the time to go through the comparison websites, then the cashback websites and work out exactly the best deal for you now.. TODAY and switch, but I think the vast majority of people just want a reasonable price that will stay reasonably low in the market place. Not necessarily giving the absolute cheapest rate at all times, but one that will give low rates over a few years.

For a long time now, I've realised that this never happens, you get a good deal, they hoick you in and pull the rug under your feet.

I've resisted 'FIXED tariffs' but I'm going in for a fixed deal from npower, fixed until Jun14 so I've got about a year I can forget about changing what seems like every 3-4 months.

The problem I see here, is FU are only giving you effectively 1 months notice, and that means switching yesterday to start the switching process to try and avoid the hike. Also, the 'hike' is absolutely preposterous, if they increased their prices but still came out as a cheapish provider then what really would be all the fuss about, but they are moving customers automatically from the cheapest deal around to a very expensive tariff. That's the problem.

It’s a real shame for FU and their customers that they have knifed in the back. FU customers will vote with their feet and no doubt switch yet again! Am I the only one fed up with this?

Ultimately there are 2 groups of people I think. Those that are happy to switch, and those that aren't.

It sounds from the above as though you want certainty, in which case a fix would be most appropriate.

Low variable rates are only suitable for people willing to keep an eye and switch when needed.

As an aside, when you say it's ok if you have the time, I switched immediately after doing my last post on this thread. It honestly took me no more than 20 minutes to check all comparison sites to identify the cheapest price, and then to quickly check for the best cashback/freebie option for that one.

Kingsransom

@boots_babe

Which freebie option did you go for? I'm thinking of switching soon too.

I read on the Which? magazine site that if your supplier puts your prices up mid contract, you can switch away without suffering cancellation charges - these are the ofgem rules.

This is because the terms of the original contract no longer apply because they have changed them by upping the prices.

All you have to do is make sure you inform your supplier and give them the reason why.

boots_babe

Kingsransom wrote: »

@boots_babe

Which freebie option did you go for? I'm thinking of switching soon too.

I read on the Which? magazine site that if your supplier puts your prices up mid contract, you can switch away without suffering cancellation charges - these are the ofgem rules.

This is because the terms of the original contract no longer apply because they have changed them by upping the prices.

All you have to do is make sure you inform your supplier and give them the reason why.

I went for Simply Switch, with their £40 cashback.

There wouldn't be any early termination charges applicable here anyway as people were only tied in for 3 months. After that you were free to leave at any time even if there wasn't a price hike.