Flow Energy - anyone switched?

System

topicalcat wrote: »

I have a 4 bed 1950's house. When the combi boiler packed up A few years back I had a woodburning stove with backboiler and large heat store water tank fitted. The wood burner is only 12kw and copes with house heating and hot water. Looking at the Flow boiler and reckon that 18w will be adequate. You just run it for a bit longer if it is less powerful, your existing boiler might be oversized? Given that a Flow boiler only generates electricity when it is on it will probably make sense to run it for longer at a lower setting to maximise the electricity generation. Worth getting a quote, you can always say thanks but no thanks if you are not impressed. I intend getting a quote soon.

I have now got some answers back from Flow and I am even less convinced than I was that this type of boiler will work for Mr Average Householder. The boiler is in fact only 14kW.

Looking at the Freedom Package. To get £80 a month back for 5 years, the annual energy cost must exceed £960 per annum. My property consumes 10000kWs of gas and 3000kWs of electricity. I pay about £660 per annum. To get to £960, I would need a gas consumption of 30000kWhs and an electrical consumption of 1250kWhs (3000 - the Flow generation).

I would be better off spending £2000 less on a conventional condensing boiler with a 10 year warranty. I am sure that the Flow offer will work for a house with high heating and electrical needs but not for Mr Average. The remaining question is 'will a 14kW boiler Be man enough for the job'. I understand that it doesn't modulate as most boilers do.

elizabeth2015

As I said I am very happy with Ebico and my bills have halved. No other company compares as they all have standing charges. I use very little gas as I dont have gas central heating so Ebico are great plus they are aimed at helping the poorer in society with a sound ethical structure.
I always use price comparison sites. Unfortunately it was awhile before I found ebico because CheapEnergyClub wasnt coming up with them becasue of a default setting only showing those that give cashback. Fortunately through research I found out about Ebico; the only company I could find that didnt charge a standing charge. What suits one doesnt suit all - hence the value of comparison sites.

footyguy

elizabeth2015 wrote: »

.. Unfortunately it was awhile before I found ebico because CheapEnergyClub wasnt coming up with them becasue of a default setting only showing those that give cashback. .

Save repeating myself
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=70030299&postcount=52

BishBash

I've been with Flow for over 18 months and was initially pleased with their rates and customer service (a few glitches along the way).

I received a letter saying Flow would 'always automatically move me onto their cheapest rate'. So was surprised to see that I was on their THIRD cheapest rate.

I was also £600 in credit and requested some of my own money back.

I received a rather patronising response, effectively saying that they'd think about whether or not they'd refund my rather sizeable overpayments and let me know within 2 weeks.

They eventually responded and agreed to refund half of the overpayment. This they did in their own good time.

They have now (rather oddly) said they'll move me onto their variable rate (ie, most expensive) unless I advise them otherwise. I've emailed them 3 times to ask them to please move me onto their cheapest rate (Connect 6) as soon as possible - and haven't had a reply to one of them.

Maybe they're growing too fast and can no longer cope with increased customer communications.

But unless I hear back from them, I'll be moving my account elsewhere - I had enough poor service from Scottish Power 3 years ago to want to go through the same with Flow.

momist

BishBash wrote: »

<snip>
But unless I hear back from them, I'll be moving my account elsewhere <snip>

You write about letters and emails, have you tried telephoning them? I've always found them friendly and helpful, although you do have to wait in a queue of course.

topicalcat

BishBash wrote: »

I've been with Flow for over 18 months and was initially pleased with their rates and customer service (a few glitches along the way).

I received a letter saying Flow would 'always automatically move me onto their cheapest rate'. So was surprised to see that I was on their THIRD cheapest rate.

REPLY,

Very strange, my fixed tarriff expires soon and last month I had an email inviting me to go onto their latest Connect6 tarriff. Perhaps the email they sent you ended up in spam? Pretty seamless for me, just clicked on the link in the email and signed up for the new tarriff once mine expires in a fortnight.

Superfreak

I started the process of switching to Flow yesterday, as the final straw with British Gas was them increasing my monthly DD for electricity by a whopping £30, even though I'm always in credit.
Anyhow, after much research and comparing I've chosen Flow. Hopefully it will all go well, I'm grateful for all the comments, both positive and negative. Time will tell.... as they say.

Bitofsteak

Hi,


I switched to Flow use MSE Energy saving club as there rates were so much cheaper than my previous supplier EDF and all was confirmed by email on the 29th January when I provided my meter readings to a customer advisor on the 28th. All seemed to be going ok until on Easter Sunday I tried to provide a meter reading online.


I checked my online account and they had still not updated my meter readings from the 26th February when I provided readings through there automated telephone system. They still had my readings from the 28th January on there. When I tried to put through my readings from Sunday online, it came up with an error message so I could not put anything through. I sent through an email to customer service explaining the situation but as there has been no response today I have just rang them.


After being on hold a bit too long,I was told there is a problem with the portal and the tech team do know there is an issue. (no mention of my email)When the advisor said you can double check your statement, I replied' what statements you have not provided any online statements', she replied 'oh ok I will get the billing team to look at this for you' I was also told that you can provide readings by email or speaking to one of there operators - however this does not say this online, you have to call them to find this information out!


I am becoming very agitated with this and I am not happy. I will monitor the situation, but just feel like I am being fobbed off. Does anyone know what the next stage will be if my online account is not updated nor statements provided?

momist

I have found them to be very friendly on the phone. Please don't worry (yet), give them a day or two and phone again. Once the system is correctly up and running, you will get an email on the same day each month with a link in it that makes it very painless to enter your meter readings, and each time you do it generates an entry in a prize draw for £50 off your bill. I've not won one yet, but live in hope ;-) Also, once correctly up and running, the statements are easy to access. Just try to be patient?

HiyaMaya

So is Flow Energy's Connect 6 tariff only available if you go online only? I'm trying to find a gas and energy supplier for my parents and they would need access to paper statements.