fixed price tariffs

cieran_2

I'm already on a fixed price deal with edf till April 2014. Martin Lewis mentioned edf's new "blue promise" tariff which fixes prices till 28 February 2015.
I've no idea how to compare these two tariffs, but should I ask edf if I can switch to that latter tariff ?
Is that a good idea anyway ? Has anyone switched tariffs in this way?

macman

Use any comp site with your annual kWH usage to compare the two tariffs.
BPP 2015 is much more expensive than 2014, so you'll be taking a big gamble at locking into that higher price nearly a year before you need to. Unless you know that prices are going to soar in the next 11m. And even then, you'd lose a full 11m on BPP 2014 and have to recover that loss before you move back into profit.

Wywth

cieran wrote: »

I'm already on a fixed price deal with edf till April 2014. Martin Lewis mentioned edf's new "blue promise" tariff which fixes prices till 28 February 2015.
I've no idea how to compare these two tariffs, but should I ask edf if I can switch to that latter tariff ?
Is that a good idea anyway ? Has anyone switched tariffs in this way?

So you are not on the suppliers standard tariff? :cool:
(That was what Martin was specifically referring to)

You can switch if you want. You can do this either by calling EDF or applying online via your My Account page.

But as Martin said, consult a comparison site.
Hopefully that is what you did when you first chose the tariff you have today. If it was, and you did it correctly, and your usage hasn't significantly changed, then I doubt you'll find anything to beat what you've already got

cieran_2

Thanks very much macman and wywth for the help. I take the points you make and I shall sit tight for the present!

DaniellePoll

Hi C

I signed up to EDF's Blue Promise in October 2012, which is a fixed dual fuel deal until April 2014.
Guess what! They've written already to say they are upping the monthly direct debit for gas and electricity from £88 to a whopping £151. That's a huge leap. I live in a small two bed flat (so not heating a whole house) with just me and my husband. Be aware that so-called fixed deals are not fixed for the duration they specify. A huge con.:mad:

Nada666

DaniellePoll wrote: »

Hi C

I signed up to EDF's Blue Promise in October 2012, which is a fixed dual fuel deal until April 2014.
Guess what! They've written already to say they are upping the monthly direct debit for gas and electricity from £88 to a whopping £151. That's a huge leap. I live in a small two bed flat (so not heating a whole house) with just me and my husband. Be aware that so-called fixed deals are not fixed for the duration they specify. A huge con.:mad:

The fixed deals are fixed deals - the price per kWh is fixed. The size of instalment can change - you did not seriously think you could use as much electricity and gas and heating as you like without paying according to your consumption?

The new payment may or may not be reasonable - find out your typical annual usage and work out how much it costs.

DaniellePoll

No, Nada, I did not think I could use as much as I liked for the same price. However, this EDF Blue Promise deal started in Oct 2012. In May 2013, they do their annual review and send you a revised bill upping your direct debits. Bear in mind that Oct - May is not 12 months, is it? Everyone uses more Elec and Gas during winter. They base the next year's direct debits on the coldest months of the year (i.e. Oct - Apr), thereby you are effectively forward funding them until April 2014 when the Blue + Price Promise ends. I consider this a form of fraud. EDF know exactly what they are doing.

I have just spoken to Hayley at EDF who confirmed that they review annually so the next revised bill would be April 2014.

I have chosen to pay the excess and have my direct debits revert to the original rate we agreed in Oct 2012. This way, they do not get free credit via me.

Wywth

DaniellePoll wrote: »

Hi C

I signed up to EDF's Blue Promise in October 2012, which is a fixed dual fuel deal until April 2014.
Guess what! They've written already to say they are upping the monthly direct debit for gas and electricity from £88 to a whopping £151. That's a huge leap. I live in a small two bed flat (so not heating a whole house) with just me and my husband. Be aware that so-called fixed deals are not fixed for the duration they specify. A huge con.:mad:

It's the tariff that is fixed, not the price you pay in an 'all you can eat' cheap chinese buffet type of way.

If EDF felt the need to increase your monthly DD by almost 100%, then you must be using a lot more energy than you originally declared ... so your choice of tariff in the first place was possibly wrong too :cool: