Really want to switch utility providers...but the reasons why I don't!

picklednut

Hi

I'm currently with British Gas for both Gas & Electric and am on their standard tariff so not locked in or fixed and could move. I want to shop around for a cheaper provider but here are the reasons why I don't...can anyone please help me correct my thoughts!

1) I can't afford to pay two lots of bills within one month, especially at winter, when I've switched before I've had a final bill from my previous provider and then a payment in advance from my new provider so ended up with two bill payments in one month and simply cannot afford this. There always seem to be a "switch-over period". Has anyone else ended up with two bill payments in one? I pay by monthly direct debits.

2) I don't know how to compare my annual usage. When I've phoned up before asking for my usage I've been flumoxed by the advanced maths involved to try and work out what I've used. What unit should I be using to compare providers and how do I get an accurate usage?

3) I pay by monthly direct debit but with British Gas I enter my meter readings each month and pay for exactly what I've used, do other providers have this kind of payment scheme? This is one of my main reaons for not switching, I like the idea of paying for exactly what I've used. When I've had fixed direct debits in the past I've either ended up with not enough "in the pot" to cover my bills or too much is taken and I'm massively in credit.

It would massively help me if someone could dispel the "myths" of my reasons for not moving above.

In the winter months I'm paying £120 a month for gas and £60 for electric which is just astronomical!!

Thanks
Amanda

mumbles_one

The best solution would be Martin Lewis to advise everyone and I mean everyone to move from British Gas and put them out of business by the end of the month.If British Gas was a supermarket then all their customers would shop somewhere else. It would send a message to the remaining gas companies not to put up their prices or face unemployment.

It would eventually get us back to a state owned company where the profits would go to the government

DragonQ

picklednut wrote: »

1) I can't afford to pay two lots of bills within one month, especially at winter, when I've switched before I've had a final bill from my previous provider and then a payment in advance from my new provider so ended up with two bill payments in one month and simply cannot afford this. There always seem to be a "switch-over period". Has anyone else ended up with two bill payments in one? I pay by monthly direct debits.

Since you're not in debt with your existing supplier you'll be fine because if you switch just after paying, your final bill will be zero. If you switch just before paying, your final bill will be what you'd have paid anyway.

At least one supplier demands payment for each month up-front but most don't, and they should allow you to choose a date of the month for the direct debit to come out of your account.

picklednut wrote: »

2) I don't know how to compare my annual usage. When I've phoned up before asking for my usage I've been flumoxed by the advanced maths involved to try and work out what I've used. What unit should I be using to compare providers and how do I get an accurate usage?

You need to know annual kWh usage for both electricity and gas. Look at the meter readings on your bill this time last year and compare it to your meter readings right now. Electricity units are kWh, which is straight forward; gas units need converting but the conversion factor should be written on the bill also.

picklednut wrote: »

3) I pay by monthly direct debit but with British Gas I enter my meter readings each month and pay for exactly what I've used, do other providers have this kind of payment scheme? This is one of my main reaons for not switching, I like the idea of paying for exactly what I've used. When I've had fixed direct debits in the past I've either ended up with not enough "in the pot" to cover my bills or too much is taken and I'm massively in credit.

This is uncommon as far as I know. Most direct debit schemes are either fixed monthly or variable quarterly (which'd be higher in the winter and lower in the summer). You could of course just pay on receipt of bill but this usually means you lose out on discounts. In any case, there's no point even worrying about this until you find the cheapest tariffs for you, since different tariffs have different payment methods available.

picklednut wrote: »

In the winter months I'm paying £120 a month for gas and £60 for electric which is just astronomical!!

Gas seems normal for winter. Electricity is a bit high but what are your circumstances? How big is your house? How many people live there? Gas central heating? What about your cooker, is that gas or electric? Electric or normal showers? etc.

apt

You are probably going to pay about 20% more compared to the cheapest fixed price deals to Spring 2015 if you don't switch. That's throwing money away.

penrhyn

mumbles_one wrote: »

The best solution would be Martin Lewis to advise everyone and I mean everyone to move from British Gas and put them out of business by the end of the month.If British Gas was a supermarket then all their customers would shop somewhere else. It would send a message to the remaining gas companies not to put up their prices or face unemployment.

It would eventually get us back to a state owned company where the profits would go to the government

No profits would go to fat cat union bosses who would hold the country to ransom for increased pay for their public service employees.
We are dependent on world markets for gas, and the ecoloons will fight till we all freeze rather than let us exploit any potential gas reserves.

thriftylass

picklednut wrote: »

In the winter months I'm paying £120 a month for gas and £60 for electric which is just astronomical!!

I totally agree with DragonQ's post. Plus depending on how big your house is etc and how many people are there £180/ month for gas and leccy in winter sounds a lot to me so would think you can only save by switching.

penrhyn

OP could probably save without switching.
They should go on the british gas site and check if they are on the cheapest tariff and if not they can change instantaneously.
Its running at a snails pace today though.