MSE News: Have you fixed your energy bills? Your questions answered

Former_MSE_Darryl

"We've been inundated with questions about switching to fixed tariffs since the price hikes started. Here, MSE Archna, who runs our Cheap Energy Club, answers the most common queries..."

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Have you fixed your energy bills? Your questions answered



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jimbo49

i have raised this point before but as far as i know, there hasn't been an answer given.

i get £100 per year discount with npower. i never see anywhere that energy company discounts such as this are included in new pricing. itis a bit misleading, dont you think?
for example, having just gone through the cheap prices check, i was told i could save about £40. i dont know if the £100 bonus is included or not? if it is, i should switch, if it isn't, i shouldn't switch.
this 'tool' is supposed to make things easier, more clear. it has left me with doubts that dont appear to be resolved.
which is it? loyalty bonus included or not?

nickcc

Just switched to 2017 fix and NPower still give the £100 per annum discount.

Former_MSE_Archna

jimbo49 wrote: »

i have raised this point before but as far as i know, there hasn't been an answer given.

i get £100 per year discount with npower. i never see anywhere that energy company discounts such as this are included in new pricing. itis a bit misleading, dont you think?
for example, having just gone through the cheap prices check, i was told i could save about £40. i dont know if the £100 bonus is included or not? if it is, i should switch, if it isn't, i shouldn't switch.
this 'tool' is supposed to make things easier, more clear. it has left me with doubts that dont appear to be resolved.
which is it? loyalty bonus included or not?

Hi there

We mention it in our FAQs, but the basically:

Recurring discounts and those paid automatically, such as direct debit discounts, are included in the calculations. One-off discounts, incentives paid after 12 months and discounts which rely on you doing something (including giving meter readings) aren't included in the comparison.

https://cheapenergyclub.moneysavingexpert.com/faq

These are rules that Ofgem stipulate. HTH

PasturesNew

I'm not bothered about fixing - I plan to move, so wouldn't want to be trapped in some minimum term if the house I move to doesn't have gas.

Quentin

If you move house you have to go with the new houses previous supplier.

So you cannot find yourself in the situation you fear.

Biscuit_Tin

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'm not bothered about fixing - I plan to move, so wouldn't want to be trapped in some minimum term if the house I move to doesn't have gas.

Early exit fees do not normally apply if you end a contract early due to moving house.

jimbo49

tnx for the response, MSE Archna. i have to admit that i hadn't seen that mentioned, or i didn't quite understand how it is written.
so, just to be 100% sure, when i get a quote using the 'MSE cheaper energy tool' and the price eg is £1,000 per annum for dual fuel, the £100 discount i get from npower, my present supplier, has already been deducted? that means that i would actually be paying £8 more per month than the quoted price, because the discount only comes off after one year as a customer.
i hope you understand my confusion as i could have ended up actually shifting to a supplier that is going to charge me more than i am presently paying.
is it possible to make the point on the actual 'tool' page itself, so as to remove this confusion completely? it's only a few words, so shouldn't be particularly difficult. i would think to leave the discount on and stipulate that, would be favorite? at least then, people would know exactly what they have to pay and get a little windfall at the end of each year, rather than find they have to pay more each month than they thought.
energy pricing is a complete nightmare to follow as it is. anything that can make it simpler has to be good, right?

octypuss

hi,
i am currently switching to Npower fixed 2014 with the CEC on here from Scottish Power,
my status still shows as "in progress" but since i set this all up last week nPower have removed the tarriff from their website.
so will my switch go through or do i need to find a new switch?
Thank you

wakeupalarm

Why don't any comparison sites show which companies charge an IGT charge and how much it is? If you are getting the tariff info from the energy companies how much harder is it to ask them to supply this tiny bit of extra information and then show it on your comparison site? The extras IGT charge makes a difference to which company to fix with as it can add a considerable amount to longer term fixes.

Biscuit_Tin

octypuss wrote: »

hi,
i am currently switching to Npower fixed 2014 with the CEC on here from Scottish Power,
my status still shows as "in progress" but since i set this all up last week nPower have removed the tarriff from their website.
so will my switch go through or do i need to find a new switch?
Thank you

Oh no dear, you won't be able to have that if it's withdrawn.

I suggest you switch again using a different comparison site.

Just like the article explains ... :cool: