Reason for leaving SSE

Virtual_Chrissy_Wissy

Hi all
just thought I'd report why I switched supplier last week away from sse and to the coop but not for the usual reason of strictly tariff. Have been with SSE for longer than I care to remember and was quite prepared to do a 1 year fix which would have been cheaper than their new tariff (the 2 year fix is the same as the new tariff). However this had to be direct debit only (i.e. no quarterly bill on payment) so I walked. I am permanently stung when it comes to DD based on what my poor late father went through with eon. I guess it's the same with all DD accounts but certainly for older people it is a nightmare keeping up with changes to monthly payments etc. Strangely enough I switched to the coop a few hours before they announced their price hike but, unless someone here informs me otherwise (there have been comments on customer service elsewhere, also I know I will have to pay an increased standing charge for quarterly bills, etc.) is a switch to them a reasonable one? thanks

Nada666

Yup, planning to save up and pay a quarterly winter bill is so much easier to manage than the horror of spreading the payments over twelve months. Never really understand these people who have the discipline to save up for a quarterly bill but imagine they do not have the discipline to cover a direct debit.

But it is your choice.

As to whether it is reasonable - you have given your reasons so it is reasoned. They are more important to you than price so that is for you to decide. What is the diffence in price for your usage and the competing tariffs?

Other suppliers also provide quarterly payments but by direct debit at the same price - that is one alternative.

Virtual_Chrissy_Wissy

In a nutshell, would never put my bank details over the net as required for DD (although I'm sure someone will inform me I can give these details over the phone). Also, I'm never sure whether 4 X x (variable amount, quarterly) is always without fail more than 12 X y (variable amount,as decided by "intelligent algorithms" that never seem to grant refunds in the summer months, but "readjust")

Hazzanet

I've always paid by 12 x DD and this works great if you keep an eye on it. The three things I do to make sure that it never goes wrong are:

* Use the online system to provide the supplier with meter reads, usually once a month, minimum once every two months. This prevents the computer from doing an estimated reading and recalculating the DD based on that.

* Work out what the annual spend on energy should be and add 10% for good measure in case of a cold winter. I'd rather overpay while I have the money as opposed to underpay and get dumped with a big bill. When the computer tries to alter the DD amount, I get on the phone and ask them to reset the amount to what I want it to be.

* I set a date (1st April) to call my supplier and ask for a refund of what they owe me; they've always complied and it's nice to have an extra £30 or so that month. If they suggest that the DD be recalculated, I firmly tell them no.

People that have problems with the DD system are usually those that don't monitor usage etc. Five minutes a month is all I spend on it, and I've never been landed with a big bill, or had my DD changed up or down by any silly amount.