Fixed Price Energy - That Isn't Fixed????

Gigantisaurus

I had been on a scottish power online fixed price energy offer which ran out a couple of weeks ago.I signed up for a new online fixed price energy offer thinking this would be sensible before all the imminent price increases.Today i received a letter from Scottish Power telling me they were putting up my prices? what gives surely fixed price is fixed price.Done a bit of reading and found this statement in a sky news story "Ofgem said new rules were now in force meaning energy suppliers were banned from increasing prices on fixed-term tariffs over the course of a contract and banned from automatically rolling householders onto another fixed-term offer when their current one ended." So which is it can the power companies still increase my prices even when i signed up for fixed price?

Nada666

Check the exact name of your new tariff - it is likely to be only a discount off a variable standard rather than a fixed price tariff.

You selected the tariff so there is no automation involved.

Gigantisaurus

@Nada666 - I was on a fixed price energy offer which was due to run out 31st Oct.I signed up for a new fixed price energy offer "Fixed Price Energy November 2014" on the 09/10/13 I checked again and it states in the t+c that prices are guaranteed to remain the same until 31st october 2014.Today i received a letter telling me about my prices increasing,i have logged into my account and the homepage says "ScottishPower has announced a price increase which is effective on 6th December 2013.We would like to reassure you that your prices and discounts are unaffected." I have contacted scottish power to find out which it is.I thought the energy companies were meant to be making things clearer? grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

alleycat`

Suspect you got the letter in error.

It might well have been batched up as you would have been impacted as your old tariff was about to run out.

Snail mail has a tendency to do that

Gigantisaurus

@alleycat - lets hope so,i'm sick of lining the pockets of energy companies.I have been capping my prices for the last three years so thought i had everything under control,will wait and see what sp come back with

amtrakuk

I signed upto nPower about a month or so ago to their energy online 14 tariff. A few days ago I got a letter saying they are putting up my electric by 15%! Today I phoned up nPower and explained I have only just switched to them and feel I have been cheated. I asked if I was "locked in", I was told they are wavering exit fees until the 1st December. Needless to say I switched straight away and turns out a small independent supplier works out about £150 a year cheaper. I am quite suprised by the saving as I'm usually keen on switching on a regular basis.

It might be worth contacting your supplier to see if you are able to switch without an exit fee even if you think you might be locked-in.

scottishminnie

Gigantisaurus wrote: »

@Nada666 - I was on a fixed price energy offer which was due to run out 31st Oct.I signed up for a new fixed price energy offer "Fixed Price Energy November 2014" on the 09/10/13 I checked again and it states in the t+c that prices are guaranteed to remain the same until 31st october 2014.Today i received a letter telling me about my prices increasing,i have logged into my account and the homepage says "ScottishPower has announced a price increase which is effective on 6th December 2013.We would like to reassure you that your prices and discounts are unaffected." I have contacted scottish power to find out which it is.I thought the energy companies were meant to be making things clearer? grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I'm in the same boat - signed up for the Nov 2014 deal on October 11th and have the email confirmation. Called today when I got the letter and was told that I may have missed the cut off as my previous deal expired on 31st October 2013. Spent best part of 5 minutes trying to get the numpty who had taken the call to grasp that:
A - I had taken action well before the 31st October and
B- I had confirmation of a fixed price deal to November 2014

my question was simple - what the hell will I be paying? The response was she couldn't tell me. In sheer temper I hung up but I'll be back on to them tomorrow. I wouldn't have believed it possible but they actually made BT look competent compared to these idiots.

Froglet

I am in the same boat too.Seems every day someone else posts on here about that stupid letter that just makes them look totally incompetent,but does make us worry .

My account only changed to show the new Nov 2014 tariff a couple of days ago.I input my readings on the last day of October to get the bill made up at the old prices.It used to be instant.I am still waiting.My account shows i am in credit to the tune of 4 months payment.

How on earth did you get through to them? There is always well over an hours wait when i try.

matelodave

I got the same letter - but I read all the words on both sides of the paper and if I remember correctly (I've chucked it now) it said that if you've already changed tariff or changed supplier then to to ignore the letter - which I've done.

Why is everyone getting so heated up about it - it's a standard letter. I'd agree that it shows a degree of incompetence and waste of money but it's nothing to have sleepless nights about

DiscoPants_2

We would like to reassure you that your prices and discounts are unaffected

I'd say this bit says it all, you haven't read it properly

imho

DiscoPants dont know who you are with but my SP letter doesnt mention "We would like to reassure you that your prices and discounts are unaffected!
Mine says Dating for this mailing was generated 21st Oct 2013. If you have RECENTLY moved to a new SP product or different supplier please disregard this letter.
I called them months ago to change to a fixed deal.