MSE News: Scottish Power cuts bills by £54

joe134

Consumerist wrote: »

I doesn't matter that your current tariff is not listed. There is little point, anyway, in comparing your future energy costs with a tariff that will not be available to you any more.

What is important to you is getting the best tariff that will be available to you. Use any tariff you like as your "current" tariff because it won't change the estimated annual costs of the tariffs listed by a single penny. Disregard any "savings" claimed by the comparison site and just compare the annual costs of those listed.

Hi C, there is no savings to be made, my bill is in fact going to nearly double according to my usage , and that,s not going on a long fix, which will cost more.
As all suppliers have upped their prices, I may as well stay put till March, and get another 3 months cheaper fuel from SP and hope another rise doesn,t occur in between then, BUT, some of the best fixed ones now, may disappear. Catch 22.
I have changed in the past and it,s no fun, it,s like chasing your tail.
I fixed once, and the price dropped.
Doubt that will happen again:rotfl:

Consumerist

joe134 wrote: »

Hi C, there is no savings to be made . . .

That, Joe, is pretty much the same for all of us, unfortunately.

NittyGritty

its always the case sadly, when your nearing/coming to the end of ur tariff, every new tariff is yet another price hike, so no matter which one you go for, you will be in for a considerable rise in the annual cost which ever you choose to go for be it fixed/cheap variable etc

joe134

Consumerist wrote: »

That, Joe, is pretty much the same for all of us, unfortunately.

when the big boys only hve 4 tariffs each, the comparison sites won,t be much good to anyone, as it won,t be worth changing , there won,t be a gnats whisker between them, and that,s supposed to be competition.
after you,ve changed for the first time, it,s not worth the hassle I have found, same with other utilities.
they call the shots, I,ve already got my long johns on , so, it,s a balaclava next.:beer:
why is it fatalists always look both ways before crossing a road;;;;

Consumerist

joe134 wrote: »

when the big boys only hve 4 tariffs each, the comparison sites won,t be much good to anyone, as it won,t be worth changing , there won,t be a gnats whisker between them, and that,s supposed to be competition. . .

Strangely, economic theory tells us that in a perfectly competitive market, all prices will be the same.

Perhaps consumers' focus will change to customer service. It remains to [be] seen whether the big six will care about that until they start losing customers in significant numbers. It's a bit like moving bank accounts - you can make it as easy as you like but customers will not switch. We are our own worst enemy.

joe134

Consumerist wrote: »

Strangely, economic theory tells us that in a perfectly competitive market, all prices will be the same.

Perhaps consumers' focus will change to customer service. It remains to [be] seen whether the big six will care about that until they start losing customers in significant numbers. It's a bit like moving bank accounts - you can make it as easy as you like but customers will not switch. We are our own worst enemy.

I change banks all the time, but still retain my main one as a hub.
There will never be a choice really , because, the big 6 have too much of a hold, and, the Gov. really are not in a position to take them on. OVO et.al will always be small fry, because, the big boys own the generating side of energy as well, so they are in a win win situation.
That,s the way of the world I,m afraid.

lisa110rry

Many apologies if I've posted this in the wrong place but I can't find a more suitable location.

No £4.50 a week reduction in this household (how much do I wish there were?).

We've received a letter from Scottish Power today informing us that we will be taken off "Online Fresh Start" which was apparently the most economical tariff as we were on what's known as a social tariff. This is because my husband's serious heart condition means that he is always cold and so our central heating and gas fire are pretty much on all the time, all year round almost. (We have modern double glazing and cavity wall insulation.)

Rather than a £4.50 a week reduction we have been advised that we are likely to see an annual increase of £204 for electricity and £243 for gas.

The government's warm home scheme does not pertain to us, depite the fact my husband receives higher rate Disability Living Alowance as we receive no benefits whatsoever (DLA being an allowance, not a benefit).

Time for a letter to my MP, not that it will help. Time also to use the MSE cost comparison site, though I worry that changing will just be a "frying pan - fire" exercise.

So, to recap, the green levies lifted, and a government warm home initiative but I will be paying so much more...

joe134

,

lisa110rry wrote: »

Many apologies if I've posted this in the wrong place but I can't find a more suitable location.

No £4.50 a week reduction in this household (how much do I wish there were?).

We've received a letter from Scottish Power today informing us that we will be taken off "Online Fresh Start" which was apparently the most economical tariff as we were on what's known as a social tariff. This is because my husband's serious heart condition means that he is always cold and so our central heating and gas fire are pretty much on all the time, all year round almost. (We have modern double glazing and cavity wall insulation.)

Rather than a £4.50 a week reduction we have been advised that we are likely to see an annual increase of £204 for electricity and £243 for gas.

The government's warm home scheme does not pertain to us, depite the fact my husband receives higher rate Disability Living Alowance as we receive no benefits whatsoever (DLA being an allowance, not a benefit).

Time for a letter to my MP, not that it will help. Time also to use the MSE cost comparison site, though I worry that changing will just be a "frying pan - fire" exercise.

So, to recap, the green levies lifted, and a government warm home initiative but I will be paying so much more...

Hi Lisa, I,ve just had the same letter yesterday, and my tariff is changing to standard, with an increase of £200+ for dual fuel.
I,ve done my homework,and it is out of the Frying pan situation,;;
according to uswitch, mse, et.al. Scottish Power are still one of the best for a short fix, 2015 feb v3, so we don,t have to go through the rigmarole of changing.
BUT;;;(there,s always one),
As it,s a fix and SP are reducing our bills by £54 ( supposedly), when should we fix?? before 31st Jan, or after, if still available??
We have until 28th Feb on old tariff,Fresh Start.
£54 rebate is supposed to apply on 31st Jan
In my case, a saving of £145 from new standard tariff and fixed V3 will put us back to slightly more than when on Freshstart, so I will stay put.
BUT, will I/You get the £54 rebate on the 2015 Feb V3 fix??
Staying on their Standard Tariff is a NONO.
Either stay and change tariff or move.
I,m not moving to save £50 with all the hassle, I,ve done it several times, and this thread proves what can go wrong.
Better the devil you know.Best of Luck,I,ve tried ringing as others have, SP are proving hard work at present.

joe134

joe134 wrote: »

,Hi Lisa, I,ve just had the same letter yesterday, and my tariff is changing to standard, with an increase of £200+ for dual fuel.
I,ve done my homework,and it is out of the Frying pan situation,;;
according to uswitch, mse, et.al. Scottish Power are still one of the best for a short fix, 2015 feb v3, so we don,t have to go through the rigmarole of changing.
BUT;;;(there,s always one),
As it,s a fix and SP are reducing our bills by £54 ( supposedly), when should we fix?? before 31st Jan, or after, if still available??
We have until 28th Feb on old tariff,Fresh Start.
£54 rebate is supposed to apply on 31st Jan
In my case, a saving of £145 from new standard tariff and fixed V3 will put us back to slightly more than when on Freshstart, so I will stay put.
BUT, will I/You get the £54 rebate on the 2015 Feb V3 fix??
Staying on their Standard Tariff is a NONO.
Either stay and change tariff or move.
I,m not moving to save £50 with all the hassle, I,ve done it several times, and this thread proves what can go wrong.
Better the devil you know.Best of Luck,I,ve tried ringing as others have, SP are proving hard work at present.

UPDATE;
Rang them , arranged a call back. They did so, on the dot,40 mins as arranged, decided to take 12 months fix, feb, v3, tempted at 2016 @ £180 per annum more, but saving £145 against standard tarriff with v3, sorted in 5 minutes, no problems.
£54 included in the fix as it stands.

lisa110rry

joe134 wrote: »

UPDATE;
Rang them , arranged a call back. They did so, on the dot,40 mins as arranged, decided to take 12 months fix, feb, v3, tempted at 2016 @ £180 per annum more, but saving £145 against standard tarriff with v3, sorted in 5 minutes, no problems.
£54 included in the fix as it stands.

Thank you for your messages. I've tried the MSE rate checker thingie and it appears we can save £224 per year on N-power. I've also written a letter to SP and sent a copy to our MP. I think I still have a short time to decide.