What would it take for you to trust your energy firm?

undaunted

Cardew wrote: »

If companies couldn't prevent customers, who have built up a large debt, from leaving, some would just switch from company to company leaving a trail of debts behind.


The money owing would be virtually impossible to recover and other customers would indirectly pay it in even higher bills.

This argument is often trotted out but who says so. Most other industries manage to cover & recover debts without the facility & there is nothing to stop energy suppliers exercising similar credit control.

Ofgem stated they believed it would make little difference in the long term & proposed to remove it years ago.

Additionally I believe they deliberately make it difficult for all (hence the slow & seemingly cumbersome processes that put people off switching) at the moment not just those who are in debt to them. Presumably others agree or they wouldn't be proposing to make the process far faster.

undaunted

historian wrote: »

My present supplier has agreed it owes me money but "issues" (??) prevent them letting me have it. Give it to me Npower - I might consider staying with you - or perhaps not.

Entirley true - they have "issues" with giving you what you are entitled to & just want to hang onto your money as long as possible. As for staying with them :eek: Why?

Cardew

undaunted wrote: »

This argument is often trotted out but who says so. Most other industries manage to cover & recover debts without the facility & there is nothing to stop energy suppliers exercising similar credit control.

If other 'industries' are offering credit facilities - that could be many £hundreds/thousands - then they will do a credit check and could refuse to accept a customer.


So give the receiving company the choice of accepting or rejecting the customer after consulting his present energy company(s).


I repeat, it is virtually impossible to recover money owing on utility bills from someone who doesn't want to pay. It costs to take legal action against a customer, an award is usually at a derisory amount of £1 a week or so(if the defendant pleads poverty) and if they stop paying - legal proceedings start again.


At least the mandatory fitting of pre-pay meters gives the losing company some leverage.

undaunted

You've now moved onto a different topic (PPM) and in doing so surely contradicted your own argument.

They can fit PPM long before they have thousands of debt

They can do credit cheques, ask for deposits (encouraging those who can't pay them to go elsewhere)

They can go to Court for the debt (just like any other co. in the country has to!)

Energy suppliers are not a special case, they've just been lucky enough to get legislation through that others haven't & since found it convenient to be treated as such over the years.

Whilst I wouldn't be surprised to find it slanted we must wait and see. Until then I say bring on the CMA review & see whether the market can be made truly competitive at last

Cardew

undaunted wrote: »

Until then I say bring on the CMA review & see whether the market can be made truly competitive at last

We have exactly the same electricity and gas, delivered to properties by the same wires and pipes; and that accounts for the majority of firm's expenses.


It is difficult therefore to see how the market can be really competitive.


When the market was privatised there were some 30+ firms jumped on the Bandwagon and found it was not the pot of gold they envisaged. Most of these firms got out simply because they found the market too competitive. If major firms like Virgin and Sainsburys couldn't make a decent profit, where does that leave us?

undercover_peon

For me Ofgem cannot be trusted and is part of the problem.

The only thing I can think of that would make me trust them at all is petrol forecourt style pricing.

It probably wouldn't hurt if they avoided off shoring, miss selling and using rubbish and unsuitable systems but hey one step at a time.