E-on energy tariffs - confused or what??!!

RBSM

I am not entirely sure who is the most confused, whether it is myself, or E-On getting their tariffs completely mixed up. During May 2014 my dual-fuel direct debit energy account was £120.00 in credit and a refund was issued by E-On.

During the month of June 2014 my monthly direct debit of £275.00 placed the account in credit yet again. On 4th July 2014 for the first time I received a text message from E-On informing me that my account was in a debit position and a £10.00 charge would be levied. After two emails and a lengthy telephone conversation, E-On finally admitted that the text was sent in error and that my account was in credit.

However, I then received a standard E-On Annual Review Statement dated 27th June 2014 informing me that my payment for energy will be subject to a 34% increase, an increase of £1,116.00 per annum! (a monthly direct debit increase from £275.00 to £368.00 per month). Having expressed my concern to such a large increase I was advised to speak to the Energy Efficiency Team to obtain a more competitive tariff and was told the cheapest, a 12 month fixed for £3,807 pa, which would give me a saving of £297.00 on my present energy plan. I queried with the Operator as to how it could be a £297.00 saving when in the letter I received states a yearly charge calculated at £3,952.87 which would represent only a £145.00 saving. After challenging this incorrect information with the Operator, I was then told that the figure I had been given was an old calculation given to me sometime ago. When I again challenged this and said the letter is only dated 10 days ago, the Operator then told me; "I am not sure where they got the figures from, it must be a different calculation"! I was then given a 'second cheapest price', which was in fact even more than my 34% increased price at £4,019 pa! Clearly, the highest tariff that I am supposed to be on called; 'Energy Plan' appears far cheaper than E-On's cheapest quotes given to me by the Energy Efficiency Team. When I went to school, the cheapest normally meant cheaper than the most expensive! Whilst I realise a fixed tariff can sometimes work out more expensive than variable tariffs, the cheapest variable tariffs were in fact more expensive than the new tariff I had been placed on, which in fact, was supposed to be E-On's most expensive tariff! ………………….. Confused yet?!!! It gets worse ……

I questioned why I needed to increase my monthly payment at all when at the end of my tariff contract which was in May 2014, and paying for the most costly new tariff in June 2014, a monthly direct debit of £275.00, had still placed me in a credit position. Clearly, if I am on a 34% higher tariff from May 2014, which is still creating a credit, then why is there a need to increase my payment at all? Whilst I again realise that winter usage is much higher than summer usage I challenge the excessively large increase to be inaccurate.

I explained to the Energy Efficiency Operator that I had found another supplier who could save me £949.00 on my same annual consumption, to which she seemed very surprised and questioned if I had correctly input both electricity and gas into the comparison schedule! (Presumably as opposed to only putting in one service supply)!! I then went on to explain that after research there were in fact 22 other notable companies who were cheaper than E-On. At this point, it was clearly futile to continue as E-On's cheapest tariffs were more expensive than the most expensive tariff which I was already on!

I was then informed about Martin Lewis and his new 'Cheap Energy Club' and after less than one minute of entering my information on to the site, I have switched to Scottish Power on a fixed term until September 2015 with a £30.00 cashback and a further £80.00 'Love 2 Shop' voucher and at the same time saving almost £1,000 per annum.

I bring all of this information to you, in light of the fact that E-On are behaving in a way as to turn loyal customers away whilst other companies are bending over backwards for the same business. Clearly 35 years of customer loyalty has proved precious little!

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

What is your annual consumption in KWh?

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Good afternoon RBSM and welcome to the forums.

First of all I'm pleased you've been able to find a tariff that suits you and saves you money, I'm just sorry it's not with us.

I'm also sorry as you do appear to have been given some rather confusing information from what you've said.

Can I ask what tariff you were on?

It may have been a specific tariff like the warm assist, this would be the reason for the big jump when moving on to one of the main stream products.

We only offer 4 tariffs, these can be seen on the website and you can also do a comparison this way, or as you've done via a comparison site.

I think maybe the advisor was asking if you'd put your actual usage in kWh in to the comparison site as apposed to monthly spend, as the monthly spend can give very inaccurate figures or savings.

I'm sorry you were messed about and given conflicting information.

As you've changed supplier, your new supplier will ask for your meter readings and send them to us to enable us to produce your final bill for you.

Thank you

Helena

Nada666

I do doubt Scottish Power offer a tariff that is £1,000 cheaper.

Check your usage in kWh, check what the quotes are based on, and check what single fuel deals with separate suppliers cost - at your seeming usage a dual fuel tariff is not likely to be cheapest.

matelodave

I'm confused that you were confused - it's not hard to read your own meter and check what you are paying and to use a comparison site to find the best deal. I'm just surprised that you've just found out that you've probably been overpaying by quite a lot for a long time. However you should still do your own sums just to make sure that you have got the deal you expected and in future put a bit more effort into checking bills and meter readings to make sure you don't get into the same situation.
I've given up trying to discuss it with energy company call-centres as most of them don't seem to have a clue

RBSM

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena wrote: »

Good afternoon RBSM and welcome to the forums.

First of all I'm pleased you've been able to find a tariff that suits you and saves you money, I'm just sorry it's not with us.

I'm also sorry as you do appear to have been given some rather confusing information from what you've said.

Can I ask what tariff you were on?

It may have been a specific tariff like the warm assist, this would be the reason for the big jump when moving on to one of the main stream products.

We only offer 4 tariffs, these can be seen on the website and you can also do a comparison this way, or as you've done via a comparison site.

I think maybe the advisor was asking if you'd put your actual usage in kWh in to the comparison site as apposed to monthly spend, as the monthly spend can give very inaccurate figures or savings.

I'm sorry you were messed about and given conflicting information.

As you've changed supplier, your new supplier will ask for your meter readings and send them to us to enable us to produce your final bill for you.

Thank you

Helena

Dear Helena


Thank you for your post you asked what tariff I was originally on with E-On and this was Price Protect May 2014. Many thanks.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

RBSM wrote: »

Dear Helena


Thank you for your post you asked what tariff I was originally on with E-On and this was Price Protect May 2014. Many thanks.

Thank you

This could also be adding to the increase, as you'd have protected your prices some time ago.

They have since increased whilst you've been on the tariff. So everything will be more expensive.

Thanks again

Helena