MSE News: This little piggy went to the energy market, but is Oink any good? 16 September 2014 at 3:55PM in Energy 6 replies 1.3K views

Former_MSE_Paloma

Oink has today become the latest provider to join the energy market, but you can get cheaper tariffs elsewhere ...

Read the full story:

This little piggy went to the energy market, but is Oink any good?




Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply. If you aren’t sure how it all works, read our New to Forum? Intro Guide.

Nada666

As it is effectively a standard tariff it would make sense to compare it with those tariffs and the cash payment option (not fixed direct debit). In my region no other supplier comes close - fixes start at over £1200, variables at over £1300.

For those who want the variable monthly payment option it is a best of breed price, as far as I can see.

zerog

Do they accept credit cards, and more importantly do they accept variable payment by credit cards?

Bark01

"What is interesting, is the fact it will be insisting on monthly meter reads and will only charge you for what you use that month. Direct debits are the cause of many disgruntled people so it would be good to see other suppliers adopt this approach."

All of the big six offer DD whole amount monthly tariffs.

footyguy

Their national gas price is:
Standing charge: 25p/day
Unit charge: 3.99p/kWH

:eek:

I know that both Zog & Daligas will knock the pants off that no problem (both being cheaper for standing charge & unit price). Flow also did, but they have withdrawn their offering to new customers (again) with effect from 01 Sept 2014 ( - says they will be back again next year, probably after April I think)

Electric is more complicated. But for me the standing charge is 23.9% more expensive than I am currently paying & their unit rates about 35% more (normal rate) and 5% more (low rate).

So for me the answer is definitely NO!

I suggest, as you do, that people consult a comparison site to find the best deal for them. Check out particularly separate suppliers for gas & electricity because currently that often is cheaper than most dual fuel deals available.

footyguy

Nada666 wrote: »

As it is effectively a standard tariff it would make sense to compare it with those tariffs and the cash payment option (not fixed direct debit). ....

You sure about that? It says on their website this is a direct debit tariff.

We think energy should be easy. Which is why Oink only has one online, direct debit tariff.

It may not be fixed (I haven't checked) but unless you think prices are going to fall, why wouldn't you fix (if a fix is no more expensive).
Sometimes a supplier (e.g. EDF) will allow you to switch from their fixed deals with no penalty anyway.

Edit: Looks like it's not fixed (but is is a DD tariff)

In particular, I don't like this term:

4.3 Before or after the start of this Contract, we may
assess your circumstances (for example, we will
look at how likely we think you are able to pay our
charges). Depending on the result of our assessment,
we may charge different prices or ask you to pay in a
certain way, to pay a security deposit or to use certain
meter types (for example, a prepayment meter). We
will base our decision on information that we hold
about you or information you or a credit-reference
agency give us.

Seems to make a bit of a mockery of the previous quote from their front page.
Still, no exit fees, I suppose

MillicentBystander

Nice to see a new entrant copying Utility Warehouse's long held practice of offering their customers the chance to pay for exactly the fuel they have consumed each month (although Oink take it further and seem to insist on a monthly meter read, good luck with that! :eek:). Shame they seem to be more expensive though (and don't send paper bills even as an option).

Will be interesting to see how they go. But if I wa a betting man........