MSE News: MoneySavingExpert.com launches the 10 day big winter switch event

Patr100

flyingflea wrote: »

Don't know if this has been mentioned but this site claims to have the cheapest energy tariff in the UK, even cheaper than Sainsbury's Energy Discount Fix Feb 2016. The deal is from First Utility and is called iSave Fixed v46 March (The Big Deal Collective Switch):

https://bigdealswitch.com/

They show up in MSE Energy club listings with a warning.

Warning! We've had reports from our users that they've had difficulty contacting First Utility (either by phone or email) over recent months. First Utility has confirmed that complaints have increased and has said it is investing £20 million in improving its customer services. It's important you’re aware of this and factor it into your decision on whether this is the right firm to switch to.

flyingflea

Patr100 wrote: »

They show up in MSE Energy club listings with a warning.

First Utility shows up but not that tariff (iSave Fixed v46 March (The Big Deal Collective Switch)

Librarylottie

Why am I getting 2 separate direct debit figures on my Big Winter Switch to Sainsbury's Energy when I applied for Dual Fuel? Also - can anyone tell me if there is a special phone number to query this with Sainsbury which is exclusive to MSE Collective Switch - I'm sure I read it somewhere but can't find it now. I have taken meter readings today for both Gas and Electricity and would like to have a bit more info about this before I phone in the readings.

Many thanks

gilly_dc

My annual estimated Gas bill was £105.

My monthly Direct Debit amount for gas is £76 a month...

Not sure what's going on there.

MSE_Dan_L

Librarylottie wrote: »

can anyone tell me if there is a special phone number to query this with Sainsbury which is exclusive to MSE Collective Switch - I'm sure I read it somewhere but can't find it now. I have taken meter readings today for both Gas and Electricity and would like to have a bit more info about this before I phone in the readings.

Many thanks

Hi there - here are the details which you're looking for - Sainsbury’s Energy (12mth fix). Call 0800 294 0193 or email msecollectiveswitch@sainsburysenergy.com

To see the full information page, just go to this link mse.me/msecollective

I hope that helps.

MSE_Dan_L

gilly_dc wrote: »

My annual estimated Gas bill was £105.

My monthly Direct Debit amount for gas is £76 a month...

Not sure what's going on there.

Hi there

£105p/yr really does sound unusually low, even for a small property.

You might want to check how Sainsbury's have calculated your DD here to make sure there hasn't been an error here (details in my post above).

I hope it can help you with this.

Librarylottie

MSE_Dan_L wrote: »

Hi there - here are the details which you're looking for - Sainsbury’s Energy (12mth fix). Call 0800 294 0193 or email msecollectiveswitch@sainsburysenergy.com

To see the full information page, just go to this link mse.me/msecollective

I hope that helps.

Thanks Dan - yes it does help. I have given my meter readings on to the automated phone so will wait to see what comes of it - meanwhile I shall make a point of following up and making a note of the both phone and email and the link.
I note that on my original letter from Sainsbury it says it takes sometime to be able to set up an online account - which I prefer.

LiverpoolsNo9

Librarylottie wrote: »

Why am I getting 2 separate direct debit figures on my Big Winter Switch to Sainsbury's Energy when I applied for Dual Fuel? Also - can anyone tell me if there is a special phone number to query this with Sainsbury which is exclusive to MSE Collective Switch - I'm sure I read it somewhere but can't find it now. I have taken meter readings today for both Gas and Electricity and would like to have a bit more info about this before I phone in the readings.

Many thanks

If its anything like my experience with E-On you will have to request that the two fuels be merged under one account number, then you will be fine from there. Hopefully that helps.

amsquared

In the process of switching to Sainsburys through the Cheap Energy Club. I've tried three times to submit initial meter readings and each time I get emails asking me to try again in 24 hours - I've tried calling them and there is a 30 minute delay to speak to somebody.

Have we ended up with a cheap price from Sainsburys and bad customer service from British Gas. This could tarnish the Sainsburys brand image.

I've tweeted and sent a Facebook message to Sainsburys complaining about this.

What assurances on service were include in the negotiated deal?

I've also received separate letters about separate direct debits for gas and electricity I understood this was a dual fuel account so why are there separate direct debits?

Service Vs Cost - we need to get the right balance on any deals - Cheaper is not always the best option if it then costs me time and frustration to fix things that go wrong.

MSE_Dan_L

amsquared wrote: »

In the process of switching to Sainsburys through the Cheap Energy Club. I've tried three times to submit initial meter readings and each time I get emails asking me to try again in 24 hours - I've tried calling them and there is a 30 minute delay to speak to somebody.

Before the Big Winter Switch Event II took place, Sainsbury’s re-organised its call centre to provide more agents available to take calls in advance of the switches. Despite this, it has told us that calls into it are at unprecedented levels and unfortunately call waiting times are much longer than it’d normally expect (it normally aims to answer calls in under a minute). Although it did plan for the extra calls from Cheap Energy Club users, the recent Competitions and Markets Authority announcement and government switching campaigns have resulted in many more calls than predicted.

We’ve flagged the issue to Sainsbury’s and its senior management team are looking at how to improve the service being provided. In the meantime, if you need to get in touch with Sainsbury’s, but don’t have the time to wait on the phone, we’ve set up a special mailbox at Sainsbury’s for Cheap Energy Club users. If you email ‘msecollectiveswitch@sainsburysenergy.com’ you should get an update within a couple of days.

In terms of providing your opening meter readings, we understand that the communication from Sainsbury’s could have been clearer. Unfortunately it isn’t actually possible to provide your opening meter readings via your online account – instead these have to be given over the phone. We’ve also raised that Sainsbury’s needs to make this clearer, both on the initial communications and on the ‘error message email’ it sends if your meter reads are rejected.

However, there is an automated line to do this (so you won’t have to wait in a queue). The number you need to call is 0800 107 4 985. You’ll need your meter point reference numbers when calling – these should be on your letter from Sainsbury’s, but if you can’t find it (or haven’t received it), don’t worry – these numbers don’t change when you move suppliers, so will be the same as on any previous energy bills which you have. The electricity number (MPAN) has 13 digits, no letters and might be called your supply number, your gas number (MPRN) has 6-10 digits, no letters and might be referred to as your M number.

I hope this helps