MSE News: Collective switching comes of age as 60,000 save £10 million

Former_MSE_Archna

canterswest wrote: »

Will there be a news story about The Big Deal collective switch which runs until 6pm, Friday 28th November? Will it be shown in CEC comparison?

We're just checking whether it's available to everyone or whether you needed to have pre-registered.

Hasher

Comparison Savings seem to use a standard tariff once your current contract expires.
I would like to be presented with an Energy Budget: Actual previous year v. next year on proposed tariff with same consumption.

Former_MSE_Archna

Hi redux,

How are you? A few thoughts below:

redux wrote: »

During the 10 days of this offer, the underlying E.on tariff was superseded as the cheapest deal available.

Despite this, the weekly MSE email repeated the claim that its switch offer was "cheaper than the cheapest" and "by far the cheapest".

This was amplified by another email the next day, which I was surprised to receive as I had previously unsubscribed.

The link in the email to the " winning tariffs" went to the editorial material about the previous comparison rather than a live update, though of course people could do a new comparison if they wished.

I'm not sure what you mean by this - we made sure there was no way people could get the tariff without doing a full (up to date) market comparison so they could see how it stacked up for them. As we said in all our editorial, it would come up cheapest for most but not all.

redux wrote: »

The comparison sites seem to be entitled to use an assumption that someone on a fixed deal expiring within 12 months will default to their supplier's standard tariff.

That is bound to exaggerate apparent monthly average savings, or when compared to taking a new fix with the current supplier, as some posts above already suggest.

Yes, we don't agree with this either but it is a daft, ill thought out ruling that Ofgem forces on third parties. We highlighted it in the FAQs for that reason - you can still see them on this page: https://cheapenergyclub.moneysavingexpert.com/collectiveswitch. We're building a work around at the moment and also raising concerns with Ofgem (which we have done a for a few months).
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redux wrote: »

I am unimpressed with the pressure sales and rather debatable ethics shown here, especially the extra only one and a bit days left email, and that is why I already deleted the CEC membership prior to receiving that no longer wanted email. I might be a bit resistant in future.

I don't agree with this, the reality is most people need reminding. Despite the savings available consumers are still reluctant to switch - we sent two emails to Cheap Energy Club users - who have asked to be updated on cheap tariffs - and still had people that emailed us to say they'd missed out.

redux wrote: »

In addition to all of this, I was looking on behalf of someone who has qualified for the Warm Home Discount with the current supplier, but would not with E.on as the terms in the so-called broader group vary between suppliers.

MSE didn't highlight any advice to check this, or how the discount is affected for switchers. What is more, yesterday I corrected the wrong advice of the E.on rep on this forum that people in the broader group would still receive the discount from the old supplier. She apologised.

We made sure that Warm Home Discount was part of our bid form that went out to suppliers. We did (and always do) have an information pop up on the results page explaining the difference between the core group and the wider group and that you're not guaranteed to get it if you switch but I'll have a look at making this clearer next time.

The CEC could of course be negotiating new deals even now with the suppliers that are now cheaper than its Collector's Edition tariff with E.on. It's already possible to save money by switching away ...

Former_MSE_Archna

Hasher wrote: »

Comparison Savings seem to use a standard tariff once your current contract expires.
I would like to be presented with an Energy Budget: Actual previous year v. next year on proposed tariff with same consumption.

We're working on it!

canterswest

MSE_Archna wrote: »

We're working on it!

When using Energy Helpline website comparison service, it says it's noticed if you have entered a fixed tariff ending within twelve months. It then invites you to click for more info. It explains about weighting from assuming you move to standard tariffs at the end of your current fix and gives the options to view savings with or without that weighting.


It is nothing to do with Ofgem stopping MSE doing similar. MSE is choosing not to give the option which is a mistake imo.

redux

MSE_Archna wrote: »

Yes we seemed to have sparked a price war - hurrah!

Is that truly due only to MSE, or have wholesale fuel prices been falling as well?

What do you say to several people's observations that claims to have saved people so much money are based on a hybrid of standard and old fixed tariffs, or that certain other suppliers are currently slightly cheaper?

Personally I think the latter point makes the repeated "cheaper than the cheapest" and "by far the cheapest" claims a little unfortunate.

Consumerist

canterswest wrote: »

. . . MSE is choosing not to give the option which is a mistake imo.

One of the reasons I don't currently use CEC.

I use other comparison sites and enter any standard tariff as my current tariff. I have always ignored any "savings" claimed and just compare the estimated annual costs - these will be the costs of one year on the selected tariffs with no assumptions being made regarding my current tariff.

This is the way I prefer it and, I agree, MSE should provide the option to ignore the current tariff and concentrate on only the costs involved in the tariff of interest.

redux

MSE_Archna wrote: »

I don't agree with this, the reality is most people need reminding. Despite the savings available consumers are still reluctant to switch - we sent two emails to Cheap Energy Club users - who have asked to be updated on cheap tariffs - and still had people that emailed us to say they'd missed out.

But they haven't necessarily missed out. A useful E.on tariff and some close including marginally better rivals are still there. This was not or should not be a once in a year opportunity, and the fact some readers seem to have viewed it like that might ask some questions about the presentation style.

MSE_Archna wrote: »

We made sure that Warm Home Discount was part of our bid form that went out to suppliers. We did (and always do) have an information pop up on the results page explaining the difference between the core group and the wider group and that you're not guaranteed to get it if you switch but I'll have a look at making this clearer next time.

I didn't see that. Maybe I wasn't looking closely enough, or did you actually mean a pop-up? Some people have their browser settings to suppress pop-ups.

And as my previous post pointed out, knowledge of the how the discount was affected for some switchers, those in the broader group, was sketchy even with that one company's staff member on here. I quoted 2 other supplier's websites, causing her to retract her erroneous suggestion that the old supplier would still pay the discount.

whippetman_2

Decided to switch using this deal.

Have now realised that eon are stopping taking warm home discount applications on 24 November.

As eon have to be providing electricity on date of application it is very unlikely Any new customers who have switched through this deal will get the discount.

I think I will be cancelling using my 14 day cooling off period and hope I get the discount from my current supplier.

Matt.

Heinz

This prompted me to use the tool to check my nPower December 2017 tariff and it appears their January 2016 tariff will save me a fair bit. As there're no exit fees, might as well go fo it.