Co-operative Energy - Jam Tomorrow - Perhaps !

MikeM

Just received a cheery email from Ben Reid (OBE) Chief Executive of Mid Counties Co-operative who kindly informs me:

"Over the past few weeks there has been considerable publicity from the ‘Big 6’ energy companies around price reduction. In light of this, we are delighted to be able to confirm that your Pioneer Variable tariff from Co-operative Energy remains cheaper than the comparable ‘Big 6’ standard variable tariffs.

We have seen reductions in the ‘Big 6’ gas prices of between 1.3% and 5.2% but these merely moved them down closer to the prices already offered by Co-operative Energy.

We work continually to ensure fair prices and protection from price shocks, which has allowed Co-operative Energy customers to enjoy a lower price throughout last year, and this winter, and it is our aim to ensure you continue to benefit from our fair pricing policy in the future."

So no price reductions and I am supposed to feel happy about it ? What marketing person thought that this was a good idea ?

bsod

why are you on that tariff with that company when there are other cheaper ones available, switching will probably save you around £250-300pa

even the coop has a cheaper tariff, standard tariffs are never the cheapest.

pioneer not including vat
Unit rate: 13.090p per kWh , Standing charge: £69.52/yr
Unit rate: 4.210p per kWh , Standing charge: £69.52/yr

coop fair and square may 2016 not including vat
Unit rate: 10.370p per kWh Standing charge: £71.43/yr
Unit rate: 3.140p per kWh , Standing charge: £71.43/yr

MikeM

After many years with British Gas and Southern Electric I 'switched' about 9 months ago. Co-op Energy was NOT the cheapest but I sort of felt 'kindly' towards them !

The actual 'switch' generally went well but they did manage to put me on wrong tariff and then took months to actually take the direct debit I had set up ! Sorting it out took many phone calls - at my expense - but dealing with them was 'tolerable'.

However the very first written communication I had from them (in the summer) was notifying me of a price rise - not a great start. To receive the recent 'self congratulatory' email from Ben Reid (OBE - no less) was just a further aggravation and the 'goodwill' I felt towards the Co-op is slowly slipping away.

Can I be bothered to go through this all over again to switch to another supplier - I think not - my life is too short !

bsod

you dont even have to switch supplier, coop do a much cheaper tariff as outlined above, you are paying through the nose by sticking to standard variable tariffs

It's an 0800 number free from landlines, but I think their cheapest tariff is online only switching

pays to do a full market comparison first though

MikeM

Thanks BSOD for alerting me to the 'fair and square' tariff. I will investigate !

Nada666

MikeM wrote: »

So no price reductions and I am supposed to feel happy about it ? What marketing person thought that this was a good idea ?

The sort of person who sells products to the sort of person who buys products from companies branded with 'co-operative' in their labels?

MikeM

Nada666 wrote: »

The sort of person who sells products to the sort of person who buys products from companies branded with 'co-operative' in their labels?

Ha ! So gullible people like me who thought that the Co-op was still run by a bunch of ultra-ethical anti-capitalist hippys.

No - wrong company - that would be those 'cool' people at Ecotricity.