Was the MSE Collective Switch a sprat to catch a mackerel?

Ilikesaving

Before the MSE collective switch my supplier for gas & electricity was EDF with a monthly DD of £60.

I was encouraged to see what savings I could make by taking part in the MSE Collective Switch.

After supplying the required usage figures I was quoted £43.50 monthly DD if I went with E.ON.

Now I have sent my second meter reading to E.ON it has decided my monthly DD must be increased to £65.

I'm feeling annoyed that I was lead to believe the MSE collective switch would save me money when it has actually caused me to be in debt to E.ON

Have other MSE forumnists noticed this?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

£43.50 wasn't an all you can eat buffet - if you use more than that you'll end up paying more.

How did the unit rates and standing charges compare? Has your consumption increased?

footyguy

Ilikesaving wrote: »

Before the MSE collective switch my supplier for gas & electricity was EDF with a monthly DD of £60.

I was encouraged to see what savings I could make by taking part in the MSE Collective Switch.

After supplying the required usage figures I was quoted £43.50 monthly DD if I went with E.ON.

Now I have sent my second meter reading to E.ON it has decided my monthly DD must be increased to £65.

I'm feeling annoyed that I was lead to believe the MSE collective switch would save me money when it has actually caused me to be in debt to E.ON

Have other MSE forumnists noticed this?

The MSE Cheap Energy Club compares the annual cost, not the value of your monthly DD which would be meaningless.

So what has changed? The tariff or your usage?
I'll give you a clue, it's not the tariff.

System

Ilikesaving wrote: »

Before the MSE collective switch my supplier for gas & electricity was EDF with a monthly DD of £60.

I was encouraged to see what savings I could make by taking part in the MSE Collective Switch.

After supplying the required usage figures I was quoted £43.50 monthly DD if I went with E.ON.

Now I have sent my second meter reading to E.ON it has decided my monthly DD must be increased to £65.

I'm feeling annoyed that I was lead to believe the MSE collective switch would save me money when it has actually caused me to be in debt to E.ON

Have other MSE forumnists noticed this?

If you look at my thread of today about E.oN's DD calculations, I am also of the opinion that something is amiss with E.oN's re-calculation of DDs. In an energy company's defence, it has to take projected annual consumption figures (provided by customers) on trust, and the company needs to have some method of re-calculating monthly payments. That said, if asked, OFGEM requires energy companies to demonstrate how the new figure was calculated. As I can see from the DD Manager that I am looking at a possible 25% DD increase when I can show that my actual energy consumption is well below the projected figure, I have asked E.oN to show me their sums. I suggest that you do the same.

MSE_Dan_L

Thanks for your comments on this thread.

Just to clarify a few points:
- the rates (unit charge/standing charge) of the tariff are fixed for 12 months on this tariff
- but if your usage is higher than entered on your Cheap Energy Club at the time of switching, your supplier may need to increase your direct debit to cover your increased usage.
- it is quite natural for your usage to date on this tariff to be higher than your estimate, as naturally most people use more energy over the winter period. Some suppliers increase debits to avoid accounts going into debit, or to clear debits - but assuming your annual usage is in line with the original estimate, this shouldn't really be necessary as your lower summer usage should balance this out.

Ilikesaving

Thanks for your responses, particularly Hengus & Dan L.
I am a low usage customer as I live on my own & no one is at home during working hours.
I supplied the MSE collective switch with the annual usage figures direct from my EDF account for which I was paying £60 per month.
The MSE collective switch said E.ON would supply the same usage for £43.50 per month.
I'd be an idiot to ignore their offer.
Now six months in they have decided I must pay £65 per month as I am already in debt to them.
They are the experts in working out how much they can supply energy for.......not me.
I feel I have been duped by the collective switch & or E.ON

lstar337

Ilikesaving wrote: »

Thanks for your responses, particularly Hengus & Dan L.
I am a low usage customer as I live on my own & no one is at home during working hours.
I supplied the MSE collective switch with the annual usage figures direct from my EDF account for which I was paying £60 per month.
The MSE collective switch said E.ON would supply the same usage for £43.50 per month.
I'd be an idiot to ignore their offer.
Now six months in they have decided I must pay £65 per month as I am already in debt to them.
They are the experts in working out how much they can supply energy for.......not me.
I feel I have been duped by the collective switch & or E.ON

If there was a 'Use as much gas and electric as you like for £43.50 per month' tariff, we would all be on it.

As you have been told countless times in this thread, if you use more, you pay more.

Post the unit rates of the old tariff vs the new and somebody here can check it, but I expect you have simply used more energy.

Ilikesaving

You write as if I'm an idiot!
I am aware if I use more I PAY MORE.

Sam_Fallow

I also took part in the collective switch to Eon from EDF.

I'm guessing that Eon, having seen your consumption over the winter months (which will naturally be higher) are upping the DD to account for this. Now that summer is here (if the rumours are to be believed) then you will be paying over the odds for little consumption. By the end of the term, you will be in credit and the surplus money will be in Eon's account waiting to issue you with a rebate.

EDF did this with me during the years I was with them, you'd think the energy companies could see this and plan accordingly.

Remember the old days (before DD) when you got big bills in winter and smaller bills in summer? I miss them.

So far Eon haven't made any changes to my monthly charge but i'll be watching.

MSE_Dan_L

Ilikesaving wrote: »

Thanks for your responses, particularly Hengus & Dan L.
I am a low usage customer as I live on my own & no one is at home during working hours.
I supplied the MSE collective switch with the annual usage figures direct from my EDF account for which I was paying £60 per month.
The MSE collective switch said E.ON would supply the same usage for £43.50 per month.
I'd be an idiot to ignore their offer.
Now six months in they have decided I must pay £65 per month as I am already in debt to them.
They are the experts in working out how much they can supply energy for.......not me.
I feel I have been duped by the collective switch & or E.ON

You're welcome. We'd be happy to take a look at your details - if you drop a note through to collectiveswitch@moneysavingexpert.com, we'll check that there isn't anything unusual with the information used to work out your costs.

Thanks

Dan

Ilikesaving

Thanks Dan, I'll get the figures & emails together.
Regards
Mike