Small Supplier v Recognised Supplier

[Deleted User]

Sainsburys Energy is a pseudonym for British Gas being 100% run by BG except for the leaflets by the tills in Sainsburys. BG is the most reliable supplier, Sainsburys Energy have some of the cheapest tariffs so to me its a sensible option. Ukpower.co.uk say that Sainsburys Energys one year direct debit fix, dual fuel is their most popular supplier to switch to. I ve had no probs at all, switch went through quickly, website works fine. so just like BG, you can phone up Sainsburys and get an answer within a few minutes unlike the likes of First Utility who prob won t ever answer.
From Oct 2015 OFGEM have ordered the big 6 using " white label " brands to grab market share, have to display these much cheaper tariffs alongside their own

TCA

sacsquacco wrote: »

Sainsburys Energy is a pseudonym for British Gas being 100% run by BG except for the leaflets by the tills in Sainsburys. BG is the most reliable supplier, Sainsburys Energy have some of the cheapest tariffs so to me its a sensible option.

Thanks for the info sacsquacco. Your experience is maybe contrary to the MSE Cheap Energy Club comments on Sainsbury's below:

"In recent months, Energy Club users have reported major issues with Sainsbury's, particularly around switching and customer service. However, in our last energy poll, Sainsbury's wasn't the worst performer, scoring 37% great and 28% poor."

That aside, Ovo Energy is still marginally cheaper, but more importantly, is the current supplier for my new house, so given a majority of good reports, is still currently frontrunner to retain the business.

[Deleted User]

TCA wrote: »

Thanks for the info sacsquacco. Your experience is maybe contrary to the MSE Cheap Energy Club comments on Sainsbury's below:

"In recent months, Energy Club users have reported major issues with Sainsbury's, particularly around switching and customer service. However, in our last energy poll, Sainsbury's wasn't the worst performer, scoring 37% great and 28% poor."

That aside, Ovo Energy is still marginally cheaper, but more importantly, is the current supplier for my new house, so given a majority of good reports, is still currently frontrunner to retain the business.

I m surprised that Sainsburys get low marks as they are 100% BG who are the most reliable. According to a BG boss they operate Sainsburys Energy as a "no frills " tariff , so maybe its deliberate to mess a lot up so as not to damage the premium service too much. Don t forget the Nectar points with Sainsburys which may just pip Ovo..but then they have the excellent 3% interest on credits which has got me very interested and they may well be my next switch when my year ends

footyguy

TCA wrote: »

I'm currently in rented accommodation and use Scottish Power (dual fuel fixed online tariff) but will be moving within 2 months when my property purchase completes. No real issues with Scottish Power. My new property is currently supplied by Ovo Energy (don't know if there's a Smart Meter), so trying to decide who to use when I move.

I signed up to the MSE Cheap Energy Club and I could save up to £87 per year (compared to my Scottish Power tariff) by using one of the smaller suppliers, but having never heard of most of them, I'd be very wary.

The top is a variable tariff from GB Energy Supply which would save that £87. The next 3 are fixed tariffs from GnERGY, Green Star and Extra Energy, which would only save £3 per month.

A fixed tariff from Ovo (Better Energy All Online) is next saving £2 per month and there are others from Sainsbury, Flow Energy and First Utility around the same savings. Then it's Scottish Power.

I'm inclined not to go with any of the newer smaller suppliers for sake of saving a few quid but as the new house already has Ovo as the supplier, I'm thinking that might just be the easiest choice, although I know nothing about them other than what I've read on here, which is both good and bad.

Reading so many disaster stories on this board, is changing supplier worth the hassle or better to keep Ovo as the existing supplier (for now)?

Any opinions?

There are feedback threads for I think all the suppliers on here. Have a read. Whilst most comments on any of these feedback threads are not good, compare the comments to those made for Scottish Power and that will be a good baseline.

Also most comparison sites offer some sort of supplier rating so look at that too.

If, after reading all the feedback comments, you feel all the suppliers are as bad as each other, then why not choose the lowest price one?

Finally, do consider separate suppliers as this often creates even greater savings presently.


Edit: If you are looking at white label suppliers, then also look at feedback for the underlying supplier
e.g. for Ebico that would be SSE
for Sainsburys that would be British Gas
etc.

It's interesting how the feedback threads often vary tremendously between the white label and the underlying supplier, when they are one and the same and so should be similar, so conclude from that what you will and choose the cheapest suppliers for you (unless you already have your own reason not to)

TCA

footyguy wrote: »

If, after reading all the feedback comments, you feel all the suppliers are as bad as each other, then why not choose the lowest price one?

Finally, do consider separate suppliers as this often creates even greater savings presently.

Thanks for the reply. I read all the feedback threads before I posted my question. From doing that I won't be selecting the one with the lowest price and as the others are much of a muchness from a financial perspective, I'm still inclined to stay with Ovo, who already supply the property, as that prevents any potential problems from switching.

footyguy

TCA wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I read all the feedback threads before I posted my question. From doing that I won't be selecting the one with the lowest price and as the others are much of a muchness from a financial perspective, I'm still inclined to stay with Ovo, who already supply the property, as that prevents any potential problems from switching.

I find that hard to believe.

May I ask what anticipated annual consumption figures are you using, and what is your supply region (or first part of your postcode)

victor2

I would also suggest taking the easy option and sticking with OVO. Just contact them and get onto their best fixed tariff. I don't think they have exit penalties on the current ones. I was with them for a year before switching away to a cheaper tariff with one of the big 6. Did everything online, got the 3% interest on my credit balance - only about £1 a month, but better than paying £1 extra...
As Hengus already said, you do pay a month ahead for your usage, where many take the first DD after your contract has started, so up to a month in arrears really. I had no trouble getting my credit balance back when I left and would go back if a suitably attractive deal comes up.

Edit:
Don't believe the "savings" Cheap Energy Club (and others) say you will make. Work it out for yourself as best you can. Either way it's going to be tricky as you won't have any personal usage history for the new property.
There are multiple ways to get cashback if you do decide to switch.

TCA

footyguy wrote: »

I find that hard to believe.

May I ask what anticipated annual consumption figures are you using, and what is your supply region (or first part of your postcode)

Potential savings are as detailed in my opening post.

Supply area code: 18
Gas usage: 7438 kWh per year
Electric usage: 1288 kWh per year

TCA

victor2 wrote: »

Edit:
Don't believe the "savings" Cheap Energy Club (and others) say you will make. Work it out for yourself as best you can. Either way it's going to be tricky as you won't have any personal usage history for the new property. There are multiple ways to get cashback if you do decide to switch.

Fair point. I did calculate myself with unit prices for Ovo v Scottish Power and the savings (based on current usage) weren't quite as good as the Cheap Energy Club calculated, but were even better by the time I included the online discounts for both.

Hadn't really considered cashback as I didn't think I'd be termed as a switcher unless I actually opened an account with someone at the new house to begin with.

victor2

TCA wrote: »

Hadn't really considered cashback as I didn't think I'd be termed as a switcher unless I actually opened an account with someone at the new house to begin with.

You'll almost certainly be on a "deemed" account with OVO at the new place. Contact them with your opening readings and contact details on day one, and find out what tariff you are on. Then you'll be a "switcher" if you leave...