E.ON price hike!

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

FOREVER21 wrote: »

I presume you would pay the extra costs for v20 for the short period until you leave them without exit fees.

But have you found a better deal than v19 which for me with the exception of the exit fee, is the best deal around at the moment.

I can not understand what are the motives. behind the E-on v20 prices as stated on this and other threads the v20 has resulted in price increases , me included for most E-on customers.

That's right FOREVER21. To avoid an exit fee, customers will need to be on the higher prices of our Fixed 1 Year version 20 tariff whilst a change of supplier goes through (usually completes in about two and half weeks). Version 20 doesn't have an exit fee.

As above, customers thinking of going on to version 20 and then changing supplier need to do the tariff switch first. As soon as the account starts to move to another provider, it'll be locked down and a tariff switch will no longer be possible. If the change of supplier is done first, they'll be stuck on their current tariff and, if this is version 19, they'll pick up an exit fee.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

jrawle wrote: »

Yes, v20 is a massive increase. I guess the changes are due to the widely publicised row about the E.ON/Age UK tariff scandal that was all over the media again yesterday.

However, I do think consumer sites such as MSE are to blame to some extent for the loss of some energy deals. MSE used to be the site that was for savvy people to find sneaky deals to save themselves money. Now, however, it's turned into a do-gooder site that tries to be a general consumer champion. So they will attack the energy companies for having too many confusing tariffs which mean it's hard for elderly people to find the best deal, the result being the withdrawal of the best deals so that those of us who are tech/money savvy lose out.

Hi jrawle

As Helena has said in another thread, the newspaper article about our Age UK tariffs and the eventual release of version 20 of our Fixed 1 Year tariff weren't connected. Except, that is, in as far as the increased amount of phone calls into our Contact Centres was concerned.

This activity increased to such an extent that many of our customers weren't able to talk to us about version 19 before the originally proposed time for its withdrawal from sale at midnight on 4 February 16. This led to us extending the withdrawal date first to midnight on 8 February 16 and then again until midnight on 9 February 16. At this point, it was withdrawn from sale and replaced with version 20. These extensions gave more customers the opportunity to go on to version 19 than would otherwise have been the case had it been withdrawn at the originally proposed time.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

doubting_thomas wrote: »

Here in Oxfordshire, the price hike from v19 to v20 is about 33%. This comes out using E.ON's own example consumption figures (3100 KWh/yr electricity, 12500 KWh/yr gas). Given the media fuss about the alleged uncompetitiveness of the recently withdrawn Age UK tariff, I would think the media would love this. Somebody should draw the media's attention: MSE / Martin, you have contacts with the media - how about it?

Sorry doubting_thomas. Missed this second post from you. I've just commented to jrawle on a similar thing above (post 183).

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

brewerdave wrote: »

...similar for me but even better savings ...so now pondering should I move to v20 to lose the exit fees then use MSE/CEC to switch to BG collective deal ?? (potential savings of ~ £69 less extra costs of v20 plus £30 switching bonus) OR wait for the two collective deals due shortly ??? Decisions,decisions........:rotfl:

Totally understand your logic brewerdave. Have you seen my posts above to phillw (post 175) and doubting_thomas (post 180)? Just to let you know, where eligible, you can move between the tariffs we've available at any time without picking up an exit fee. This includes collective tariffs. These fees only apply if changing supplier and then if outside the Price Protection window (open 49 days before a fixed tariff ends until 20 days after).

You can certainly go from your current tariff to our Fixed 1 Year tariff version 20 and then change supplier. As version 20 doesn't have an exit fee, you'll avoid this but will need to be on the higher version 20 prices whilst the change of supplier goes through (usually takes about two and half weeks). This is because you'll need to switch tariff before starting a change of supplier. Once this starts, your account will be locked down until it completes and a tariff switch will no longer be possible. If the change of supplier is done first, you'll be stuck on your current tariff and, if it has one, pick up an exit fee. Provided you've registered with our website, tariff changes can be done online and take effect immediately.

Sorry if you know most of this brewerdave but hope some of it's of interest.

Malc

onzey

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

As version 20 doesn't have an exit fee, you'll avoid this but will need to be on the higher version 20 prices whilst the change of supplier goes through (usually takes about two and half weeks).

Malc

Is it worth adding that not only are the higher version 20 prices acting as a kind of exit fee, but a fee over which the customer has little control.

Worst case scenario, we have a spell of very cold weather and something gets messed up in the switching process (which may have nothing to do with E.ON).

A switch may usually take about two and a half weeks but if it does take longer, your only control of the 'exit fee' would be your energy usage.

According to the CEC: (from "How long does it take to switch energy supplier")
"The switch process can take up to 4- 6 weeks to complete, depending on the supplier, although some will now switch you more quickly in 17 days".

brewerdave

onzey wrote: »

Is it worth adding that not only are the higher version 20 prices acting as a kind of exit fee, but a fee over which the customer has little control.

Worst case scenario, we have a spell of very cold weather and something gets messed up in the switching process (which may have nothing to do with E.ON).

A switch may usually take about two and a half weeks but if it does take longer, your only control of the 'exit fee' would be your energy usage.

According to the CEC: (from "How long does it take to switch energy supplier")
"The switch process can take up to 4- 6 weeks to complete, depending on the supplier, although some will now switch you more quickly in 17 days".

...Spot on there onzey - just looked at my typical "Winter" usage and if I swap to V20 and get stuck on it for ~ 5 weeks then it'll almost wipe out the savings of switching to the BG deal -just leaving the CEC bonus as a gain.:(
Just one more variable to consider ....................

victor2

Tariff hopping is getting harder & harder, thanks in no small part to OFGEM's "simplification" of them.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

onzey wrote: »

Is it worth adding that not only are the higher version 20 prices acting as a kind of exit fee, but a fee over which the customer has little control.

Worst case scenario, we have a spell of very cold weather and something gets messed up in the switching process (which may have nothing to do with E.ON).

A switch may usually take about two and a half weeks but if it does take longer, your only control of the 'exit fee' would be your energy usage.

According to the CEC: (from "How long does it take to switch energy supplier")
"The switch process can take up to 4- 6 weeks to complete, depending on the supplier, although some will now switch you more quickly in 17 days".

Understand your concern onzey. We adopted faster switching about a year ago. We look to move accounts in about two and a half weeks. I believe most other suppliers have signed up to this as well although can't say for sure.

To achieve faster switching, information starts to pass between the two suppliers and certain third parties (regional distributor, meter operators etc) at the earliest opportunity. At the point data starts to transfer, accounts are locked down to make sure this happens as smoothly as possible. Making changes during these data transfers will cause an anomaly in the information being passed on and delay the switch.

In your worst case scenario, if the customer was joining us, we'll take over within the above time frame and have a set start date. Difficulties and delays do happen but, once sorted, the account will be back dated to the original start date. This is what we do but I can't speak for other providers. The new supplier controls the switch and, for accounts leaving us, each individual supplier may have a different method.

Thought I'd mention the Price Protection window too. This opens 49 days before fixed term contracts are coming to an end and stay open until 20 days after. Customers who tell us they're changing supplier during this time don't pick up an exit fee. They also continue on the more favourable prices until the account switches. Not much use to customers on our more recent tariffs, I know, but might be of interest to those on earlier versions of our fixed deals.

Sorry to be a bit vague onzey but can only speak from our point of view and not that of the other suppliers.

Malc

Patr100

What I don't understand is that we've just had 2 or 3 tariff changes in the last few weeks. The latest, V20 I do not think is cheaper than V19 ( do not have my gas with EON but an older cheaper low use Ebico rate) yet EDF and BH have just announced (small) cuts in gas rates.
Have wholesale gas prices for EON suddenly gone up again or is it just the lack of an exit fee of £30/60, that offsets the increase in rates compared to V19? Ie smoke and mirrors.

NittyGritty

to me the v20 tariff is a complete and utter waste of time, with the outrageous price increases ranging from £200+ to £300 a year more than the v19 for most.