When to change supplier

skint98

Hi I have been with Scottish power past few years and currently on the fixed price january 2016 tariff. As it's coming to an end I have been comparing prices and it looks like I could save quite a bit by moving suppliers. I've never changed suppliers before so I'm a bit unsure of the process. If I signed up with someone else today would I incurr a charge from Scottish power - should I wait until the end of this month before I move? Also how easy is the actual process of moving? is it just a matter of signing up with the new company and providing Scottish power with final meter readings? I usually just plod along with what I have and I'm a bit clueless so any advice would be greatly appreciated 😀

System

Hi. Switching suppliers is very easy. You can switch today without penalty. Sign up for the MSE Cheap Energy Club; enter your details and your annual usage in kWHs (not £s) for both gas and electricity, and you can run the comparison.

At the moment, choosing separate suppliers for gas and electricity will give you the cheapest deal. Apply to,switch and the new supplier/s manage all aspects of the switch. They will send out welcome packs and tell you the date/s when the switch/es go through. All you need to do is supply the new supplier/s with actual meter readings.

I switched to GBEnergy for electricity and Zog for gas in December. Both switches have taken place and I am just waiting for my old supplier to issue a final bill. Despite what you might read on these forums, switching is easy and I switched suppliers 4 times last year to get a better deal. I just run a comparison once a month.

backfoot

Use a Comparison Website entering your annual consumption for gas and electricity.

Don't be afraid to move as it simply is a matter of clicking on the best deal. You may want to take into account exit fees on any contract as they can diminish your prospects of finding a better deal if prices drop further.

Some Suppliers's let you tariff hop even if you are on a fixed priced contract. Scottish Power let you do this so you have effectively been paying more than you could have done. Conveniently, they don't let you know this.:( Eon do let you know, but for me they are too expensive in the first place.

I recently moved away from Scottish Power as they are having horrendous problems with their new billing system which affected my account. As a result, I have ended up with energy costs which are now 7% lower than Scottish Power's current best offer.:j

Good luck.Hope this helps.

skint98

Thanks for your reply. I've only looked at dual fuel so will have a look at doing it separately to compare. I can't believe how much money I can save just by changing providers! Can I ask if you move regularly does that mean you don't go with fixed tariffs or do fixed tariffs also give the option to move before the end?

backfoot

skint98 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. I've only looked at dual fuel so will have a look at doing it separately to compare. I can't believe how much money I can save just by changing providers! Can I ask if you move regularly does that mean you don't go with fixed tariffs or do fixed tariffs also give the option to move before the end?

I have chosen currently to go with separate gas and electrcity suppliers. Neither provider has exit fees so I am free to move should better offers become available.

It's not wrong to accept an exit fee if the saving is very good but it something I factor in.

In a price falling market, flexibility is better imho.

skint98

Just noticed your reply backfoot. Thanks. I have been looking at fixed tariffs as I thought it would be better to secure a good deal but it makes sense to be able to move when better tariffs become available but had never really occurred to me. I'm really glad I posted on here. Thanks for the advice 😃

System

Zog Saturn 12 and GBEnergy Premium Saved - neither tariff has any exit fees. The 'downside' is no Cashback for switching to these tariffs. You have to do your sums to find the deal that suits you.

AnotherJoe

Any complications switching from a dual fuel to seperate ?

System

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Any complications switching from a dual fuel to seperate ?

None whatsoever as far as switching is concerned. It just means that you have to keep an eye on two suppliers rather than one going forward.