Collective Energy Switch Feb 2nd

Lewie

Hi all, I've put this in the British Gas forum but that appears to be dormant so Ill try here as well.
Can someone who is already with BG tell me how their online payment system works.
Is it the same as Sainsbury's Energy as they use BG?
Example, when I was with Scottish Power I found their online system excellent.
I put in my meter readings, it told me how much I'd used and instantly told me my balance be it debit or credit.
I did the collective switch last year to Sainsbury's Energy and after initial hassle with my first meter readings all was fine.
Some months later I noticed that I was in 'credit' by a hundred or so pounds, then two or three hundred pounds until I was over six hundred pounds in 'credit'.
I knew there was no way this could be so I rang and asked them what was going on.
They told me they had changed from monthly updates to six monthly updates.
I told them this was unacceptable as there was no pint me paying monthly only for them to keep my money for six months.
Sounds like a wheeze to earn interest?
It could also confuse many people as it looks like you've been paying way too much.
Anyhow, I am now looking at the next collective switch but I wont be doing it if they have the same system as Sainsbury's energy.
Thanks

onzey

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Quick update all. Things have changed and we've extended the end date for our Fixed 1 Year version 19 tariff until Monday, 8 February 16.
Malc

Have things changed again?

E.ON website says V19 will no longer be available after 9 February 2016.

footyguy

Lewie wrote: »

Hi all, I've put this in the British Gas forum but that appears to be dormant so Ill try here as well.
Can someone who is already with BG tell me how their online payment system works.
Is it the same as Sainsbury's Energy as they use BG?
Example, when I was with Scottish Power I found their online system excellent.
I put in my meter readings, it told me how much I'd used and instantly told me my balance be it debit or credit.
I did the collective switch last year to Sainsbury's Energy and after initial hassle with my first meter readings all was fine.
Some months later I noticed that I was in 'credit' by a hundred or so pounds, then two or three hundred pounds until I was over six hundred pounds in 'credit'.
I knew there was no way this could be so I rang and asked them what was going on.
They told me they had changed from monthly updates to six monthly updates.
I told them this was unacceptable as there was no pint me paying monthly only for them to keep my money for six months.
Sounds like a wheeze to earn interest?
It could also confuse many people as it looks like you've been paying way too much.
Anyhow, I am now looking at the next collective switch but I wont be doing it if they have the same system as Sainsbury's energy.
Thanks

If you are actually using the energy, then there is no effective loan to the supplier.

According to BG, they will bill you quarterly (and it may well be that the date differs from one fuel to another)
http://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-advice/Bills-payments/Your-bill/Understanding-your-bill/Where-is-my-bill.html

It's not difficult if you take monthly readings to work out yourself what the cost of your consumption actually is.

But be aware that BG charge 1/12 of your anticipated annual cost every month, so there will probably be times your account will be in credit and others it will be in debit based on your own calculated cost of consumption.

But if you trully think the level of DD is set wrong, then the MSE article should help you
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits

I guess it depends on your priorities.
For me, getting the cheapest deal is king.
But perhaps to you having an enjoyable interactive service, no matter what the extra cost, is more important.
You pays your money and takes your choice.

footyguy

onzey wrote: »

Have things changed again?

E.ON website says V19 will no longer be available after 9 February 2016.

Yes. See your other thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5406259
(post#5 onwards)

Daytona

I didn't subscribe in time, so can't see any of the rates offered.

Lewie

footyguy wrote: »

If you are actually using the energy, then there is no effective loan to the supplier.

I did wonder hence the ? but then I think what is the reason for changing from a clear up to date format to a confusing how much have I used and owe format?

It wasn't even as straight forward as I explained, it was very here there and everywhere.

footyguy wrote: »

It's not difficult if you take monthly readings to work out yourself what the cost of your consumption actually is.

I agree, however I can't understand why one supplier, Scottish Power, can have such a clear and easy to understand format and another supplier have something that looks such a mess.

footyguy wrote: »

But if you trully think the level of DD is set wrong,

No, I've never thought that, I thought there was something wrong with their system as it had previously calculated it monthly (ish) and I hadn't been informed of the change.

footyguy wrote: »

For me, getting the cheapest deal is king.
But perhaps to you having an enjoyable interactive service, no matter what the extra cost, is more important.

I have never gone with the cheapest just because it's the cheapest, I like good service as well and if the cheapest has good service then that's a bonus.
I like a happy medium.
Sometimes it costs more in time and effort chasing a poor service provider than you can save watching the pennies

footyguy

Lewie wrote: »

...
I agree, however I can't understand why one supplier, Scottish Power, can have such a clear and easy to understand format and another supplier have something that looks such a mess....

Well I use 2 different suppliers

One which is for gas (Zog), you will struggle to find any bad reviews over, yet they don't actually have any online account facility (except the possibility to input your own meter reading) ... yet it's still a paperless account and I get a bill/statemnent every month.

The other for electricity is all managed online, and for me it is a nightmare as, for example, they decide whether or not you can reply to something they have written (e.g. in response to a query you asked).
You only option if they don't pre-approve the option of a reply is to effectively start a new thread/subject/complaint.
Also I only get a bill/statement every quarter (and oit takes them almost another month to get that out)

I guess it's just that some suppliers concentrate on their prime responsibity (i.e to sell you their gas or electricity) whilst others spend their time & your money developing an online experience instead (and still fail)

We all bought gas & electricity a long time before the internet existed in its current state, and we all survived back then ok.
But as you obviously want a good online experience, I suggest you do some research into the supplier that has invested heavily to give you the experience you want ... although as you say, you are then happy to pay for it.
For me, cheap is good, as it's the same electricity or gas coming through the same pipes/wires.

footyguy

Daytona wrote: »

I didn't subscribe in time, so can't see any of the rates offered.

Never mind. What you don't know about you won't miss

But please do a comparison to see if you are currently on the best deal for you based on the tariffs you are eligible for

whoosh

Hi - does anybody (e.g. Malc from E-ON) know the unit rates and standing charge for Eon's MSE Collective Feb 2016 Online? (assume paperless billing)

Annoyingly these aren't anywhere on the MSE Energy Club pages, and their website keeps falling over when I try to do the comparison page.

Thanks!

Daytona

footyguy wrote: »

Never mind. What you don't know about you won't miss

How patronising.

I am missing it, hence the request.