Collective Energy Switch Feb 2nd

MSE_Dan_L

clivep wrote: »

It's a shame that the comparisons highlight the best dual fuel deal but don't draw your attention to a better saving from separate suppliers.

Hi CliveP

You're absolutely right that switching to separate suppliers can be cheaper - lots of comments made over the last few years about this on the forum.

We do allow you to do this on CEC - just filter the fuels on the results page to submit single fuel switches - we highlight this towards the top of the page by saying 'Switching to separate suppliers can be cheaper. Change the fuel type to check'

We're also working on plans to allow the results page to be a little more intuitive around this to make the process of comparing 2 x single tariffs vs a dual tariff easier. More on this later this year I hope.

amf

148KPT wrote: »

I phoned the Collective Switch number 0800 975 9712, and the switch had used an old email address when I had been a previous BG customer and not the email address I used for this switch. This was updated whilst I was on the phone and I was able to register on-line. Annoying that this happened but easy to resolve for me.

The e-mail addy they are writing to me at is OK. I tried again today - same result.

I phoned 08009759712 and explained the problem. The chap I spoke to told me that to register I needed a customer number, which I won't get until 21/2/16 when BG takes over my supply. He wasn't able to answer why BG had sent me an e-mail saying that my online account is "ready to go".

I asked him how I got my customer number on 21/2/16. He said that I should phone for it. When I started talking he clearly felt my displeasure and said that he could pass me through to the technical department, but there would be a wait. I agreed.

After a 10 minute wait I was told by the technical dept that I would need to await the welcome pack which would have my customer number, which would allow me to register. I asked about the welcome e-mail which confirmed that my switch was dual fuel but only gave a switch date for gas - what about the date for switch of electricity. I was told that the electricity switch had been cancelled and I'd need to phone the collective switch number to find out why.

So back to 08009759712. I told the lady what happened. She left me on hold for a while and came back to tell me that she didn't know why the electricity switch had been cancelled but she would put the order through again.

Total shambles....so much for enhanced customer support. I'm seriously thinking of cancelling but they suggest that the cancellation fees of £60 apply even during the cooling off period. Can they impose cancellation fees during the cooling off period?

nick_pike

I usually change to the collective (have done the last three), but this time the savings and the cash back ARE LESS than the exit fees when I switched to E-ONs new v19 tariff,. So anyone on the last collective will surely not save anything if they change to v19 like me. The fees used to be 10 GBP per fuel, but the crafty dodgers have increased them to 30 GBP per fuel. Surely this negates a lot of the potential swaps. Shouldn't the government control this? After all, they keep on about swapping to get the best deal.

Cardew

nick_pike wrote: »

I usually change to the collective (have done the last three), but this time the savings and the cash back ARE LESS than the exit fees when I switched to E-ONs new v19 tariff,. So anyone on the last collective will surely not save anything if they change to v19 like me. The fees used to be 10 GBP per fuel, but the crafty dodgers have increased them to 30 GBP per fuel. Surely this negates a lot of the potential swaps. Shouldn't the government control this? After all, they keep on about swapping to get the best deal.

Yes the Government should exercise some control on swapping in that there should be no cashback!


An industry has grown up where people are encouraged to swap just for cashback,(and commission for the comparison sites) and all customers pay in higher charges.

gt94sss2

nick_pike wrote: »

I usually change to the collective (have done the last three), but this time the savings and the cash back ARE LESS than the exit fees when I switched to E-ONs new v19 tariff,. So anyone on the last collective will surely not save anything if they change to v19 like me. The fees used to be 10 GBP per fuel, but the crafty dodgers have increased them to 30 GBP per fuel.

Changing from one Eon tariff (including to/from Eon collective tariffs) to another does not incur any fees.

If you are a dual fuel customer with Eon and the Eon electricity only collective tariff is cheaper than what you currently pay, you can switch your electricity over to that new tariff and leave your Gas on its existing Eon tariff (you will still benefit from the dual fuel discount)

If you really wanted to change to a different supplier, you could change to v.20 first and then submit your transfer request. This was discussed on these boards a few days ago. v.20 does not have any exit fees but you will be on this more expensive Eon tariff (vs. v19) until your switch goes through.

amf

amf wrote: »

Can they impose cancellation fees during the cooling off period?

To answer my own question - no they can't. A small time spent on google provided this answer.

I left BG over 10 years ago vowing never to return because of their continuous incompetence. I had grave doubts about going with the Collective Switch when I saw it was BG who won. In my case I see cancelling the switch as the only option....they cannot even get it right before the switch, so what are they going to be like after the switch?

As for the enhanced CS for the collective switch, to be fair they did answer the phone promptly when I called. Other than that, all I've got to say is.....enhanced CS my @rse!

clive764

Just a word of warning....I was/am an existing Green Star Energy customer and I am in the process of switching to the Energy Club's recommended 3 year fixed deal, again with Green Star. Things seem to be going smoothly apart from when I received confirmation of the switch through the post from Green Star, the "new" direct debit amount quoted was exactly the same as I am paying now despite the new tariff being cheaper. When I queried this with Green Star customer services I was told that the direct debit would remain the same, unless I asked for a recalculation. Which of course I did. I was told this was standard Green Star practice. They recalculated there and then, even though it took about 11 minutes of being on hold on the telephone. The new amount was just over £11 a month cheaper, not the £16 indicated by the Energy Club figures.
So just be aware of this "scam", not sure if it applies to any other suppliers.

amf

amf wrote: »

The e-mail addy they are writing to me at is OK. I tried again today - same result.

I phoned 08009759712 and explained the problem. The chap I spoke to told me that to register I needed a customer number, which I won't get until 21/2/16 when BG takes over my supply. He wasn't able to answer why BG had sent me an e-mail saying that my online account is "ready to go".

I asked him how I got my customer number on 21/2/16. He said that I should phone for it. When I started talking he clearly felt my displeasure and said that he could pass me through to the technical department, but there would be a wait. I agreed.

After a 10 minute wait I was told by the technical dept that I would need to await the welcome pack which would have my customer number, which would allow me to register. I asked about the welcome e-mail which confirmed that my switch was dual fuel but only gave a switch date for gas - what about the date for switch of electricity. I was told that the electricity switch had been cancelled and I'd need to phone the collective switch number to find out why.

So back to 08009759712. I told the lady what happened. She left me on hold for a while and came back to tell me that she didn't know why the electricity switch had been cancelled but she would put the order through again.

Total shambles....so much for enhanced customer support. I'm seriously thinking of cancelling but they suggest that the cancellation fees of £60 apply even during the cooling off period. Can they impose cancellation fees during the cooling off period?

Well I thought I'd give them one last chance so I phoned today and asked if they had now sorted out the electricity switch. After checking the system, the chap I spoke to said that their system showed nothing about electricity coming over to BG. He said that he would arrange for electricity to be switched. I told him I'd had exactly the same conversation a few days ago.

I decided that it wasn't worth the hassle so told him to cancel the switch. I've confirmed this by e-mail as I don't trust them to cancel on the strength of the phone call.

I really pity anyone who switches to these idiots

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

nick_pike wrote: »

I usually change to the collective (have done the last three), but this time the savings and the cash back ARE LESS than the exit fees when I switched to E-ONs new v19 tariff,. So anyone on the last collective will surely not save anything if they change to v19 like me. The fees used to be 10 GBP per fuel, but the crafty dodgers have increased them to 30 GBP per fuel. Surely this negates a lot of the potential swaps. Shouldn't the government control this? After all, they keep on about swapping to get the best deal.

Hi nick pike

Just to confirm what gt94sss2 says, exit 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).

As you're on our Fixed 1 Year version 19 tariff, the window won't apply yet but you can change to any of our other tariffs, including the collectives we're involved with, at any time without picking up an exit fee.

Version 19 has been withdrawn from sale and replaced with version 20. This doesn't have an exit fee. You can certainly do as gt94sss2v suggests and move from version 19 to 20 and then switch supplier. This way you'll avoid an exit fee. You'll need to do the tariff switch first though. 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, you'll be stuck on version 19 and pick up an exit fee.

A change of supplier usually takes about two and a half weeks to go through. During this time you'll be on the higher version 20 prices.

Hope this is of interest and thanks to gt94sss2 for their excellent advice.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

gt94sss2 wrote: »

Changing from one Eon tariff (including to/from Eon collective tariffs) to another does not incur any fees.

If you are a dual fuel customer with Eon and the Eon electricity only collective tariff is cheaper than what you currently pay, you can switch your electricity over to that new tariff and leave your Gas on its existing Eon tariff (you will still benefit from the dual fuel discount)

If you really wanted to change to a different supplier, you could change to v.20 first and then submit your transfer request. This was discussed on these boards a few days ago. v.20 does not have any exit fees but you will be on this more expensive Eon tariff (vs. v19) until your switch goes through.

As ever, excellent advice gt94sss2. Many thanks for posting this. I missed it the other day.

Malc