First Utility using bogus data?

JethroUK

Called first utility yesterday

We are currently paying them £65 month for both utilities on economy 7 tariff
Wondering whether it's cheaper to switch my FU account said
Annual forecast = £1500 ish
I could switch to single tariff for £1000 per year saving £500

Now just rudimentary maths suggests we are only *actually* paying £65 x 12 = £750 ish now

So anyway the advisor said that's because the projections were based on last year and we are actually using a lot less

Anyway after reflecting off the phone. I have actually been with FU paying £65 month for *9 months*

So unless they are going to give me £750 bill n my last month they are using records way out of date

The irony is that FU have the actual information of my last 9 months activity (not some third party they have to guesstimate) so why are they not using these figures for my annual forecast?
Obviously it makes nonsense of any benefits they "claim" we will get by switching tariff
Is it even legal to claim savings based on information they *know* is incorrect?

System

Making a comparison using £s is a meaningless exercise. You need to calculate your annual estimated consumption in kWhs for gas and electricity. This information is easily calculated from old bills; an estimate should be on your latest bill and you could ask FU for the AQ figure that it is using for gas and the EAC figure that it is using for electricity.

I assume that you have 3 months left to run on your contract. The aim is to have a zero balance at this point. What is your latest credit/debit balance based on an actual meter reading with date?

JethroUK

Hengus you are missing the point

Whether you measure consumption in £, dinnars , watts or straight bananas

FU are the people holding alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the data
So why are they not using it, IS my question?

They are using information they KNOW is bogus to SELL tarrifs

The morality if not the legality of operating like needs to be challenged

Hengus wrote: »

Making a comparison using £s is a meaningless exercise. You need to calculate your annual estimated consumption in kWhs for gas and electricity. This information is easily calculated from old bills; an estimate should be on your latest bill and you could ask FU for the AQ figure that it is using for gas and the EAC figure that it is using for electricity.

I assume that you have 3 months left to run on your contract. The aim is to have a zero balance at this point. What is your latest credit/debit balance based on an actual meter reading with date?

System

There is such a thing as libel and a user name on a forum is no protection. If you have the evidence to support your claim that a supplier is engaged in irregular, and potentially illegal, practices, then make a report to:

consumeraffairs@ofgem.gov.uk

Swipe

Their estimates on the change tariff guides are way off. All I can advise is to work each one out for yourself. It makes a mockery of them when they say you will save money when the unit rate is more expensive than your current one.

JethroUK

FYI - The first rule of libel is it is *has* to be based upon *a lie*
So just in case there is any reproach to my comment here it is again:

The figure FU have used for my "predicted annual usage" and to sell me other tariffis is *twice* what it actual is, ans is based upon data waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy out of date despite being in full possession of *the* accurate up to date figures for my last 10 months usage

= They are either too stupid to resolve high school maths, OR
*know full well* they are using out of date figures to sell tarrifs

Hengus wrote: »

There is such a thing as libel and a user name on a forum is no protection. If you have the evidence to support your claim that a supplier is engaged in irregular, and potentially illegal, practices, then make a report to:

consumeraffairs@ofgem.gov.uk

JethroUK

Actually going to wait until March when my existing contract runs out and FU are full possession of 100% of my annual power usage and ask them for a comparison based upon *facts*

Swipe wrote: »

Their estimates on the change tariff guides are way off. All I can advise is to work each one out for yourself. It makes a mockery of them when they say you will save money when the unit rate is more expensive than your current one.

matelodave

I find discussions like this a bit strange. I am with FU and I can get onto my online account and view all my meter readings and my monthly statements which I can check on line and download and save as a PDF on my computer at home.

I don't need any guesses, forecasts, estimates or even voodoo. I send them a reading, they use it on the statement. They work out how much it cost and how much I v'e paid and I get a balance - either I owe them some or they owe me.

If I don't send them a meter reading they will estimate a reading.

I avoid estimates by send a reading in - it's really easy. If I'm away for any reason, I can still send in a reading but using my own estimate rather than theirs as it's a lot closer to my actual consumption.

I can also work out exactly to the unit how much I've used from one month to the next or one year to the next - you take a previous actual meter reading away from your present one - what's difficult?. I can do the same to see how much I've paid by multiplying the DD amount by the number of months I've been paying it - again not exactly higher maths.

System

Clearly, with the chance of getting flamed for a second time, the OP has not heard of the OFGEM-mandated 'Inflated Savings Methodology' which requires suppliers to base comparisons - not on past price - but on the assumption that at the end of a fixed tariff, the customer will default to the supplier's standard variable tariff. With two months to go on a fixed tariff, then the calculation for assessing the cost for the next 12 months is 2 months on the current tariff and 10 months on the standard variable tariff. This methodology results in theoretically 'inflated' costs' for those on fixed tariffs with less than 12 months to run.

Use a comparison site such as MSE CEC or theenergyshop.com to see both the OFGEM prescribed method of calculation or the more accurate 'this is what you will pay for 12 months on your present contract compared to 'this is what you will pay on this tariff for the coming 12 months if you switch today'

https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/54da24ebed915d514400000b/The_Energy_Shop_Submission.pdf

Read page 16:

Quote Of those that offer comparative quotes, four (4) follow the “inflated” methodology; Co- operative energy, extraenergy, first:utility and Green Star Energy. Unquote