MSE collective switch

MSE_Dan_L

ThePirates wrote: »

I took the deal and got my first email from British Gas today.

They quote the same usage figures as I input into the tool giving an annual usage of around £750.

To me this equates to a DD of £63 a month but British Gas want £100, whats going on?

Hi Pirates

This has been discussed elsewhere on the forum. Take a look at my post here for more.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5406900

We agree this is confusing and are asking BG to change its emails. BG has told us the £100 figure is purely illustrative and not a reflection of your actual payment amount.

MSE_Dan_L

roddydogs wrote: »

But Ive only just switched to OVO via CEC, how many times a year does Martin expect us to switch?

We built Cheap Energy Club to constantly monitor your energy tariff. Energy suppliers constantly launch new tariffs, plus prices can rise and fall so it isn’t unusual for you to receive a savings alert email a few months after switching.

How often you switch depends on what kind of a MoneySaver you are. Some people like the thrill of knowing they’re always on the very cheapest tariff, others are content to know they’re not hugely overpaying. If you want to receive fewer alerts, consider setting your trigger figure higher. To do this, simply login to your Energy Club Account and go to the monitoring information section.

MSE_Dan_L

skintus_mcgintus wrote: »

Thanks both. But the npower one is £71 cheaper for me, in greater London, and has just £40 exit fees (BG is £60!!) and lasts an extra month. Maybe the BG deal is being pushed too hard, given that average figures can mask big differences.

Thanks for the feedback. We do try to make this clear on the site and this is why Cheap Energy Club always (even for collectives) provides you with a full market comparison to you choose the best option for you.

footyguy

skintus_mcgintus wrote: »

Thanks both. But the npower one is £71 cheaper for me, in greater London, and has just £40 exit fees (BG is £60!!) and lasts an extra month. Maybe the BG deal is being pushed too hard, given that average figures can mask big differences.

The only way to get the BG tariff is to first do a comparison (as it must be applied for via the comparison site) ... so it should be evident what is the best deal for each user.

MSE do stress everyone should consult a comparison site (can't blame them for pushing their own especially as the BG collective tariff is only available through theirs, but they do list 6-8 alternative comparison sites all of which provide cashback if you go via the special MSE links) to find the best deal for them.

footyguy

roddydogs wrote: »

But Ive only just switched to OVO via CEC, how many times a year does Martin expect us to switch?

I don't think it's based on time, but rather on savings possible.

You can set your own limit in the CEC as to what annual saving must be achieved to be notified

skintus_mcgintus

Well, to give them credit, it was Energy Club that highlighted the cheaper Npower offer, so I'm not complaining about it.

But if they want a catchy MSE mailout headline about £345 saving for the British Gas fix, then it's inevitable that some people will simply switch to BG without checking properly...

footyguy wrote: »

The only way to get the BG tariff is to first do a comparison (as it must be applied for via the comparison site) ... so it should be evident what is the best deal for each user.

MSE do stress everyone should consult a comparison site (can't blame them for pushing their own especially as the BG collective tariff is only available through theirs, but they do list 6-8 alternative comparison sites all of which provide cashback if you go via the special MSE links) to find the best deal for them.

footyguy

skintus_mcgintus wrote: »

Well, to give them credit, it was Energy Club that highlighted the cheaper Npower offer, so I'm not complaining about it.

But if they want a catchy MSE mailout headline about £345 saving for the British Gas fix, then it's inevitable that some people will simply switch to BG without checking properly...

To be fair those who don't check probably will save about £345 a year on average as they will probably be the ones languishing on a suppliers expensive standard variable tariff.

I hope no one that is previously signed up the the CEC will see that type of saving.

Check single fuel tariffs too, as the CEC doesn't do that for you in their alert service, and you'll probably be able to save a bit more

wearside_2

As you know last years Big Switch iSave Fixed v46 March (The Big Deal Collective Switch) with First Utility is ending on 31 March. After the results of this years Big Switch to British Gas, for comparison purposes I have looked at the Unit Cost for the first time and see that I have been charged exactly the same for Night Units (Economy 7) as I have for Day Units 11.083p per kWh. I have also been charged a Daily Standing charge of 13.52p.

The Cheap Energy Club prices for Electricity state that the Unit Cost is 10.29p and 7.301p for Daytime and Economy 7 respectively. In addition the Daily Standing charge is stated to be 11.844p per day. The Gas prices I have been charged are the same as quoted on the Cheap Energy Club.

Due to the discrepancy I telephoned First Utility last night to query this. The operator said that he did not know, and went to talk to a manager. When he returned, he said that he too had no idea and therefore could not help me.

What if anything should I do next?

Scrounger

wearside wrote: »

Due to the discrepancy I telephoned First Utility last night to query this. The operator said that he did not know, and went to talk to a manager. When he returned, he said that he too had no idea and therefore could not help me.

What if anything should I do next?

I would raise a complaint.
Make sure that you mention all the stress and anxiety this has caused you. :beer:

Scrounger

wearside_2

Scrounger wrote: »

I would raise a complaint.
Make sure that you mention all the stress and anxiety this has caused you. :beer:

Scrounger

I have raised a complaint with First Utility:mad: I await their response with interest.