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First Utility Tariff Choice
Norman_Castle
Posts: 11,871 Forumite
Received an email from first utility who I recently started the process of moving to. I'm expected to now chose a tariff. I thought I already had. What happened to simple switching?
Theres about 30 choices. I've tried listing them on here but the list is so long it would need about 10 posts. Ridiculous
Theres about 30 choices. I've tried listing them on here but the list is so long it would need about 10 posts. Ridiculous
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Comments
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I thought they were only allowed to offer 4 ?0
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I thought they were only allowed to offer 4 ?
The 4 tariff rule along with a lot of RMR was removed in April
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/cma-provisional-remedies-removal-certain-rmr-simpler-choices-rulesIn its Provisional Decision on Remedies Report 1, the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) proposed a recommendation that Ofgem remove certain elements of the ‘simpler choices’ component of our Retail Market Review (RMR) rules (see Annex). In the light of this, we have received a number of queries regarding our approach to enforcing compliance with these rules. This letter addresses these queries.
The CMA proposes to recommend that Ofgem deprioritises taking enforcement action against any supplier that operates in breach of these licence conditions until they are removed....
...The CMA proposed to recommend Ofgem remove the conditions in the suppliers’ standard licences that ban:
complex tariffs (SLC 22A.3 (a) & (b))
having more than four core tariffs (SLC 22B.2 (a) and (b))
certain discounts (SLCs 22B.3-6 and 22B.24-28)
certain bundled products (SLCs 22B.9-16 and 22B.24-28)
certain reward points (SLCs 22B.17-23 and 22B.24-28)
tariffs exclusive to new/existing customers (SLC 22B.30-31).
We note that the CMA has not proposed to recommend that Ofgem remove all of the ‘simpler choices’ RMR rules. For example, there are no plans to remove:
the requirement for charges for supply activities to be incorporated within unit rates and/or a standing charge (SLC 22A.2)
the restrictions on fixed-term contracts (SLC 22C)
the restrictions on dead tariffs (SLC 22D).
Although First Utility still only have 4 tariffs, so I'm not sure what the OP is claiming.0 -
There are 89 choices! . The first few are below
Our tariffs available to you:
Tariff Charges First Variable- Our flexible tariff with no exit fees
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 5.00 16.538 27.50 2.993
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed March 2017 plus- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
- Save at over 6,500 restaurants across the UK with a free Gourmet Society Card - worth £69.95
- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of March 2017!
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 23.22 11.393 23.22 2.468
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed March 2018- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of March 2018!
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 16.28 11.091 16.28 3.012
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed March 2017 v2- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of March 2017!
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 20.51 11.158 20.51 2.361
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed March 2019 plus- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of March 2019
- Free Cosy home heating controller including professional installation worth up to £279!
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 17.41 15.182 17.35 3.297
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed March 2017 v3- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of March 2017!
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 20.51 11.158 20.51 2.361
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed March 2017 v4- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of March 2017!
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 15.47 11.411 15.48 2.424
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed March 2019 v2 plus- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of March 2019
- Free Cosy home heating controller including professional installation worth up to £279!
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 26.69 12.322 26.69 4.076
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed April 2017- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of April 2017!
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 15.47 11.411 15.48 2.4240 -
First Fixed May 2017 plus
- Save at over 6,500 restaurants across the UK with a free Gourmet Society Card - worth £69.95
- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of May 2017!
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 21.89 11.358 21.89 2.349
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed April 2017 v2- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of April 2017!
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 15.30 11.016 15.30 2.447
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed March 2019 v3 plus- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of March 2019
- Free Cosy home heating controller including professional installation worth up to £279!
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 18.50 15.182 18.44 3.297
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed April 2017 v3- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of April 2017!
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 15.30 11.016 15.30 2.447
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed March 2018 plus 120 Reward- £120 worth of vouchers to spend at Amazon, John Lewis, Argos and other leading retailers. These will be sent to you as £15 gift cards every three months so you can choose a different retailer each time.
- Plus! Fixed Energy Prices until the end of March 2018
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 19.16 13.422 19.22 2.877
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed March 2019 v4 plus- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of March 2019
- Free Cosy home heating controller including professional installation worth up to £279!
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 20.36 14.274 20.41 3.036
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed April 2017 v4- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of April 2017!
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 17.70 10.806 17.70 2.268
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed April 2017 v5- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of April 2017!
- Access to our market leading mobile app to save you time and hassle
- Receive £20 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 15.79 11.251 14.62 2.304
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed April 2017 v6- Putting you First: Online and App based customer services
- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of April 2017!
- Receive £30 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 16.16 11.216 14.96 2.291
tariff terms and conditions
First Fixed April 2019- Putting you First: Online and App based customer services
- Fix your Energy Prices until the end of April 2019
- Receive £30 in Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates when you introduce your friends
- Super fast switching to First Utility in two and a half weeks, rather than the industry standard five weeks
- Fixed Direct Debit as standard - spreads your annual bill into easy automatic monthly payments
- A fee may be charged if you leave before the tariff end date
- When your fixed rates expire, we’ll help to put you on the best tariff for you
Electricity Gas Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh Standing charge, pence per day Unit rate pence per kWh 11.46 14.700 11.72 2.990
I won't bore you with more.0 -
Most of those tariffs are closed you can't sign up for them so they are not a choice you can make
You have a choice of:
1) A short term fix with an online discount - First Fixed July 2017 ONLINE ONLY
2) A short term fix without an online discount -First Fixed July 2017 Non Online
3) A long term fix - First Fixed March 2018 v2
4) A variable tariff - First Variable0 -
I'm expected to choose one of them. If they are closed why send this vast list of 89 choices. There is no indication of which are open to me and which are closed.Most of those tariffs are closed you can't sign up for them.
My initial application was for a specific tariff which I've had to search my emails to find the cheap energy club email stating which tariff I was switching to.0 -
Sounds like an error with a system generated email. Contact First Utility and ask them about it.0
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With perfect timing first utility have just phoned me to check the address the gas meter is linked to. I asked about the list they had sent me and was told they were unsure why I had been sent these choices but it shouldn't of happened. The guy on the phone was helpful but I am hoping I haven't signed up for endless administrative problems.0
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This is ridiculous. Immediately after the phone call I received this email.
Thank you for choosing First Utility as your new energy supplier.
As part of the application process we credit check all new registrations. Unfortunately, this part of your application has been unsuccessful but don’t worry, there are a few options available.
There are a number of reasons why your credit reference may show as unsuccessful, the most common reasons are as follows:- We cannot confirm that you live at the property stated (you are not on the electoral roll)
- We do not have enough information about your previous address history
- A low credit score
If you are able to identify a likely cause from the list above, then please follow the instructions below to ensure your registration gets back on track.
Not on the electoral roll?
Our records may show that you are not registered on the electoral roll at your address. Once you have registered and the electoral roll has been updated, simply reapply on our website.
Insufficient address history?
One possible cause is that you have provided a previous address (due to the fact you have been at your current property for less than three years) but that you can’t be found on the electoral roll at that address. Please reapply ensuring you provide as much address history as possible with an address that you will have registered against on the electoral roll.
Alternatively you may not have provided three years address history. In this case, reapply to join First Utility providing additional addresses.
We understand that getting the electoral roll updated can sometimes be a lengthy process, so in these cases you can opt to pay the £300 First Utility security deposit instead and your registration can then progress to the next stage.
Low credit score?
Failure to pass the credit check due to a low credit score means that we require a £300 security deposit in order to progress your application.
First Utility will hold the security deposit for at least 6 months. If after this period of time you have paid your bills within 28 days of issue or if you pay by Direct Debit and have not missed any payments during this time, we will return your security deposit back to you. However, if you miss a payment during this 6 month period First Utility reserve the right to retain the security deposit until we are satisfied that your payment pattern is acceptable.
To pay the deposit, simply call us on 01926 320 700 selecting options 4 and then 2 and our Customer Onboarding team will be happy to take this payment from you over the phone and get your registration back on track. If you are not in a position to pay the security deposit you may request to have a prepayment meter installed.
This is ludicrous. I've lived at the same address for 26 years. Been on the electoral role for at least 20 years and never been in debt to an energy supplier or any one else. The £300 security deposit will cover my whole years gas and electricity supply.
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Inability to give a simple quotation online and then by phone, was the reason I chose to discount one company from my list of possibilities .
Both the website and the first call centre person I spoke to insisted that my below average gas consumption was too high for them to give a meaningful quotation !
The second call centre person, said the first person's stance was rubbish and worked out a quotation within pence of my own calculation,but after two out of three failures, I decided to avoid them in case poor customer service was the norm.0
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