Let us know what's important to you when choosing a tariff (POLL)

ic

Price
Term of fix (variable rates are always too expensive now)
Who its with (I avoid the small companies that seem to have no end of troubles)
Exit fees

I have no loyalty to anybody, and have not a care as to whether the company is carbon neutral, responsible, caring of its workers, green energy, etc. - seeing as that is all just marketing anyway.

Richie-from-the-Boro

A choice of 10 offered, price (1) alone should already have included the first 5 items, the next 5 - paper billing, paying by bankers order, and MSE are minority selective fashion choices.

techno12

I always just stick with my provider's current cheapest (Npower). They're normally pretty competitive in my area and usually in the top 5 'cheapest'.

Additionally, as I switch using a comparison site I get cashback (£20-30). Done it 5 or 6 times now over the years and will do again next March when my current fix ends.

Smodlet

What about their wretched exit fees, though, Techno, which are more than the cash you get for switching? This is my bugbear, that and late bills, utter confusion when switching via third party sites, having bills cancelled and re-issued with half the information missing so you (OK, I) spend hours (literally two) going through the last six months' worth trying to work out if I have been diddled, or not... Not, but the effort required! I thought bills were supposed to be clear. Imo, npower is going in the wrong direction and heading back to the land of smoke and mirrors.

fredandwilma

In terms of choosing a tariff?


1) Cost per Kwh

2) Cost of Standing Charges

3) Warm Home Discount available

4) Discounts / Higher Discounts for Duel Fuel, paperless billing etc (which can more than compensate for slightly cheaper tariffs)

5) Excellent Customer Service

6) Extras earned from reward schemes

7) Remaining with preferred energy company


I have to say in real terms, the availability of the Warm Home Discount is huge priority in terms of the extra £140 off my total energy bill per annum, so i'm unlikely to choose any company which doesn't participate, for that reason alone.



Warm Home Discount Scheme


1.6 How is it funded?
The funding comes from participating energy suppliers and it is assumed they then pass these costs on to all consumers through their energy bills.

10) The participating energy suppliers are any who have over 250,000 domestic customer accounts plus others who have elected to take part.

11) DECC has set out the list of participating suppliers. Suppliers’ obligations are in proportion to their share of the domestic energy market.

techno12

Smodlet wrote: »

What about their wretched exit fees, though, Techno, which are more than the cash you get for switching?

No exit fees at all, as I usually wait until the tariff is about to, or has expired.

Having said that, I did swap a year early from one tariff to another and they didn't charge me the £50 per fuel fee. Presumably because I was staying with them.

Smodlet

Who's Glenn?

t0rt0ise

I look at price first, then if the cheapest are very close in price, choose one that I like the look of. Always avoid British Gas and generally like to support new, small businesses. Also look at the exit fees to see if it's worth missing the cheapest to avoid that.


As some others have said I'd much prefer a simple per kilowatt fee price plus standing charge fee than to have some guessed annual usage figure given.

victor2

t0rt0ise wrote: »

...
As some others have said I'd much prefer a simple per kilowatt fee price plus standing charge fee than to have some guessed annual usage figure given.

But which is cheaper?
a) 10p per day standing charge plus 10p per kWh
b) 11p per day standing charge plus 9p per kWh

Obviously, it depends on your usage, which is better measured annually to cope with seasonal changes.

YorksClare

I get sick of companies hiking the DD and then being belligerent when I challenge it. One company three years ago had me £435 in credit but still refused to reduce the DD. I was so fed up I moved. The new supplier was okay - for a while. I have just moved again because they completely took the Mick with their sneaked-in DD hikes.

One thing I would like to be able to choose is the meter reader company. Everyone seems to use G4S, and they are a complete bunch of idiots. They NEVER put the card through my letter box because they are so THICK that they don't try the back door. They just wedge the damned thing in the front door - totally unsecure and on open view to all and sundry - and do not for one second consider where the hell all my other mail might conceivably be left. If I could choose the meter company, that would be perfect. I would choose someone whose staff have two brain cells to rub together.