MSE News: Scottish Power set to unveil tariff offering dual fuel by the day

WestonDave

Not sure the days concept and buying ahead need to be linked in this way unless (which of course it is) its another price obfuscation exercise designed to bamboozle people into buying something that isn't such a great deal. Sure there has to be something in it in terms of lack of credit issues with people paying up front but with interest rates at rock bottom its not going to benefit SP much beyond that. Its not even that clever because its not for example feeding upcoming weather forecasts into the equation - its just a dumb "you used this much energy last March therefore we'll forecast the same for this year" set up.


It'll be interesting to see what the take up is - if I had to bet, I'd guess this will sink without trace in 6 months or be the source of endless complaints when people's three months purchase doesn't actually last them three months.


Spotted the wheeze here - its not going to be available on comparison websites and you won't obviously see the unit rate so you're just going to have to rely on SP when they say the rates are competitive. Hmmm, did I come down in the last shower of rain?

Cardew

scottishpower_company_representative wrote: »

Hi Cardew,

We believe days are the way forward and have designed this to be one of the fairest and hopefully simplest to understand tariffs on the market. There are no standing charges or exit fees so all you pay is a simple unit price multiplied by your forecasted usage. Customers are telling us they struggle to relate traditional units to a time period of how long this will last so we believe by displaying everything in days it will be simpler to understand.

You can watch the video here to find out a bit more about how it works and see the app in action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6yBBDVRpMk

Thanks,

Gordon

Let me see if I have got this right.

This 'daily tariff' is designed for those customers who 'struggle' to understand conventional gas/electricity tariff billing.

However to operate the tariff you need to be on the internet, have a 'smart phone', be able to download the app, and then operate the app.

My granny has just mastered using a push button home phone, so I guess to get the daily tariff, the above is a natural progression;)

P.S.
If you supply a free IPhone 7 and suitable package, I expect you will get a lot of applications.

VT82

WestonDave wrote: »

It'll be interesting to see what the take up is - if I had to bet, I'd guess this will sink without trace in 6 months or be the source of endless complaints when people's three months purchase doesn't actually last them three months.

Definitely this. However much you think your marketing and sales process will explain the concept, it is fundamentally misleading by design and shouldn't have been given the green light.

dancingfrankie56

Due to poor customer service and many broken promises over 4 months with Scottish Power , it's Power Off for me, never to return .

Hoof_Hearted

Scottish Power could be supplying free energy but I still wouldn't touch them with a shi##y stick.

redux

gmafunesm wrote: »

They are ridiculously bad at answering the phone and any promises will only be empty ones.

On my last two calls to them someone answered within 2 seconds of me pressing the button to do so.

The total call lengths were under two and under three minutes, and both queries were fully answered.

harz99

redux wrote: »

On my last two calls to them someone answered within 2 seconds of me pressing the button to do so.

The total call lengths were under two and under three minutes, and both queries were fully answered.

Well your one of a very few lucky people then!


My story is of a meter change from prepay to credit which they or their agents messed up, said prepay meter being in credit when it was changed, yet bills arriving for alleged unpaid charges which is impossible on prepay.


Many, many phone calls to attempt to resolve, many promises the matter has been resolved, several £30 cheques in recognition of poor customer service received from SP and banked, and now nearly 18 months later the matter has resurrected itself again!


DON'T TOUCH SCOTTISH POWER WITH A BARGEPOLE, LET ALONE DO BUSINESS WITH THEM.

Eric_Disley

scottishpower_company_representative wrote: »

we have made significant improvements to our customer service over the past year and now have some of the quickest call waiting times in the industry, If there is anything we can do to help before you switch or during the transfer process please let me know.

Thanks,

Gordon

That is the funniest thing I have ever heard :rotfl:

csgohan4

I feel sorry for the SP rep, they just work here. It's their employers who are bad.


I ditto the sentiment and agree SP are very poor in their customer service, Still contacting me years after having been with them despite telling them no.

tinas

I think this is what energy companies should be doing anyway.

They buy bulk energy at least six months in advance.... surely longer if the prices look good. Then they release a tariff, to customers, that matches the energy they've bought. When enough people are signed up, with usage that should take all energy used... maybe leaving some contingency, the tariff is closed.

Upon joining the tariff, the customer gives previous energy usage, allowing the company to estimate future needs. If a customer leaves the tariff early they pay charges, this helps alleviate any costs associated with leftover energy.

If any energy is left over, it goes into the companies day rate energy bucket. Used for those not contracted. If the tariff has a shortfall, the company has to pay for a top up from the day rate bucket. The day rate bucket largely being energy bought day by day, as needed so much more expensive.

I hope that makes sense! So, imho, I'm not sure how the customers are going to benefit. Just seems to me that the whole process has been cut up and risk is being given to the consumer??? Am I wrong?