Switching Tips

bigfreddiel

When switching do not use your actual readings, use ridiculously low readings to get the best deal. This will bring up providers you would not see if you used your actual readings.

Use at least three switching sites to confirm the results.

Clear all cookies from your browser

That will get you the best deal.

Hope that tip helps cheers fj

molerat

How does using low readings get you the best deal ? Using low readings may get you a lower DD amount but may actually get you a more expensive tariff for your actual consumption. All using low readings will likely do is push lower standing charge higher unit charge providers towards the top costing you more in the end.

bigfreddiel

How does it help! Well of course it does, do you tell your new insurance company how much you're paying?

In fact do you tell anyone the full facts, it just leaves you open for an offer that could be lower.

You obviously check the details of the energy offers coming back and compare with your current deal. It's very easy to do this.

Obviously it's nothing to do with the DD - of course it's going to be more than your actual usage - it's the deal you get they you are negotiating to be the lowest, not the DD

Lets give you another analogy, do you think cat companies are being honest in theier MPG figures?

Would you buy a similar car that ddd 20MPG less than another?

Let me think now - ahhhh of course I buy a VW because I believe their figures. May have been true a year ago but now, who knows?

Cheers

fj

[Deleted User]

All I care about is the cost per unit and cost per day standing charge. My energy usage changes all the time depending on what I do and if it's a bad winter or not, etc.

jbuchanangb

The price comparison sites work best with accurate readings, but if you want a calculation which doesn't take account of your current tariff, then enter one of the big 6 standard variable tariffs as if it was your own.

Otherwise the comparison site is required by OFGEM to calculate the number of days for which you will be on your fixed rate tariff, plus the remainder of the year using your own provider's standard tariff. Very complicated, but required by OFGEM.

CashStrapped

bigfreddiel wrote: »

When switching do not use your actual readings, use ridiculously low readings to get the best deal. This will bring up providers you would not see if you used your actual readings.

Use at least three switching sites to confirm the results.

Clear all cookies from your browser

That will get you the best deal.

Hope that tip helps cheers fj

Sorry, it does not work like that. You are wrong.

The deal that comes up cheapest for your particular use, is the cheapest.

Putting low figures in just brings up tariffs that are designed for low users and you would not normally see when comparing using your normal figures. Why do you not normally see them....... because for that unit price /standing charge it is not the cheapest for your actual use.

For example: if I used actual figures of 15,000kwh gas and 4000kwh electric in a comparison site, I may get a result for company A being cheapest.

But, if I used false low figures of say 6000kwh gas and 1000kwh electric, I may get a totally different result. Company A will be miles down the list and a very expensive option.

This is not a con, or a mistake, or hiding results. It is because for that low usage a different arrangement of unit price/standing charge is cheaper for a given KWH usage.

- The reason you give actual KWH amounts is so you get a tariff specific for your usage. What is good for one person may not be good for another.

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bigfreddiel

jbuchanangb wrote: »

The price comparison sites work best with accurate readings, but if you want a calculation which doesn't take account of your current tariff, then enter one of the big 6 standard variable tariffs as if it was your own.

Otherwise the comparison site is required by OFGEM to calculate the number of days for which you will be on your fixed rate tariff, plus the remainder of the year using your own provider's standard tariff. Very complicated, but required by OFGEM.

Good idea, I may try that as well cheers fj

bigfreddiel

I can see where you're all coming from, but wouldn't be easier to compare if you ignored usage and just put in the cost per Kwh and daily standing charge?

From what everyone is saying is that your usage will determine the charge and it will vary from person to person, it's not a set charge.

Cheers everyone

fj

bigfreddiel

Deleted_User wrote: »

All I care about is the cost per unit and cost per day standing charge. My energy usage changes all the time depending on what I do and if it's a bad winter or not, etc.

Exactly, just show us the cheapest! fj

CashStrapped

bigfreddiel wrote: »

Exactly, just show us the cheapest! fj

But what is cheapest. Cheap for you may not be cheap for me! Again, what is cheap for one may not be cheap for another.

That is why comparison sites are (at the moment) required.

Some tariffs have a high unit price and low standing charge.

Others have a low unit price and high standing charge.

Some tariffs have no standing charge and very high unit price ( best for empty homes).

In theory a low user would benefit from a low standing charge/high unit price structure.

A high user may benefit from a high standing charge/low unit price structure.

If you look at how energy companies structure the tariff, it is usually low/high or high/low (standing charge/unit price)

So comparing without knowing what you use would be futile.

Just searching for the lowest standing charge/lowest unit rate combination gets you no where. As you need to calculate what it would actually cost you based on what you use!

Until companies have just a single unit rate (and nothing else), what you suggest is unfortunately, not possible.

bigfreddiel

CashStrapped wrote: »

Just searching for the lowest standing charge/lowest unit rate combination gets you no where. As you need to calculate what it would actually cost you based on what you use!

Actuallly, I know what I use, I know my current charges and standing charge.

So if you gave me your unit charge and your standing charge its is a trivial calculation to compare and find the cheapest.

Thanks for your comments, you made it very clear for those that may not understand.

cheers fj