Hoping for an independent quote

schiff

What a pain all this is. All I'm trying to do is get an independent quote from somewhere on very simple statistics - my actual consumption for the last 12 months. If you've ever subscribed to the MSE alert system, you just don't seem to able to escape its clutches. Once they recognise from your input that you're on their system you are sucked in to carry on with your search - and I don't want that. Same with uswitch.

And the results are so unreliable. I put in what my tariff is today and what my annual consumption is; I'm told I can save £230 something. But when I work it out in maths I can save £3! All because - I assume - they take into account that I will go on to the standard more expensive tariff when my current tariff ends (soon).

All I want to know if what my best tariff is TODAY! Grrr!

CashStrapped

Cheapenergy club shows you the cost based on your current tariff by default. On other sites, there is usually a simple tick-box that compares using only your current tariff.

System

schiff wrote: »

What a pain all this is. All I'm trying to do is get an independent quote from somewhere on very simple statistics - my actual consumption for the last 12 months. If you've ever subscribed to the MSE alert system, you just don't seem to able to escape its clutches. Once they recognise from your input that you're on their system you are sucked in to carry on with your search - and I don't want that. Same with uswitch.

And the results are so unreliable. I put in what my tariff is today and what my annual consumption is; I'm told I can save £230 something. But when I work it out in maths I can save £3! All because - I assume - they take into account that I will go on to the standard more expensive tariff when my current tariff ends (soon).

All I want to know if what my best tariff is TODAY! Grrr!

Ofgem mandates that all the comparison sites that sit within its Confidence Code must base all future energy costs on a rolling 12 month projection. The default assumption is that the customer will do nothing at the end of the fix and the supplier will move the customer on to its standard variable tariff. For example, you have a month left on your fixed tariff. The calculation goes thus:

1 month on fixed tariff and 11 months on standard variable tariff

This results in an inflated cost calculation. It follows that an inflated cost calculation results in an inflated savings calculation if you do decide to move to another fixed tariff. Ofgem's savings methodology is only false for consumers who are on a fixed tariff with LESS than 12 months to run.

schiff

I wonder how many people have been sucked into a new tariff not understanding that! I'm sure there will be plenty who don't reach for their calculator.

JJ_Egan

There are plenty that do not understand the basic maths and never look at the costs preferring some mythical yearly saving or estimated DD . Each tariff has a unit cost and a standing charge that are easy enough to work out that 10p is cheaper than 15p.But the problem is they are not the headline you have to look for them .

schiff

JJ_Egan wrote: »

There are plenty who do not understand the basic maths and never look at the costs, preferring some mythical yearly saving or estimated DD. Each tariff has a unit cost and a standing charge that are easy enough to work out that 10p is cheaper than 15p. But the problem is they are not the headline, you have to look for them.

I suppose to be honest MSE can also be deceptive with its splashed huge savings by its members. I wonder in fact if any of the 'big' winners who are quoted in the weekly e-mail are whooping at the officially calculated gain, rather than the self-calculated gain.

I'm with npower and my contract ends on 31/12. I've just checked and the best quote is £31 per annum more than I'm paying now - plus £40 exit fees per fuel. It seems to be the cost of electricity that has soared.