MSE News: Robin Hood Energy hits customers with 17% hike in standard dual fuel prices

footyguy

rhp485 wrote: »

I am with Robin Hood Energy for electricity only and I have recently been informed of the increases next month. I am on a variable tariff with them at the moment.
They tell me that if I go on to their Ebico Zero Fixed Tariff I will be better off by £46 over the year compared to staying on their variable tariff. I pay £29.39 per month at the moment and will pay £31 per month on the new Ebico Zero fixed tariff instead of paying £35 per month if I stay on the variable tariff.
I have rang them twice to confirm that I will be put on that tariff before my next payment is taken in April so I will paying £31 and not £35 per month. I was told that I would be the case but I need to get a ring back from Robin Hood to confirm that etc. So far I have not received call therefore I am still concerned that I might not be put on my new tariff in time to avoid the increases in the variable tariff!!

As always, you will only pay for what you use and in accordance with the tariff you are on at the time.
Any under- or over-payment made by DD will be reflected in your account. Rules apply under the DD scheme as to how changes in amounts collected must be processed.

Be care - the Ebico Zero tariff is NOT a fixed tariff; it is a variable tariff (although the supplier may guarantee the prices, but at best it will only be until December)

I think RHE say they will process a change of tariff in 2 (working?) days - many other suppliers will actually do it whilst you are on the phone to them.

sheff6107

footyguy wrote: »

Presumably that was a risk you were fully aware of when you accepted a variable tariff 3 months ago.

MSE Martin was warning in early December (if not before) to lock in, expecting price rises this spring
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips/07-12-2016/
He had a limited offer that lasted 2 winters back then

Unfortunately, many of the good fixes that were available back then have since vanished, producing a double whammy for you now.

I'm renting at the moment trying to sort finances to buy, so I'm stuck on variable because I'm wanting to be off in 6 months.

System

sheff6107 wrote: »

I'm renting at the moment trying to sort finances to buy, so I'm stuck on variable because I'm wanting to be off in 6 months.

Most suppliers will allow you to exit a fixed term policy without penalty if you move out. Check the supplier's ts and cs. Remember, they do not lose out as the new occupier will be on a Deemed Contract.

alanq

Customers transferring from SSE EquiPower / EquiGas tariffs to Ebico tariffs with Robin Hood are guaranteed until December a fixed price which is lower than the one that they have been paying and much lower than they will be paying by staying with SSE. It's anyone's guess what happens after December.

https://ebico.org.uk/ebico-news/another-letter-from-sse-to-ebico-customers-a-personal-response-by-phil-levermore-md-ebico-ltd/

For anyone unaware, the initial position was that anyone doing nothing would be transferred to Robin Hood. This has now changed to anyone doing nothing will stay with SSE. It is only by reading MSE Forum, and subsequently the MSE that I am aware of this. I have had no new letter from Ebico stating this.

pimm

I have recorded my experiences of RHE on the RHE review thread, so I shall not regurgitate it here. What I will say is that I knew that I might need to switch again at some point - it only takes five minutes, so I've heard - but once you get mired down in their errors, or can't get through, they ignore your emails, won't accept your readings, etc, you end up with a much bigger bundle of hassle than just hopping from company to company from time to time. These kinds of messes are time consuming, dispiriting and detrimental to my health (I explain why it's so bad on my other post).

I don't think that the sheer stress and confusion of the bombardment of constant changes, errors, communication problems and sudden budgeting crises, is highlighted as much as it should be, for those of us who are not as executive-skilled or who are supposed to keep stress levels to a minimum for health reasons.

DiscountofMonteCristo

I don't understand why any of you are on variable rate. Aren't fixed rates always better?

- A Robin Hood Energy fixed rate customer who won't be affected by this hike.

PaschalFun

DiscountofMonteCristo wrote: »

I don't understand why any of you are on variable rate. Aren't fixed rates always better?

- A Robin Hood Energy fixed rate customer who won't be affected by this hike.

No, not according to the many comparison sites I looked at for my own situation

WobblyDog

DiscountofMonteCristo wrote: »

I don't understand why any of you are on variable rate. Aren't fixed rates always better?

- A Robin Hood Energy fixed rate customer who won't be affected by this hike.

I'm still learning about electricity and gas tariffs, having only recently started paying by direct debit rather than quarterly-in-arrears. My naïve expectation is that fixed tariffs are likely to be more expensive, because the consumer is paying a bit extra for peace of mind. Does the energy market not work like that?

sheff6107

On average, over the industry, fixed deals are cheaper. But it depends on the particular supplier. Some like to tempt in new customers at the expense of their existing ones. Other like to bank their customer base and reward loyalty. Somebody is always subsidising or being subsidised at the end of the day, but that's privatisation for you.