Help me choose a Supplier please

Robisere

Posted this once, trying again. Looking for advice please.

Currently with EDF Price Protection Jan '18 and checked their other tariffs, been with EDF 5 years and OK until the last few increases. Always been impressed with the website, Chatline and customer service. Disillusioned with increasing frequency of price increases and the way increase my payment almost every time I send a reading and then receive a bill. Latest increase forced me to consult MSE's Cheap Energy Club with intention to switch. I have pinned my choices down to 5 and would appreciate any advice from others who may use the following suppliers:

* Bristol Energy - 1 Year Fix Issue 13 Paperless Billing.
* Avro Energy - One single Tariff.
* Green Network Energy - The Italian touch V3 GNE Fix.
* Affect Energy - Fixed until May 2018.
* So Hippo Fixed Tariff, one year.

I have used my latest EDF tariff details and Annual projection, to compare and obtain quotes, then print off each quote. If I have a preference, it would probably be Bristol Energy, but So Hippo looks cheapest. I would be grateful for advice from anyone regarding these 5, or any other suppliers experienced. Tales of poor service with any suppliers, would also be useful!

We are a couple in our early 70's, in a small 1960's build bungalow with GCHeating fitted about 18 months ago, well insulated and double-glazed. Obviously price is a factor, being on a fixed pension, but customer service is also important.

Thanks very much in advance for all advice.

AndyPK

All I would say is that all these are small suppliers, so could have poor customer service.

MSE has an option on the left, to only select big named suppliers, so you may which to do that, and then work out how much more per year it would cost you to goto a big supplier per year, and whether you consider this cost worth while for possibly better customer service (like not being on the phone for an hour in a que)

This year I have also found it worth while, pressing the gas only and then electric only buttons on the left.
This year I have found it worth while having gas and electric with different suppliers

JJ_Egan

No mention of prices for those suppliers .
As unit costs and standing charges .

[Deleted User]

@Robisere

There is a Feedback thread for each of those companies in this forum so either us the forum search or just go back through the pages looking for those threads.

And all companies can give you bad service, the big companies are not better.

[Deleted User]

Just to add
In the Cheap Energy Club there is a link direct to the MSE Forum Feedback threads for that company on in the "Feedback & Info" for every tariff shown . It looks like this "Add/read feedback on Affect Energy". Obviously the company name changes to match the correct company for that particular tariff.

System

The OP is looking for the 'Holy Grail'. Suppliers large and small have issues with customer service from time to time. I tend to choose a supplier based on price alone as I know that my supply and any credit are now fully protected if a supplier becomes insolvent.

FWIW, I am in the process of switching my gas supply away from Iresa as I have already had the benefit of their cheaper than the rest prices, and I want to fix my gas price for the coming Winter. I will leave my electricity supply with them for the moment. Like many, I do not rate this supplier for its customer service.

Like the OP, I am of a senior age: that said, I am happy to fight my corner with any supplier if needs must.

Robisere

I didn't want to load up the thread with lots of price details: as I stated, I had consulted MSE Cheap energy Club, decided on those 5 choices, and requested advice from anyone who had used any of the 5 suppliers. I printed out all details and compared them with the EDF supply I had been using. I used the feedback thread in each of those 5 suppliers and compared them with EDF. In every case they were cheaper and/or had the 'right'features.

I don't simply use feedbacks or reviews, I also like personal recommendation: for me, that reinforces feedback and review.

I will choose from one of the 5 after visiting another forum, which might give me personal experience of at least one or two.

ChaunceyGardiner

OP, I'm on So Hippo for my electricity. I had to call them once, as my meter was changed shortly before switching, and they were most helpful. Consider Zog as your gas supplier. You cannot telephone them, but I have found their customer service, via email, to be excellent.

redpete

Robisere wrote: »

I didn't want to load up the thread with lots of price details: as I stated, I had consulted MSE Cheap energy Club, decided on those 5 choices, and requested advice from anyone who had used any of the 5 suppliers. I printed out all details and compared them with the EDF supply I had been using. I used the feedback thread in each of those 5 suppliers and compared them with EDF. In every case they were cheaper and/or had the 'right'features.

I don't simply use feedbacks or reviews, I also like personal recommendation: for me, that reinforces feedback and review.

I will choose from one of the 5 after visiting another forum, which might give me personal experience of at least one or two.

Look through the threads titled 'Add your feedback on energy supplier xyz', they have often dozens of posts from mse members based on their personal experience, more than you will get in response to your request.

Robisere

Thank you to Chauncey Gardiner & redpete. That is the useful advice I was looking for.

I don't want to 'split' my suppliers, prefer to keep it all in one basket, but SoHippo looks good. I will look again at feedback and take that suggestion, redpete.

Many thanks.