* New MSE energy collective? Math done, now fingers crossed . . .*

Will_at_Bulb

SG27 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply!

When you do need/want to increase prices how much notice will be given, consifering this a variable tariff?

You're welcome

A minimum 30 days notice of any price increases, and considering that switching away from us takes 21 days for most suppliers and that we don't have any exit fees you would have plenty of time to choose a different supplier if you didn't like the change.

We implement price drops immediately. No point hanging around on higher prices longer than we have to

For context, we have dropped our prices 7 times and raised them once in the 2 years we have been trading.

SG27

Will_at_Bulb wrote: »

You're welcome

A minimum 30 days notice of any price increases, and considering that switching away from us takes 21 days for most suppliers and that we don't have any exit fees you would have plenty of time to choose a different supplier if you didn't like the change.

We implement price drops immediately. No point hanging around on higher prices longer than we have to

For context, we have dropped our prices 7 times and raised them once in the 2 years we have been trading.

Great that all sounds good I look forward to ditching British Gas!

One other thing what are the options for bill payment. For example currently I pay a variable direct debit so I only pay for what I have used in that particular month. I dont like being in credit or debt. Is this an option? I read on the website that bills ate paid a month in advance which I don't mind as ling as I am not building up too much either way.

Will_at_Bulb

SG27 wrote: »

Great that all sounds good I look forward to ditching British Gas!

One other thing what are the options for bill payment. For example currently I pay a variable direct debit so I only pay for what I have used in that particular month. I dont like being in credit or debt. Is this an option? I read on the website that bills ate paid a month in advance which I don't mind as ling as I am not building up too much either way.

We can only take payments in advance. This allows us to buy your energy more cheaply sooner. However, you can change the monthly payment amount yourself online with just a couple of clicks, so if you think you're paying too much or too little you can change it easily. And if you want a refund of credit, or to make a top up payments, that's nice and easy too.

You can pay by Direct Debit or automatic debit card payments. If you sign up through our site, including referral links, then debit card will be the default payment amount. if you sign up through a third party like MSE then it will default to Direct Debit. If you want to change after you've joined us then just let us know and we'll change it for you.

SG27

Ok sounds good, thanks for your help Will.


Sorry to hijack the thread everyone!

twhit

Like all others I am on the collective tarrif. No way am I staying with BG in fact would never have joined them but for that collective.
Tried the best deal on cheap energy so went on Eco energy. Guess what the tarrif on their website was a lot higher than on here. Will stay with BG a few more weeks then try the comparisons again!

System

twhit wrote: »

Like all others I am on the collective tarrif. No way am I staying with BG in fact would never have joined them but for that collective.
Tried the best deal on cheap energy so went on Eco energy. Guess what the tarrif on their website was a lot higher than on here. Will stay with BG a few more weeks then try the comparisons again!

Hi - that’s not possible. PCWs are accredited by Ofgem and they list only the tariffs offered by each supplier. There may be a perception of an error as suppliers tend to show prices without VAT, and PCWs normally show VAT inclusive prices.

A further reason why projected costs appear to be wrong is because some PCWs use generic usage (ie, 4 bed detached house) rather than a quote based on kWhs/year.

What have you based your comparison on? Remember, it must be kWhs/year not £s.

Finally, if you are coming off a fixed term contract you must ignore all savings.

liviboy

hybernia wrote: »

I've taken this particular deal -- which will expire very soon -- because the cashback is coming *not* from the merchant but from Top Cashback itself. There's a difference. (See T&Cs of the cashback offer.)

You do realise that the cashback is still paid by EDF Energy/ the Merchant? The T&C you see that says it is paid by TCB is standard on all their cashbacks. It means that YOU are paid by TCB and not direct by EDF and therefore do not call EDF up to chase your cashback. TCB will ONLY pay you your £60 if EDF send them the money.

That all said, however, as a tariff with no exit fees, if they didn't play ball and another similar tariff came along, it wouldn't exactly be difficult to switch again...

Having looked at EDF it looks like it could be good for me (also coming off the Scottish Gas Collective Fix like everyone else here), so thanks for bringing it to my attention.

SG27

Done it. Started my switch to bulb. Very quick and easy to do. Lets hope all gkes smoothly.

If any wants my referral link for the £50 PM me

PixelPound

liviboy wrote: »

You do realise that the cashback is still paid by EDF Energy/ the Merchant? The T&C you see that says it is paid by TCB is standard on all their cashbacks. It means that YOU are paid by TCB and not direct by EDF and therefore do not call EDF up to chase your cashback. TCB will ONLY pay you your £60 if EDF send them the money.

That all said, however, as a tariff with no exit fees, if they didn't play ball and another similar tariff came along, it wouldn't exactly be difficult to switch again...

Having looked at EDF it looks like it could be good for me (also coming off the Scottish Gas Collective Fix like everyone else here), so thanks for bringing it to my attention.

They have a no-exit fee fix until 2020 and a cheaper online blue tariff that does have exit fees

Tyler_Du

Great post, has lead me to check edf, think I'll be taking up the Blue+Heating Protect Jan20 tariff (with £60 topcashback). I prefer the longer fixed price period.

hybernia wrote: »

Goes without saying, what works for one person won't necessarily work for another.

When I started this thread, it was about my uncertainty over whether to wait for another MSE collective fix. Or not. Now that so many have contributed so much useful information, I've stopped hesitating. And I've switched.

Not only do I not intend to fund Centrica's shareholders with unjustified wealth, I don't intend to contribute to the cost of psychiatric care for British Gas's CEO and senior management team.

In view of the information given on this thread, I concentrated on just three suppliers. Any more than that would do my head in. I took the projections and annual consumption levels provided to me by British Greed in its email and re-checked them against our bills. The BG figures more or less accorded with reality.

I looked at Bulb. Zog. And EDF's new "Blue + Price Protection" fixed dual fuel tariff to October 2018. I also re-did the math as far as British Greed is concerned. The results were (note: these stats relate only to our household, in our location, based on our consumption):

Annual consumption, gas: 19,593 kWh. Annual consumption, electricity: 3,587 kWh.

Cost for one year, current British Gas / MSE Collective Fix, ends October 3rd next: £996.34.

Cost for one year, British Gas standard tariff from October 3rd next: 3rd next: £1,459.20. That's £462.80 more than is being paid now.

Cost for one year, EDF Blue fixed tariff to October 2018:£1,167.20. That's £292 cheaper than British Greed.

Cost for one year, Bulb Energy Vari-Fair tariff*: £1,1450.78. That's £318 cheaper than British Greed.

Cost for one year, Zog Energy gas* + Bulb Energy, electricity: £1,138.77. That's £320.43 cheaper than British Greed.

Notes: (i) Zog only supplies gas; (2) Bulb only offered me its 'Vari-Fair' tariff.

Decision time:

No point in my even bothering with Bulb. I want a Fixed Price contract term. Not variable. Bulb may be able to maintain its current price levels. Then again, it may not. And especially when it seems to be giving money away like confetti. So: forget Bulb.

No point in going any further with the Zog / Bulb idea. Zog is fixed price. Bulb isn't.

Absolutely no point in going anywhere near British Greed except, perhaps, on visits to the locked psychiatric ward in which its management is now located.

Chosen: EDF Blue + fixed rate tariff. . . and for two reasons:

* This tariff is EXIT FREE. EDF will not charge any customers a fee for leaving early;

* This tariff is on £60 cashback at Top Cashback.

I switched, using the Top Cashback link. The net amount, therefore, going from me to EDFR over the next 12 months is £1,107.20 -- that's £352.00 cheaper than what British Greed thinks I'm stupid enough to pay it.

Word of warning: if you're not comfortable with cashback intermediaries, then don't use Top Cashback (or any similar enterprise.)

I've taken this particular deal -- which will expire very soon -- because the cashback is coming *not* from the merchant but from Top Cashback itself. There's a difference. (See T&Cs of the cashback offer.)

Husband and I also know how to screen-shot each sequential full screen of a transaction process such that we have an imaged record of every stage -- including top-of-screen url information and bottom-of-screen time and date. We simply use prt sc on the keyboard and Microsoft Paint (in which to paste the captured image, and then save.)

Again, if you're not comfortable with this kind of self-protective techno process, then don't go with a cashback scheme.

Thanks, then, to all who contributed to this thread. We're off now for a little holiday!

PS: Oh. Just in case anyone mentions that British Gas is offering a new fixed tariff? Yes. I know. I have the projected savings in front of me if I go with it: £5.08 cheaper than standard tariff for gas in a year, £8.87 cheaper than standard tariff for electricity in a year.

That's a magnificent £13.95p saving on the new standard tariff.

Thanks, British Greed, but no thanks. I think I'll just stick with the £352 saving I'm making with EDF . . .