MSE Poll: What puts you off / frustrates you about switching energy?

Consumerist

rdpeat wrote: »

For this year's switch, my new cheapest supplier's tariff is much more expensive than the tariff of the old one. . . Obviously a switch at the latest possible time would save a person the maximum amount of money in this case. . .

An interesting point.

The trick is to request a switch just before the the last day of contract. Providing the new supplier notifies the old supplier within 20 working days, the old supplier must keep you on your current tariff until the switch completes "within a reasonable period of time" (Standard Licence Conditions).

Worked a treat for me recently.

donny_jim

Why do they transfer each utility at different times, we should be allowed to pick a date ( within reason ) for both together, also why does it seem to take so long for the new provider to give the old provider the opening meter readings. Why can't we send these readings to both parties at the same time.

shamrock_girl

Sorry, don't come on here very often & can never find where & when I can post. At least I'm in a Utility type forum!!

I'd like to ask for any comments about the recent/latest push to get people to have a smart meter installed, bear with me on this. I don't want or need a new meter, smart or otherwise. I switched supplier about 2 years ago from nPower (worst ever company I've had) to First Utility. They're not brilliant, but ok, was going to switch to Ovo energy at the time, but they didn't offer the Warm Front/Home electric grant of £140 each year I'm elegible for. While at it, does anyone know why all companies don't allow you to get the grant through them?


I do meter readings every month & was paying by fixed d/d, only issue I had was last winter, due to major damp issue in my council home (moved to a year ago) I was forced to use a dehumidifier & electric bill went higher. This is now resolved as Council were forced to do major damp remedial work. First Utility wanted to double my monthly d/d & I refused. After hassle now pay whole bill ever month. I'm very aware what power I use in my property.


I started to get e-mails/texts from First Utility about contacting Siemens to get a smart meter, told them I didn't want one. Then the letters, e-mails & texts started arriving from Siemens. I had a phone call from them today & that's aggravated me no end. First Utility just told me I had to tell Siemens's to stop contacting me about it. But what I'm very concerned about is why have the utility company given Siemens my personal information without asking me?? Isn't this breaching the data protection act? Also why are they so keen to get your gas/electric usage data so often?


I did contact Which about all this, but even they wouldn't answer the question about how Siemens were able to get your info, without your permission. So I smell a rat!!

shamrock_girl

I have just had a message back from my energy provider, First Utility & they have said re the smart meter & Siemens, "because the meters are provided/run by Siemens, there isn't a data breach"? So they are saying the contract the meters from Siemens, if I read this correctly.

I still think it's off of neither of these companies to ask you first if you're interested in a smart meter, but as it's a "scheme" connected to the Government, can't say I'm surprised!!::mad:

DiscountofMonteCristo

I tried to switch a couple of weeks ago and something went wrong with the supplier's form that they wanted me to fill in.

I think I filled in a complaint/contact form to tell them, but didn't get a reply.

And since then I've forgotten about it and haven't got round to getting back to it.

And I did lots of complicated calculations to work out my annual usage as well.

In the meantime I'm probably paying over the odds with my last supplier.

Actually another general category that should be in the poll is difficulty with calculating and mental arithmetic.

Consumerist

shamrock_girl wrote: »

I have just had a message back from my energy provider, First Utility & they have said re the smart meter & Siemens, "because the meters are provided/run by Siemens, there isn't a data breach"? So they are saying the contract the meters from Siemens, if I read this correctly.

I still think it's off of neither of these companies to ask you first if you're interested in a smart meter, but as it's a "scheme" connected to the Government, can't say I'm surprised!!::mad:

You can't be forced to have a smart meter installed.

You may have noticed recent adverts on the telly to persuade people to have smart meters installed - the government wants us all to have them by 2020 - the suppliers are making £millions in government handouts to install them but there have been many reports of faulty installations by possibly-unqualified installers.

My adivice is to tell both your supplier and Siemenns that you will not allow access to install a smart meter without a court order which you will vigorously oppose.

Edit
More info <here> and <here>.

shropshirelady

There's no way on earth I'm having a smart meter installed. In my opinion, we're already swamped with too much cordless technology to be safe.

Waltonwonders

I switch regularly but feel frustrated that I can't easily check how much energy I use over a year, or over the wInter etc. due to differences in billing dates. I'm sure a smart meters would sort this but I don'the want one!

Consumerist

Waltonwonders wrote: »

I switch regularly but feel frustrated that I can't easily check how much energy I use over a year, or over the wInter etc. due to differences in billing dates. I'm sure a smart meters would sort this but I don'the want one!

It's not too difficult to read a "dumb" meter yourself. Twice a year (say, April & October) should suit your needs. If you switch at roughly yearly intervals then your opening and closing readings (i.e. when you switch) should give you a reasonable estimate of annual usage.

claude_dingle

I remember when it was simple - when it was nationalised - and for the benefit of all - not private companies and a few shareholders. You only have yourselves to blame - so switch or stick - you are being ripped off either way.