Finding new supplier - the worst to happen?

CO_NO

Hi,
Whilst combing through various switching energy sites came across the cheapest which was Out Fox the Market. There does not seem a great deal of background info. given so I am suspicious, but the savings are higher than elsewhere. What is the worst that can happen?

PixelPound

Are we making a Dr Pepper advert?

Depends who you are moving from:
- they move only one of your fuels
- they don't move any but bill you anyway
- they move next door and bill you for that
....

System

CO_NO wrote: »

Hi,
Whilst combing through various switching energy sites came across the cheapest which was Out Fox the Market. There does not seem a great deal of background info. given so I am suspicious, but the savings are higher than elsewhere. What is the worst that can happen?

Welcome to the forum. At the outset let me say that switching is for most people a painless affair provided you know what to expect in terms of the procedure and the time taken, for example, to raise Final Bills.

That said, problems do occur. Listed in no particular order:

1. The supplier takes over an incorrect meter. This can be avoided if people look at their Welcome Pack and physically check whether the meter details are correct.

2. The supplier takes over the supply but then takes weeks to get the meter readings that you provide validated. These validated readings are needed to open and close your accounts. At this point you get to see how good the gaining supplier's customer service actually is.

3. Billing can go awry.

4. The supplier changes your monthly DD payment based on the consumption information that it receives from the industry.

5. The supplier takes an inordinate amount of time to answer the telephone; respond to e-mails/online queries and tries to ignore complaints.

I appreciate the above reads like your surgeon outlining the risk of death when you go in to have a minor surgical procedure. In truth, as I said, most switches are problem free as is billing. Customer service is therefore excellent as you will never need to contact them. That said, Out For the Market is very new. Personally, I would chose a small supplier with good feedback on this site; Trustpilot and Facebook. Remember, if it all goes 'pear shaped' then your supply and any credit balance are protected by Ofgem.

footyguy

CO_NO wrote: »

Hi,
Whilst through various switching energy sitescame across the cheapest which was Out Fox the Market. There does not seem a great deal of background info. given so I am suspicious, but the savings are higher than elsewhere. What is the worst that can happen?

Hello, and welcome to MSE :hello: :cool:

You don't need to be "through various switching energy sites"
Just look at one that offers the whole of market (although it's good to double check with one other just to make sure there are no errors)

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

A quick referral to a wll known search engine threw up this article on them
http://utilityweek.co.uk/news/new-supplier-brands-putting-customers-on-svts-as-'abhorrent'/1311472#

Although the article refers to a standing charge, I was actually offered a tariff without any standing charge, although it was a variable tariff ... so can change

So whilst the firm’s head of operations believes the “practice of putting people on SVT is abhorrent”, they are offering only a variable tariff themselves. :cool:

There is, however, a monthly fee, which varies with the amount you use, but for a low user it was quoted at £6.99 pm per fuel, so about 23p per day per fuel.(can be as much as £13.99pm per fuel depending on usage)

They are also limiting new applicant numbers.
I wonder if those who falsely suggested when other suppliers limit/refuse new applicants, it is as a result of an Ofgem order? :cool:

Edit: Also they do not appear to support E7 meters...

Edit2: In answer to your question

I've never heard of this supplier - is it safe to switch?

Some of the cheapest tariffs on the market are now with smaller suppliers. Rules from regulator Ofgem mean there’s little risk in switching to a smaller supplier. If it goes bust, your credit is protected and your energy stays on - you’ll simply be transferred to another supplier, though you may need to find a new cheap tariff.


If a supplier is new, we may not have much feedback on it. However, we do have feedback links to our forum for every provider listed, so you can hear other users’ experiences.

https://clubs.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub/faq

Edit3: Can I enquire as to which comparison site you came across this supplier, as contrary to what I posted above, they do not seem to yet be on most comparison sites?

Edit4: 10 great reviews on that "trusted" site trustpilot so far
8 are top reviews and the remaining 2 are 4 star reviews.
Looks like their PR team are working overtime, and not just on trustpilot. :cool:

drsquirrel

footyguy wrote: »

So whilst the firm’s head of operations believes the “practice of putting people on SVT is abhorrent”, they are offering only a variable tariff themselves. :cool:

In fairness, SVT rates with other providers are terrible - are you to say fixes are better? As they're always going to be gamed in their favour as much as they can. It's likely more to do with customers being put on these uncompetitive rates automatically.

I get the idea that they want to charge wholesale prices then charge membership fees - which basically replaces a standing charge. But the "standing charge" you pay varies the unit rate you pay - surely if this was really wholesale it would be one unit price one fee.

EDIT: I'm wrong about this - the rate is the same. The amount you use decides what membership level you are on, but you have to pre guess this - I wonder what happens if you pick a lower usage and you go over it... if they move you up automatically fine, but would they move you down...?

And to end the shilling, with my own anecdote. I have used these recently, and they took over a neighbours meter as well as mine, even though they emailed me to ask which was mine before hand (so provided a serial number etc). Response to my email about this was "you're account is now active" - completely unrelated to my question. On live chat, their response is completely random to what the initial question is. Today the response was "You're account was activated on *-*-*" - helpful.

Neighbour luckily isn't too worried, they cannot change their supplier yet.

Philycheesesteak

I was dubious but in my defence came top of the mse energy club.

Switch went fine. Been with them on a variable contract for about a year from Ovo.

Website is very basic and does give the impression of a one man band.

They put the price up a little, then this week 6%.

I have switched to Octopus only to find The Foxes want to block it saying I have outstanding debt!

I have paid dd through out the term and if I owe anything I will settle on transfer.
I have not cancelled my dd but Octopus cannot make the switch.

I guess I need to go to the ombudsmen.

Avoid AVOID is my tip!!

wavelets

Philycheesesteak wrote: »

I was dubious but in my defence came top of the mse energy club.

Switch went fine. Been with them on a variable contract for about a year from Ovo.

Website is very basic and does give the impression of a one man band.

They put the price up a little, then this week 6%.

I have switched to Octopus only to find The Foxes want to block it saying I have outstanding debt!

I have paid dd through out the term and if I owe anything I will settle on transfer.
I have not cancelled my dd but Octopus cannot make the switch.

I guess I need to go to the ombudsmen.

Avoid AVOID is my tip!!

Thanks for bumping this old thread started over a year ago. So nice to
reminise.

So much better than say the other 2 recent threads on the front page about this supplier, or even the feedback thread that may have just slipp[ed into only the second page.

And so nice to see old faces back here too (as extremely brief as it was)
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=74780609&postcount=279 :cool:

Who said someone's on a mission?

Philycheesesteak

Glad to see the sarcasm level is still high here. I will blame google.
It always confused me people start new threads rather than keeping the first one... seems they think I used 6 months electricity in my first quarter. So they need to raise a dispute with OVO.

Robin9

Philycheesesteak wrote: »

I have switched to Octopus only to find The Foxes want to block it saying I have outstanding debt!

I have paid dd through out the term and if I owe anything I will settle on transfer.!!

Have you done your own sums and do you owe them anything ?

If you really want to switch get your Foxes account into credit