Outfox the Market reviews: add your feedback

Scatty

I started with a reading of 6436 early March and 8043 early November, which is 1607 units of electricity, and my membership fee is £14.31! I have queried this. My usage will increase threefold over the winter so I dread to think what charge they will make then. I have had a lot of hassle with my account since inception, due to them not understanding the BG freetime tariff, so I think once I've had my December bill I may move away.

I provided a meter reading on the 5th of the month but apparently unless you provide it on the 7th and no other date, they will estimate the reading. Bonkers. I'm really not too impressed and I really wanted to be, as I only have a gas cooker and nothing else, so no standing charge was a bit of a bonus. But now the membership fee equals the standing charge I was paying to British Gas before my tariff ended with them.

ben501

Scatty wrote: »

I started with a reading of 6436 early March and 8043 early November, which is 1607 units of electricity, and my membership fee is £14.31! I have queried this. My usage will increase threefold over the winter so I dread to think what charge they will make then.

It shouldn't make much, if any difference. The fee is based on your EAC, averaged over the last 2 years. Assuming you're in the same property, and expecting your usage to be similar to previous years, the fee will probably remain the same, although this could depend on how many historical readings they had from you over the period.


Even if you do get pushed into the next price band, you're only looking at a monthly increase of about 80p, or £1 for a 2 band increase. From that table it looks like you're currently expected to use 4600-6399kWh a year, at least that's what they're basing their charge on.

Scatty

ben501 wrote: »

It shouldn't make much, if any difference. The fee is based on your EAC, averaged over the last 2 years. Assuming you're in the same property, and expecting your usage to be similar to previous years, the fee will probably remain the same, although this could depend on how many historical readings they had from you over the period.


Even if you do get pushed into the next price band, you're only looking at a monthly increase of about 80p, or £1 for a 2 band increase. From that table it looks like you're currently expected to use 4600-6399kWh a year, at least that's what they're basing their charge on.

I hope that's the case, although it remains to be seen whether that will be. I'm monitoring very closely.....

Pmarmalade

Merlin139 wrote: »

Based on the membership fee you can determine if you are a Low, medium, high, super high user. You also know when you started with OFTM. This information should enable you to find the correct Zapp! tariff.

I found in the past that if I used my original tariff name the numbers via Cheap Energy Club weren't updated, so were artificially low. I selected one of the November 2018 tariffs that matched my electricity usage and it was accurate with my latest estimated figure in the recent email about the price rise.


Have just switched to Green Network Energy via the latest CEC deal.

dazzh

Hi,

I just received the following email from OFTM re their Direct Debit system which appears to be following Pure Planet.

"We will soon be introducing a change to our Direct Debit policy that is designed to help you pay an accurate amount for the actual energy you use.
To avoid building up large credit balances in the summer and to ensure our customers do not fall into debt in the colder months, your new variable Direct Debit will be scheduled into two defined periods."

I'm already in credit by a few hundred pounds so the above system should, you would think, result in them refunding this as I will now be paying more during the winter months.

OFTM appear to be sending out quite a few emails recently re price increases and also now the above.

VoucherMan

dazzh wrote: »

Hi,

I just received the following email from OFTM re their Direct Debit system which appears to be following Pure Planet.

"We will soon be introducing a change to our Direct Debit policy that is designed to help you pay an accurate amount for the actual energy you use.
To avoid building up large credit balances in the summer and to ensure our customers do not fall into debt in the colder months, your new variable Direct Debit will be scheduled into two defined periods."

Just had the same email. Call me sceptical, but if they were doing it just to help the customer, should they not have implemented it 6 months ago? We've just had summer and built up large credit balances, now they're going to ratchet up the bills and build up an even bigger credit balance.


From the figures they gave as a guide it looks like they plan to take 5% of the annual cost during each of the summer months, with the remaining 70% spread over the 6 'winter' months.


I think they really messed up at the start of the year with their fixed rates, and now they're trying whatever they can to get some cash in. They can only put prices up so much before people start deserting them. I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up calling in the receivers, or whatever energy suppliers do to sort out the mess they've made.

jakeee60

Newby here just in the process of changing over to outfox the market my date is 17 nov ,and ime a bit annoyed . ive just received the following e mail from them :-
"We will soon be introducing a change to our Direct Debit policy that is designed to help you pay an accurate amount for the actual energy you use.

To avoid building up large credit balances in the summer and to ensure our customers do not fall into debt in the colder months, your new variable Direct Debit will be scheduled into two defined periods.
Comparison to other energy providers
Between the months of April and September, you will pay a lower summer price and from October to March your payment will be amended to reflect your higher energy consumption.

We will shortly be sending you a further email that will provide additional detail of your new payments and the dates when this will be introduced.

The below table provides an example of the affect these changes will have on an average use customer*.
Annual cost £936.78
Current direct debit £78.06
october to march £109.29
april to september £46-84

Comparison to other energy providers
The changes to your Direct Debit should provide additional peace-of-mind with the understanding that your new payments closely reflect your energy consumption. This will minimise the possibility of 'bill shock’ at the end of the winter, help spread your extra energy consumption into a manageable amount and ensure you only pay for the energy you use in the warmer months.

If you have any queries regarding this email, please get in touch and one of our team will be able to help.

Yours sincerely
OTM Team

*Based on OFGEM average use. 3100 kWh electricity, 12000 kWh gas."
I dont think this is fare asking for so much over the winter period,i understand over the year it will even out but i didnt sign up for the above.
Your thoughts.

Norman_Castle

They only supply my electricity and I've got gas heating so my monthly electricity costs are only very slightly higher during the winter so why am I being expected to pay a varied amount?

System

jakeee60 wrote: »

Newby here just in the process of changing over to outfox the market my date is 17 nov ,and ime a bit annoyed . ive just received the following e mail from them :-
"We will soon be introducing a change to our Direct Debit policy that is designed to help you pay an accurate amount for the actual energy you use.

To avoid building up large credit balances in the summer and to ensure our customers do not fall into debt in the colder months, your new variable Direct Debit will be scheduled into two defined periods.
Comparison to other energy providers
Between the months of April and September, you will pay a lower summer price and from October to March your payment will be amended to reflect your higher energy consumption.

We will shortly be sending you a further email that will provide additional detail of your new payments and the dates when this will be introduced.

The below table provides an example of the affect these changes will have on an average use customer*.
Annual cost £936.78
Current direct debit £78.06
october to march £109.29
april to september £46-84

Comparison to other energy providers
The changes to your Direct Debit should provide additional peace-of-mind with the understanding that your new payments closely reflect your energy consumption. This will minimise the possibility of 'bill shock’ at the end of the winter, help spread your extra energy consumption into a manageable amount and ensure you only pay for the energy you use in the warmer months.

If you have any queries regarding this email, please get in touch and one of our team will be able to help.

Yours sincerely
OTM Team

*Based on OFGEM average use. 3100 kWh electricity, 12000 kWh gas."
I dont think this is fare asking for so much over the winter period,i understand over the year it will even out but i didnt sign up for the above.
Your thoughts.

I cannot comment on OFTM’s motives but many of the smaller suppliers use this payment method for consumers who switch late in the season. It shouldn’t really be necessary for consumers who have accrued a large credit balance over the summer months.

saver_sam

We've just had the same email and feel pretty naffed off at the change as its not what we sign up to.

It surely doesn't help the customer at all, we need standard amounts over the whole year. This is why the yearly amount is split into 12 equal payments.

About to send an email telling them we don't want this change otherwise we might be off to another supplier!