Outfox the Market reviews: add your feedback

Cornucopia

I've stuck with OFTM throughout their messing around over the past couple of weeks, mainly because they have remained cheapest overall.

I've now begun a transfer of Gas only to EBICO. I'm somewhat dubious of their tariff equating to 6p per month for my tiny Gas usage, but we'll see. If it does work out, then that combination of OFTM - Electricity and EBICO - Gas is cheapest for me.

stphnstevey

Cornucopia wrote: »

I've stuck with OFTM throughout their messing around over the past couple of weeks, mainly because they have remained cheapest overall.

I've now begun a transfer of Gas only to EBICO. I'm somewhat dubious of their tariff equating to 6p per month for my tiny Gas usage, but we'll see. If it does work out, then that combination of OFTM - Electricity and EBICO - Gas is cheapest for me.

Thanks for this, with the new OutFox standing charge and increased rate, for me the gas is cheaper with EBICO, the electric is slightly cheaper with Outfox.

However the EBICO deal is fixed for 12m with no leaving fee, were as the Outfox has made several price increases. Might lock in the rate for 12m and can always switch again if needed

Note no cashback for EBICO

Scatty

Cornucopia wrote: »

I've now begun a transfer of Gas only to EBICO. I'm somewhat dubious of their tariff equating to 6p per month for my tiny Gas usage, but we'll see. If it does work out, then that combination of OFTM - Electricity and EBICO - Gas is cheapest for me.

I have a tiny gas usage (only an oven) but OTM have decided I use 1,000 units per year.....it's actually about 4......ridiculous company.

Cornucopia

I should say that EBICO have already told me that their minimum DD for the first payment will be £10. That's fine with me, and I will happily eat into that initial overpayment over time.

They say I should contact them after the first payment to have it adjusted to better reflect my usage.

kendizle

Its actually 56p, 28p for each fuel = £16.80 per month. Considering my membership fee initially started off as £8.99 per month, that's nearly double

kendizle

After the last few weeks of membership price hikes, tariff increases (3 in the past 4-6 weeks) and the doubling of direct debits, I have finally had enough of Outfox the Market and have just initiated a switch back to British Gas.

I have now Outfoxed the Outfox

Amazingly with the latest price hikes by OutFox, they have now become higher than British Gas!!
Here's an excerpt from the email they sent out last night:

From 1st January 2019 your electricity unit rate will change from £0.1048/kWh to £0.1279/kWh.

Your gas unit rate will change from £0.0362/kWh to £0.0438/kWh

Your monthly membership fee will be replaced by a daily standing charge of 28p per fuel.

Good News!

From January 1st, the energy regulator Ofgem is introducing a price cap to ensure no-one pays more than a fair price for their energy. Our commitment to you, is that our prices will always be below this cap - and we promise to keep it that way

This amazingly gives me a price increase of £184.19 on my annual bill. May not seem a lot, but as a single guy this represents an increase of about 32% since I first joined in June.

Nice way to shoot yourself in the foot OutFox! you've just sent me back to British Gas. Plus I get £25 cash back and free boiler cover.

My only fear now is that OF take December's doubled direct Debit then I'm left waiting to receive my refund!

editor1

There is a huge amount of valid criticism, if not outright anger with OFTM, which is fine by me if they deserve it. However, for those of use who only ever subscribe to 'Fixed' price contracts not much has changed, apart from the DD increase to cover Winter fuel use.

Now, here are the figures I got for my folks, which were considerably lower than all competition in March 2018 and my analysis for switching was based on quotes and real figures provided by OVO Energy and First Utility, both being far more expensive than OFTM:

Membership fee: £10.99 (No change even with the Banding debacle)
Unit cost of Gas: 3.27p
Unit cost of Electricity: 10.49p

The above are the Zapp 18 month Fixed deal costs offered in the first quarter, the only change we actually have is four higher DD payments from December to March and then six lower payments from April to September - our contract expires at the end of September 2019.

Sorry to keep harking on about this, but as 'Hengus' has clearly stated if you want bargain basement costs don't expect 5* service, also, since swapping around Utility providers starting October 2012 I've always signed up for 'Fixed' terms, rather than variable - thus far this has paid off big time and continues to pay off with OFTM.

Now, and for all the down-side, it would be economically reckless for me to start looking for a new provider and lump my folks with both an exit fee charge of £50 and monthly energy increase of £18-20 per month based on next cheapest Fix available at today's prices.

I understand the contempt many hold OFTM with presently, on the other hand those conservative folks like myself who sign-up to Fixed deals will suffer greatly if OFTM goes to the wall before the Winter is actually over. And there are 1000's of us on their Fixed deals who enjoy decent prices - service is another matter, but on price these figures cannot be bettered.

editor1

@Kendizle,
Can you state clearly what scheme you are on, from what you have stated you seem to be on the Variable Tariff, which actually for quite a number of months has been the only one available with OFTM?

kendizle

editor1 wrote: »

Sorry to keep harking on about this, but as 'Hengus' has clearly stated if you want bargain basement costs don't expect 5* service, also, since swapping around Utility providers starting October 2012 I've always signed up for 'Fixed' terms, rather than variable - thus far this has paid off big time and continues to pay off with OFTM.

Now, and for all the down-side, it would be economically reckless for me to start looking for a new provider and lump my folks with both an exit fee charge of £50 and monthly energy increase of £18-20 per month based on next cheapest Fix available at today's prices.

I understand the contempt many hold OFTM with presently, on the other hand those conservative folks like myself who sign-up to Fixed deals will suffer greatly if OFTM goes to the wall before the Winter is actually over. And there are 1000's of us on their Fixed deals who enjoy decent prices - service is another matter, but on price these figures cannot be bettered.

You're being disingenuous and missing the point, those of us who opted to take the variable tariff did so as it was the cheapest deal and coupled with the zero exit fees, gave us the opportunity to switch at the point that this cheap offer became untenable. Rather than being locked in for a fixed term. Today is that day and I am blessed that I do not have a fixed term or exit fee. People have their own metrics on how "Reckless" they choose to be based on the information available and their personal circumstances.

Maybe we will eventually be as awesome as you, but until then, we will do what is best for us.

kendizle

editor1 wrote: »

@Kendizle,
Can you state clearly what scheme you are on, from what you have stated you seem to be on the Variable Tariff, which actually for quite a number of months has been the only one available with OFTM?

Yes variable tariff. I switched in June so I guess that is the Zapp June Tariff. Just checked the welcome email and here are the figures:

Electricity 9.08p kwh, gas 3.14p kwh and membership fee of £8.99.

As I'm obsessive, I take meter readings every month. My total energy consumption last year was 3100kwh for electricity and 550 kwh for gas. Amazingly I dont use my central heating for half the year and even then it's minimal. Brand-new house & very efficient.
Despite these figures, somehow OF have managed to inflate my projected consumption to over 4100 for electricity. So a 33% increase, despite no changes to my behaviour. But it does allow them to bump me into the next membership band.

let me know if you need anything else