Ebico/Robin Hood Energy question

squiggles

Has any user of Ebico/Robin Hood Energy had any correspondence from them about price increase?

I remember the tarriff price when we switched wouldn't change until December but I've not heard of an update yet.

Anthorn

I too have been watching this even though I'm no longer an Ebico customer. I suppose we are essentially waiting for Robin Hood and not Ebico. I think it's fair to say that if Robin Hood are true to form they will increase prices but that's speculation.

The guarantee you refer to is pertaining to the Zero and Prepay tariffs in an Ebico news article and that is still available on the Ebico website.

Our two new tariffs, Ebico PrePay and Ebico Zero offer customers more affordable, flexible deals with no exit fees or tie ins – both with a price guarantee until December 2017.

https://ebico.org.uk/ebico-news/another-letter-from-sse-to-ebico-customers-a-personal-response-by-phil-levermore-md-ebico-ltd/

trickytree1963

Companies have to give at least 30 days notice of any tariff price increase. As its 10th December I feel they won't be increasing the price in December?

With most Ebico customers being minimal or low users wouldn't the big change be on the Zero Standing Charge aspect anyway?

squiggles

trickytree1963 wrote: »

Companies have to give at least 30 days notice of any tariff price increase. As its 10th December I feel they won't be increasing the price in December?

With most Ebico customers being minimal or low users wouldn't the big change be on the Zero Standing Charge aspect anyway?

That's good news as I didn't know about the 30 day notice period.

You are correct about the zero standing charge being the aspect for it's customers so even if there's a tarriff increase then Ebico is still a winner for many.

However, I also like the simplicity of not having different tiers and prices and I'm a bit of creature of habbit. Simple bills for simple people like myself

Anthorn

trickytree1963 wrote: »

Companies have to give at least 30 days notice of any tariff price increase. As its 10th December I feel they won't be increasing the price in December?

With most Ebico customers being minimal or low users wouldn't the big change be on the Zero Standing Charge aspect anyway?

That notice applies to a variable tariff which I suppose covers the Zero and Prepay tariffs but obviously not the current crop of fixed tariffs.

In any case, it depends on how you look at it: While they won't be increasing variable prices in December they can still notify an increase in December. We could therefore say prices were increased in December. But it's all just splitting hairs: They point is that they increased prices or they didn't.

EachPenny

Anthorn wrote: »

In any case, it depends on how you look at it: While they won't be increasing variable prices in December they can still notify an increase in December. We could therefore say prices were increased in December. But it's all just splitting hairs: They point is that they increased prices or they didn't.

Well you might want to say that to continue your curious anti-Ebico line of argument, but if they have to give 30 days notice of a price rise, then the price rise won't happen in December. Not many people would say a price rise in January equates to 'prices were increased in December'.

Back in the Spring some of the Ebico-haters were convinced that notice would be given so price rises would come into effect on 1st December. That hasn't happened, which I can honestly say I was surprised about. But given the price increases of other suppliers I am impressed that Ebico not only kept their word, but also have extended the 'no-increase' promise by at least another month and a half.

Anthorn

EachPenny wrote: »

Well you might want to say that to continue your curious anti-Ebico line of argument, but if they have to give 30 days notice of a price rise, then the price rise won't happen in December. Not many people would say a price rise in January equates to 'prices were increased in December'.

Back in the Spring some of the Ebico-haters were convinced that notice would be given so price rises would come into effect on 1st December. That hasn't happened, which I can honestly say I was surprised about. But given the price increases of other suppliers I am impressed that Ebico not only kept their word, but also have extended the 'no-increase' promise by at least another month and a half.

I have never made a secret of the fact that I don't like Ebico. That is apparent in my posts since the SSE RHE fiasco. I used to like Ebico but now I don't. There you go.

It's not Ebico which kept their word, it's RHE which is the supplier. It might be a combination of an agreement between Ebico and RHE but nevertheless it's RHE.

Just out of curiosity I went on MSE Cheap Energy Club and logged into my account which has Ebico Zero listed at my last address. If that still applied to me now I could get Electricity only £51/year cheaper than Ebico Zero. Go ahead, try it.

My point stated in my previous posts and here again is that Ebico Zero and Prepay hit the skids and there are now cheaper tariffs with other suppliers. Perhaps Ebico freezing the prices of Zero and Prepay played a part in that.

My advice which I personally regard as sensible in view of my own comparisons is that anyone on an Ebico tariff would do well to do an energy comparison and not assume that just because they are with Ebico they are on a low-cost tariff. For that I recommend MSE Cheap Energy Club.

EachPenny

Anthorn wrote: »

I have never made a secret of the fact that I don't like Ebico. That is apparent in my posts since the SSE RHE fiasco. I used to like Ebico but now I don't. There you go.

In which case, perhaps you could be fair to other forum members, especially new ones, and make it clear your comments about Ebico are borne out of some irrational dislike of Ebico - rather than a rational assessment of the poster's circumstances and what might be best for them.

With hindsight, the "SSE RHE fiasco" - as you put it - seems to be explained largely as Ebico said at the time. Namely that SSE no longer felt able to support the Zero SC approach and were seeking to increase prices. In those circumstances your 'dislike' of Ebico seems to be entirely misplaced.

Anthorn wrote: »

It's not Ebico which kept their word, it's RHE which is the supplier. It might be a combination of an agreement between Ebico and RHE but nevertheless it's RHE.

Semantics. We (but not you) are customers of Ebico. Ebico promised not to increase prices, and presumably backed this up with a legally binding agreement with RHE to maintain prices at that level. In which case RHE could have increased prices whenever they wanted to, but to do so would have resulted in a contractural breach, which one would expect to involve a financial penalty in excess of the benefit obtainable by increasing prices.

The fact Ebico and RHE together have kept the promise is perhaps testament to Ebico's decision to switch from SSE to RHE.

Anthorn wrote: »

My point stated in my previous posts and here again is that Ebico Zero and Prepay hit the skids and there are now cheaper tariffs with other suppliers. Perhaps Ebico freezing the prices of Zero and Prepay played a part in that.

And the counter point, repeated so often on this board, is that the "cheapest tariff" will depend on your own personal circumstances. You might be able to find cheaper elsewhere, but that doesn't mean Ebico have "hit the skids".

Anthorn wrote: »

My advice which I personally regard as sensible in view of my own comparisons is that anyone on an Ebico tariff would do well to do an energy comparison and not assume that just because they are with Ebico they are on a low-cost tariff. For that I recommend MSE Cheap Energy Club.

The advice of everyone on the board who understands and has knowledge of the subject is to regularly carry out comparisons and never assume their current supplier is cheapest. Part of that is also to consider all suppliers, and not dismiss one which might be the cheapest solely on the basis of some irrational 'dislike'.

footyguy

squiggles wrote: »

Has any user of Ebico/Robin Hood Energy had any correspondence from them about price increase?

I remember the tarriff price when we switched wouldn't change until December but I've not heard of an update yet.

I believe it was only the Ebico Zero (variable) tariff (at least as far as credit metered customers are concerned) that was guaranted not to increase in price until Decemeber.

That was NOT an indication prices would increase at that time. Only MSE Martin seems to think this, and I am surprised he is not barracking Ebico (as he did with British Gas the last time they guaranteed not to increase prices on their variable tariff for a period) at every possible opportunity, until eventually British Gas did increase their prices :cool:

I don't believe Ebico have any intention, at present, to change the prices of their Ebico Zero tariff. But it is a variable tariff, and as such, the price can change at any time (upon 30 days notice for existing customers).

As an existing Ebico Zero tariff customer, I can guarantee there will be no adverse price change until at least next year now

Anthorn

footyguy wrote: »

I believe it was only the Ebico Zero (variable) tariff (at least as far as credit metered customers are concerned) that was guaranted not to increase in price until Decemeber.

That was NOT an indication prices would increase at that time. Only MSE Martin seems to think this, and I am surprised he is not barracking Ebico (as he did with British Gas the last time they guaranteed not to increase prices on their variable tariff for a period) at every possible opportunity, until eventually British Gas did increase their prices :cool:

I don't believe Ebico have any intention, at present, to change the prices of their Ebico Zero tariff. But it is a variable tariff, and as such, the price can change at any time (upon 30 days notice for existing customers).

As an existing Ebico Zero tariff customer, I can guarantee there will be no adverse price change until at least next year now

Actually it was both Ebico Prepay and Ebico Zero which was guaranteed to not increase until December 2017.

As I have already pointed out, Ebico at this time are uncompetitive and several suppliers are cheaper at this time according to MSE Cheap Energy Club for my region, Eastern. They and RHE would be silly to increase prices because that would probably result in a mass exodus of customers except those who blindly stay with Ebico in the mistaken belief that they are getting their energy for the cheapest price. Ebico/RHE would be far more likely to increase prices at a time when other suppliers are also increasing prices.

Look for example at RHE's excuse for increasing prices by a "whopping 17%" for its own customers which they said was a result of increases in wholesale energy. That looks familiar doesn't it.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/energy/2017/03/robin-hood-energy-hits-customers-with-17-hike-in-standard-dual-fuel-prices

Curious though that Ebico still cling to their tag-line, "The only UK energy provider dedicated to fighting fuel poverty". That makes me laugh. Like for example making the Zero tariff only for credit customers while those more likely to suffer fuel poverty, those on the prepay tariff had to pay more? Prior to the change to RHE all prices were the same. Certain people might call that criticism "irrational"!

Anyway to recap, expect price increases when the rest of the energy market supports it.

squiggles

Anthorn wrote: »

I have never made a secret of the fact that I don't like Ebico. That is apparent in my posts since the SSE RHE fiasco. I used to like Ebico but now I don't. There you go.

It's not Ebico which kept their word, it's RHE which is the supplier. It might be a combination of an agreement between Ebico and RHE but nevertheless it's RHE.

Just out of curiosity I went on MSE Cheap Energy Club and logged into my account which has Ebico Zero listed at my last address. If that still applied to me now I could get Electricity only £51/year cheaper than Ebico Zero. Go ahead, try it.

My point stated in my previous posts and here again is that Ebico Zero and Prepay hit the skids and there are now cheaper tariffs with other suppliers. Perhaps Ebico freezing the prices of Zero and Prepay played a part in that.

My advice which I personally regard as sensible in view of my own comparisons is that anyone on an Ebico tariff would do well to do an energy comparison and not assume that just because they are with Ebico they are on a low-cost tariff. For that I recommend MSE Cheap Energy Club.

I went onto the cheap energy club site and it wanted too much of my own details and not only the annual kWh usage. I would have to make an account with them before it would give me a price comparison so I didn't bother.