Feedback on Utility Point

Bloomster2

Joined UP last month and whilst checking my first statement online i noticed there were sections telling me what my personal projections were for Gas and Electricity costs.


Below this was the section titled "Relevant Cheapest Tariff" which informed me:
"We have a cheaper tariff Just Up 19 Wk29 and you could save £35.82"
Given that I would probably have to pay the £60 plus vat exit fee this was obviously not worth chasing.


However, below was another section titled "Alternative Cheapest Tariff" which informed me:
"We have a cheaper tariff Flexi Online Tracker Spring 19 and you could save £157.80"
I decided to phone and see if I could switch to this cheaper tariff.


Having got through and explained reason for my call to "Matt" I was asked to hold whilst Matt spoke to his supervisor.
Matt returned to advise me the cheaper tariff was not available to me as this was for "Renewals Only"


I asked if Matt could expain the logic behind offering me a tariff that was not available to me on my statement.
Matt advised it was all to do with ofgem regulations?


Does this make sense to anyone.


Also amused to note my gas usage:
I was asked to provde meter readings on 26th June as part of the switching process.
I provided a gas reading of 8753.0, this value sent to both new and old suppliers via their websites.
I then also supplied meter readings on 1st July (unfortunately I did not keep a record of this reading)
I then also supplied meter readings on 28th July (gas 8784.0)
So reviewingmy gas usage report on my UP statement I see the following:
Type Date Read
Estimated 01 July 2019 8825.0
Customer 28 July 2019 8784.0
Estimated 31 July 2019 8785.8


Meter units used in the charge period -39.2


I have no idea how they worked that out, but for now, I'm just going to watch this space and see what happens next month

FelineFunk

Bloomster2 wrote: »

Joined UP last month and whilst checking my first statement online i noticed there were sections telling me what my personal projections were for Gas and Electricity costs.


Below this was the section titled "Relevant Cheapest Tariff" which informed me:
"We have a cheaper tariff Just Up 19 Wk29 and you could save £35.82"
Given that I would probably have to pay the £60 plus vat exit fee this was obviously not worth chasing.


However, below was another section titled "Alternative Cheapest Tariff" which informed me:
"We have a cheaper tariff Flexi Online Tracker Spring 19 and you could save £157.80"
I decided to phone and see if I could switch to this cheaper tariff.


Having got through and explained reason for my call to "Matt" I was asked to hold whilst Matt spoke to his supervisor.
Matt returned to advise me the cheaper tariff was not available to me as this was for "Renewals Only"


I asked if Matt could expain the logic behind offering me a tariff that was not available to me on my statement.
Matt advised it was all to do with ofgem regulations?


Does this make sense to anyone.


Also amused to note my gas usage:
I was asked to provde meter readings on 26th June as part of the switching process.
I provided a gas reading of 8753.0, this value sent to both new and old suppliers via their websites.
I then also supplied meter readings on 1st July (unfortunately I did not keep a record of this reading)
I then also supplied meter readings on 28th July (gas 8784.0)
So reviewingmy gas usage report on my UP statement I see the following:
Type Date Read
Estimated 01 July 2019 8825.0
Customer 28 July 2019 8784.0
Estimated 31 July 2019 8785.8


Meter units used in the charge period -39.2


I have no idea how they worked that out, but for now, I'm just going to watch this space and see what happens next month

Sorry, I do not have any details of the terms that apply to who may apply for the Utility Point Flexi Online Tracker Spring 19, but what concerns me is that if you were eligible, then you could save £157.80 per year.

This makes me really worried what tariff you actually applied for last month. You seem to be paying well OTT.

e.g. for the London supply region, the Utility Point Flexi Online Tracker Spring 19 charges the following.

Electricity:
13.492 pence per kWh / 17.372 pence per day

Gas:
2.998 pence per kWh / 17.172 pence per day

Even these prices could easily be beaten irrespective of usage, and apparently you are paying £157.80 per year more than that :eek:

Time to hit the comparison sites again, even if you will suffer £60 exit fees for your earlier error of choice.

PennineAcute

When you give your new supplier your opening reading, this is then sent to an independent verification company.

If the reading you have falls outside the allowed calculated range, they give your new and old supplier an estimated reading, that they have calculated. It seems that this has happened to you on this occasion.

https://octopus.energy/blog/secret-life-opening-meter-reading/

bristolleedsfan

Bloomster2 wrote: »

So reviewingmy gas usage report on my UP statement I see the following:
Type Date Read
Estimated 01 July 2019 8825.0
Customer 28 July 2019 8784.0
Estimated 31 July 2019 8785.8


Meter units used in the charge period -39.2


I have no idea how they worked that out, but for now, I'm just going to watch this space and see what happens next month

Paid for more Gas units than you used to your previous supplier, U.P will automatically refund the difference to you as a credit on your account, I am surpised if it hasnt happened on the statement that you quote.

Stompa

Well I just received my renewal quote from UP, which for my usage is around 10% more expensive than my current tariff. CEC only offers me 3 cheaper fixed quotes. Outfox The Market (+5%), Avro (+7%) and Yorkshire (+8%). Unless something cheaper turns up over the next month or so I guess I'll probably stay put.

SilverShopper

Ditto for me. UP renewal is about +11%, Outfox about +7% and Avro about +9% (London). So I will probably stay with Utility Point this time around. Was surprised (pleased) about the renewal PDF itself which had just about all the information on which to base a rational decision. Though it did contain 2 almost identical offers which differed by a few pence (v1 and v2 of the ...Renew... tariff). If I actively swop I can choose the cheaper, wow! There seems to be no cancelation fees associated with the offered renewal tariffs. Don't know if this is right or just a typo?

savemoney

Anyone got referral credits from them. I referred my MIL 8 weeks ago we both since then been billed and no credit at all on either accounts and doesn't show up online either

[Deleted User]

@savemoney
When I joined UP, the referral money was in the first bill. However I noticed recently that UP don't pay referrals on their cheapest tariff so did your MIL sign up to one of the tariffs that does pay out?

bristolleedsfan

savemoney wrote: »

Anyone got referral credits from them. I referred my MIL 8 weeks ago we both since then been billed and no credit at all on either accounts and doesn't show up online either

Some have been found not to track with referral and have been getting added manually.

U.P have been paying referrals out on Gas only switches as well as all other combinations, not seen/heard of any examples that they dont pay out on cheaper tariffs, in fact referral console states "and be rewarded for every single switch that uses your personalized code and joins our growing community"

savemoney

Thanks for replying.


I think it was I am on a old tariff (Up Energy Saver) which ends in Jan 2020. It doesn't mention this on there web site

gsmlnx wrote: »

@savemoney
When I joined UP, the referral money was in the first bill. However I noticed recently that UP don't pay referrals on their cheapest tariff so did your MIL sign up to one of the tariffs that does pay out?