Big Switch Event 9

21caro

Have just decided to switch for the first time after years of terrible customer service from Scottish Power. I'm going for Octopus because the comments about customer service were in the main so positive. Also, used £50 incentive code from another forumite (thank you!). Started my switch this evening and the website was really easy to use, just a few boxes to complete and bingo....have already received welcome email from CEO. (If anyone is interested in switching to Octopus I have the link for £50 incentive).
Holding my breath now to see if all goes smoothly.....

System

oxters wrote: »

But OTM is fixed for 18 months - isn’t that attractive against a variable rate -?unless you expect prices to come down?

I think OTM pay exit fees but you’d need to check

People focus on fixed tariffs in the belief that they will always offer the cheapest overall deal. The truth is that there are some very competitive variable rates on the market without exit fees. If you 'play the market', then you can often do better than signing up for a 'fixed and forget' tariff. For example, my grandson came up with a very cunning plan late last year which resulted in three family members saving over £100 on their annual energy bills via cashback. We could all switch at will because exit fees were not an issue.

oxters

Hengus wrote: »

People focus on fixed tariffs in the belief that they will always offer the cheapest overall deal. The truth is that there are some very competitive variable rates on the market without exit fees. If you 'play the market', then you can often do better than signing up for a 'fixed and forget' tariff. For example, my grandson came up with a very cunning plan late last year which resulted in three family members saving over £100 on their annual energy bills via cashback. We could all switch at will because exit fees were not an issue.

That’s true if you want to keep monitoring the market. Personally, I don’t see energy prices coming down unless government speak on energy caps comes good and that probably won’t affect the savvy buyers? If energy companies can’t fleece the innocent, they might have to turn on the money savers to keep their shareholders fat?

System

oxters wrote: »

That’s true if you want to keep monitoring the market. Personally, I don’t see energy prices coming down unless government speak on energy caps comes good and that probably won’t affect the savvy buyers? If energy companies can’t fleece the innocent, they might have to turn on the money savers to keep their shareholders fat?

Wow, we do have short memories. It was only 3 years ago that I switched suppliers 4 times in a year and saved money on my annual cost each time. I accept that prices have risen recently but this is primarily down to Government policy.

tadhatter

I've got a general question about switching suppliers that I don't seem to be able to find an answer to anywhere! The questoin is this:
Is the contract with me as a person or at the property? As such, if I switch supplier, am I then tied to living at the same address for the contract time (typically 12 months?) or am I free to leave but carry on with the tariff to a new address?
Thanks in advance.

System

tadhatter wrote: »

I've got a general question about switching suppliers that I don't seem to be able to find an answer to anywhere! The questoin is this:
Is the contract with me as a person or at the property? As such, if I switch supplier, am I then tied to living at the same address for the contract time (typically 12 months?) or am I free to leave but carry on with the tariff to a new address?
Thanks in advance.

The contract is specific to you and the registered meter numbers. Whenever you move into any property you are on contract with the Deemed Supplier to that property. Some suppliers may let you take your tariff with you; however, you still have to register first with the Deemed Supplier and then switch back to your old supplier.

If moving, most suppliers will waive exit fees. You just pay what you owe in terms of standing charges and units used. You need to read the supplier’s terms and conditions.

rusty_frog

I am glad that the MSE collective isnt the cheapest as I have just applied to AVRO to switch from IRESA.
That is of course if IRESA will allow us to leave.
They have already objected to the switch as I was in debit on the electricity account by about £40.
However they didnt bother to take into the Gas account which is showing over £200 in credit!
Past MSE collectives have been great, but its AVRO for us this time round.

System

rusty_frog wrote: »

I am glad that the MSE collective isnt the cheapest as I have just applied to AVRO to switch from IRESA.
That is of course if IRESA will allow us to leave.
They have already objected to the switch as I was in debit on the electricity account by about £40.
However they didnt bother to take into the Gas account which is showing over £200 in credit!
Past MSE collectives have been great, but its AVRO for us this time round.

Complain in writing about the fact that they have objected to your switch and copy everything to consumeraffairs@ofgem.gov.uk

phillw

Hengus wrote: »

For example, my grandson came up with a very cunning plan late last year which resulted in three family members saving over £100 on their annual energy bills via cashback. We could all switch at will because exit fees were not an issue.

That isn't cunning, all you have to find someone willing to give you cashback but not charge an exit fee. It's like saying "I don't know why people spend £2000 on a flat screen TV, they should all do what I did and bought one mis-priced in a supermarket, which the supermarket agreed to honour". I think the term for that is opportunistic.

System

phillw wrote: »

That isn't cunning, all you have to find someone willing to give you cashback but not charge an exit fee. It's like saying "I don't know why people spend £2000 on a flat screen TV, they should all do what I did and bought one mis-priced in a supermarket, which the supermarket agreed to honour". I think the term for that is opportunistic.

Fair enough but the same can be said for people who use MSE CEC or TopCashback. The money to pay for these 'discounts' comes initially from the supplier but ultimately from us the consumer. If the Govt was to ban PCWs and referral fees then suppliers would find some other way of promoting their tariffs: it is a deemed a marketing cost. In my view, there are times when it is better to play the market than to fight against it.

And, yes, I do use TopCashback.