Cheap Energy Club,then charged the balance.

antteepee

I have twice used the Cheap Energy Club to get cheaper deals on gas/elect. but at the end of the year I have been charged £100 & £100+ for the difference be between the price I had been paying on a fixed tariff & how much I owed, even though I had not missed a payment. So the amount was not from any payments I might have overlooked. So really you don't get a bargain Martin, for getting a fixed tariff. They get you at the end when you don't have enough spare money to pay the big final bill!! Am I the only one being charged this, or are there others getting it as well?

MSE_Dan_L

Hi Antteepee

Thanks for your post. I suspect the problem here is that your usage was actually higher than you originally estimated.

Cheap Energy Club works out how much each tariff would cost you over 12 months based on the the consumption information you share on your account.

The direct debit amount itself isn't fixed, it is the rates of the tariff that you're locking-in. So if you consume more energy than expected you'll either be asked to increase your direct debit, or if switching away you may find that you have a debit balance to clear.

I hope this explanation helps.

System

@MSE Dan

It really is time that MSE and its champion led a public campaign to get Ofgem to come up with a better way of describing a Fixed energy contract. Too many people see a fixed price/term energy contract as being equivalent to an !!!8216;all you eat!!!8217; mobile contract or insurance policy being paid in monthly instalments.

That said, suppliers also have to take some responsibility for their usage reviews which some never actually carry out in my experience.

PS. Can someone please fix the apostrophe error on the website.

JJ_Egan

100% agree with the above .
Though it does amaze me at the total lack of knowledge of so many .Where they think a fixed price means a fixed bill and all you can use in between .

Nick_C

I'm astonished that anyone should think that they can pay a fixed monthly amount and use as much energy they like.

Clearly it is the unit price that is fixed.

CEC has saved me hundreds of pounds over the last three years. Keep up the good work!

bumpnanny

I WAS thinking of switching but I really don't think I'll be better off with Octopus.
At the moment I'm with British Gas, fixed until March 31, 2018, with free electricity on a Saturday. Hence, all washing, drying, ironing, DIY, etc is carried out on a Saturday cost free.
BG also give refunds for those who do not miss any payments, i.e. I received a 'refund' of £168 just before Christmas. While unexpected it was a fantastic surprise
I'm also listed as a 'vulnerable' person and am entitled to a "Warm Home" grant of £140 p.a. This is set against my bill as I am disabled and spend a LOT of money attempting to stay warm and ease the pain. Octopus do not offer a 'Warm Home' discount.
British Gas have confirmed I can switch to their Jan 2019 fixed rate Doing the sums I reckon I'll be better off sticking with British Gas:rotfl:

JJ_Egan

Nick_C wrote: »

I'm astonished that anyone should think that they can pay a fixed monthly amount and use as much energy they like.

Clearly it is the unit price that is fixed.


But thats the problem so many do think that .
Personally i blame the schools .

System

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Nick_C wrote: »

I'm astonished that anyone should think that they can pay a fixed monthly amount and use as much energy they like.

Clearly it is the unit price that is fixed.


But thats the problem so many do think that .
Personally i blame the schools .

Its more than the unit price: it is also the term of the contract and the UPPER limit of the standing charge. I say Upper as all discounts come out of the standing charge: it follows that if the discount is removed for a contractual breach by the consumer, then the standing charge will increase.