Economy Energy raising gas unit charge by 88%

Sterlingtimes

The Welcome Letter (mine 30/05/2018) is what is known as an ENTIRE AGREEMENT: it contains all of the component parts to make a full contract.

This is your contract and it contains everything you need to know about:
• Your tariff information
• Your Personal Projection
• Your tariff terms and conditions
• Your account details
• The progress of your switch to us

There are click-through terms have been changed since the date of their Welcome Letter. The update is dated June. There there is no mischief in the full terms that would change the FIXED tariff contract with a PRICE GUARANTEE.

Any change to the terms would have to be correctly notified. Economy cannot make changes on its website and say now the contract is different and your fixed price is now variable.

My opinion is that they in breach of the contract.

I will not cancel my direct debit for they may well claim that that is a breach on the part of the client.

I am following the formal complaint process, but I will be taking other actions in the meantime.

Their front office is pre-programmed to refute customer complaints. The front office told me that they would not upward refer.

I suspect strongly that they have cash flow and other issues. I suspect that they have agreed to fix price contracts without buying forward on a wholesale basis.

g33za

wrinx wrote: »

Just worked out my increase, there's something odd about all this because the price rises appear to be random when compared to others who've posted.


Mine...


Gas unit +90.5%
Gas standing -4%



Elec +31%
Elec standing +31%



Total +46%


Looks like the best swap will be half the increase so not too bad but still a lot of grief and I have absolutely no confidence that EE will not stitch people up during the transfers.


For some odd reason I can't access my online account and the password reminder function isn't working....cynical, moi?!


wrinx

I'm able to login to mine, of the two accounts I have with them, increases seem to be:

Gas Standing Charge -4%
Gas unit rate 89%
Electricity Standing Charge -14%
Electricity unit rate 30%

Advised rates below:
Gas
Standing Charge (pence per day) 29.40p 28.20p
Unit rate (pence per kWh) 2.11p 4.00p

Electricity
Standing Charge (pence per day) 22.05p 18.90p
Unit rate (pence per kWh) 11.62p 15.15p

alanb122

To SterlingTimes.
I suggest you put your complaint in writing. I don't see how they can refuse to consider a complaint. They have a complaints process which includes escalation if needed. If you cannot reach agreement in 8 weeks or you are notified by letter that you are deadlocked then you can go to the ombudsman.

I think it would be wise to change suppliers now. I agree that it may be dangerous to cancel a DD as this may hinder the switch process. It is tempting to cancel if you are in credit (as I am) but probably best not.

wrinx

alanb122 wrote: »

To SterlingTimes.
I suggest you put your complaint in writing. I don't see how they can refuse to consider a complaint. They have a complaints process which includes escalation if needed. If you cannot reach agreement in 8 weeks or you are notified by letter that you are deadlocked then you can go to the ombudsman..

Not trying to be funny here...but what will achieve? It doesn't appear that the Ombudsman is interested from the responses so far and we are mere mortals in the big scheme of things


I'm going to swap suppliers but am sure it won't be easy and I don't trust EE to bill me honestly so I'm expecting trouble!


wrinx

andy_poulton

alanb122 wrote: »

To SterlingTimes.
I agree that it may be dangerous to cancel a DD as this may hinder the switch process. It is tempting to cancel if you are in credit (as I am) but probably best not.

You need to see the feedback on Truspilot and the other EE post on here.
Most are having terrible problems getting refunds or not after weeks and weeks.

wrinx

Just started the swap to Bulb, good reviews and only around £100 more for my usage...let's see how it goes.


I haven't got the stomach or time to wait months for a complaint to be ignored multiple times


But I hope someone takes them down!


wrinx

nkt0609

Here are a few lines extracted from my welcome email, which in their words is the contract:


“
This is your contract and it contains everything you need to know about:
• Your tariff information
• Your Personal Projection
• Your tariff terms and conditions
• Your account details
• The progress of your switch to us
”

"
About your tariff
electricity-icon@2x.png Electricity
gas-icon@2x.png Gas
Supplier
Economy Energy Trading Ltd
Economy Energy Trading Ltd
Tariff name
Switch Saver
Switch Saver
Tariff type
Fixed
Fixed
Payment method
Direct Debit
Direct Debit
Unit rate
11.94p
2.2p
Standing charge
23.10p per day
29.40p per day
Tariff ends on
13/06/2019
13/06/2019
Price guaranteed until
13/06/2019
13/06/2019
”
“Estimated costs include any discounts and VAT (currently 5%). They are based on our current prices for the tariff shown above. If this tariff type does not have an end date then please note that prices are not fixed and may rise in the future.”

andy_poulton

wrinx wrote: »

Just started the swap to Bulb, good reviews and only around £100 more for my usage...let's see how it goes.
I haven't got the stomach or time to wait months for a complaint to be ignored multiple times
But I hope someone takes them down!
wrinx

Exactly.
I have started my switch to Bulb too.
Really cannot be assed to get poor service again and Bulb got a 90% for it.

[However I too had to cancel my Direct debits as they wanted to increase them by 30% to cover my huge increase in usage due to the cold snap, sudden heavy usage, previous supplier informed them of my heavy usage not declared. (See Trustpilot for many similar stories.) I had only been on supply for just two months so all fabricated, and was about £72 in credit after many readings as they would not register them.]

Also had two bills for Electricity, one a month. Though bizarrely they put they credit back on each month before debiting the bill???
So somehow not paid yet. Terrible muddle.

The_Big_Bamboo

wrinx wrote: »

Just started the swap to Bulb, good reviews and only around £100 more for my usage...let's see how it goes.


I haven't got the stomach or time to wait months for a complaint to be ignored multiple times


But I hope someone takes them down!


wrinx

I really wouldn’t blame anyone for jumping ship quickly;...I reckon I would too if I was an Economy customer given that energy prices from other ‘reputable’ suppliers are on the up.

However, if EE’s underhand strategy succeeds it will set a dangerous precedent for anyone on a fixed rate tariff. I’ve no doubt several other energy suppliers are watching developments with interest.

EE are apparently making a mockery of the entire industry;...i.e. “a fixed tariff is only fixed until we decide it isn’t,...and sod what your customer contract says! ”

alanb122

I had a look at the Bulb website. I could see only a variable tariff. I don't see any point switching to other than a fixed or capped tariff as you are likely to find that the rates increase shortly after you sign up.